Language: parent::__construct() with no parent ctor — wrong Error (Zend Cannot call constructor)

[PurHur]

Category

language · php-src-strict · constructors

Problem

Calling parent::__construct() when the parent class declares no constructor must throw Error: Cannot call constructor (Zend). VM/JIT throw a different Error shaped like a missing static method, with a lowercased class name.

Probed 2026-07-31 Zend 8.2.32 vs bin/vm.php / bin/jit.php @ fad4609ee.

Repro	Zend 8.2	VM/JIT
parent::__construct() in child of empty parent	Error:Cannot call constructor	Error:Call to undefined static method parentnoctor::__construct()

class ParentNoCtor {}
class Child extends ParentNoCtor {
    public function __construct() { parent::__construct(); }
}
new Child; // Zend: Cannot call constructor

php-src reference

• php/php-src Zend/zend_object_handlers.c — constructor call / Cannot call constructor
• php/php-src Zend/zend_execute.c — ZEND_DO_FCALL parent ctor special case

PHP implementation target

• Parent ctor dispatch in lib/VM + JIT call lowering: when parent has no __construct, throw Zend’s Cannot call constructor (not undefined-static-method)
• PHP-in-PHP; no new C

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php test/repro/maintainer_gap_parent_construct_no_parent_ctor.php; php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_parent_construct_no_parent_ctor.php; php bin/jit.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_parent_construct_no_parent_ctor.php'

Done when

• Message is exactly Cannot call constructor (Error) on VM + JIT
• try/catch still catches it (already does)
• Compliance / repro guard; php-src-strict

[PurHur]

claim: compile/link trust automation — starting this run (Lane B language)

Pre-claim gates: user_release_ready: yes on master @ 4d57828c4 (after #25906/#25914).

Branch: agent/issue-25909-parent-construct-no-ctor

[PurHur]

Merged #25919.

Verification: Zend/VM/JIT all print Error:Cannot call constructor (and named Class::__construct() form). __callStatic no longer swallows the call. ParentConstructNoCtorTest OK (3 tests).

[PurHur]

Merged via #25919 (9ebe2ce4d squash onto master).

Gates run: Zend/VM/JIT repro test/repro/issue_25909_parent_construct_no_ctor.php; ParentConstructNoCtorTest 3/3; __callStatic no longer swallows missing ctor.