Coding PHP extensions

[suvarna271]

I am following "Extending and Embedding PHP" by Sara Golemon. While explaining the concepts she has used several small snippets of code as such

 
void describe_zval(zval *foo)
{
    if (Z_TYPE_P(foo) == IS_NULL) {
        php_printf("The variable is NULL");
    } else {
        php_printf("The variable is of type %d",
                            Z_TYPE_P(foo));
    }
}
 
 

I tried writing the code in a .c file. But i am at loss regarding the dependencies required to compile the code.
Please guide.

[weaknessforcats]

The quickest thing here is to research how a C/C++ program is built.

Each .c file is compiled separately into a .obj file. Things like Z_TYPE and IS_NULL have to be declared before you can use them. You will need to #include a header file with those declarations.

Then each .obj file is copied to the .exe file and missing definitions must be resolved. The actual code for things like Z_TYPE must be in another .obj file or in a library.

This whole process is cotained in a file called a makefile.

The steps to do this should be part of your IDE.

[suvarna271]

Thanks @weaknessforcats. Actually i was confused regarding the location of the macros Z_TYPE etc . Those are Zend variables and using phpize, just like its done for PHP extension development does the trick.