Question 1

Can you compile PHP to a native binary?

Accepted Answer

Yes. elephc is a PHP compiler that takes a supported static subset of PHP and compiles it directly to native assembly, producing standalone binaries for macOS ARM64, Linux ARM64, and Linux x86_64. The compiled path uses no interpreter, VM, Zend Engine, or opcode fallback.

Question 2

How is elephc different from PHP packagers or other PHP AOT systems?

Accepted Answer

elephc is not a PHP packager and does not bundle Zend/PHP. It is a from-scratch compiler: parse, type-check, lower to native assembly, assemble, link, and include a small runtime in the output. If elephc compiles it, it runs as native code.

Question 3

Can elephc work with PHP frameworks?

Accepted Answer

Not a drop-in replacement for an entire dynamic framework today, but a path to accelerate static modules inside existing PHP applications. The roadmap is hybrid: keep frameworks such as WordPress, Laravel, or Symfony on PHP, then compile static and performance-sensitive modules into standalone binaries today and native libraries or PHP extensions in the future.

Question 4

How does the elephc PHP compiler work?

Accepted Answer

elephc uses a six-phase compilation pipeline: Lexer (source to tokens), Parser (tokens to AST), Resolver (include/require), Type Checker (static type inference), Code Generator (AST to native assembly), and Linker (assembly to native executable). The compiler is written in Rust and targets macOS ARM64, Linux ARM64, and Linux x86_64.

Question 5

What PHP features does elephc support?

Accepted Answer

elephc supports int, float, string, bool, null, and array types, along with control flow (if/else, while, for, foreach, switch, match), functions with recursion, 100+ built-in functions (string, array, math, I/O), type casting, string interpolation, include/require, and more.

Question 6

Is elephc free and open source?

Accepted Answer

Yes, elephc is free and open-source software released under the MIT License. The source code is available on GitHub at github.com/illegalstudio/elephc.

Videos, talks, and articles about elephc

Nuno Maduro on the elephc compiler