PHP UK Conference 2018 - James Titcumb - Climbing the Abstract Syntax Tree

This talk explores the new Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) introduced in PHP 7 and its impact on how PHP code is executed. The speaker, James, explains the fundamental changes in the compilation process and demonstrates the functionality of a basic compiler, illustrating how the introduction of an AST simplifies this process. Attendees will learn about innovative techniques for introspecting, analyzing, and modifying code, which were previously unattainable. By the end of the session, participants will gain valuable insights into the capabilities of an AST and its applications in compilers and userland code.