Syntax verbosity (arrays and array keys)
As of PHP 5.4, one can use [...] rather than array(...), solving part of the issue. Sadly, the two-character delimiter for key/value pairs (=>) and mandatory quoting of keys are still required.
In <5.4, array syntax and key quoting, especially for large nested arrays, is very cumbersome:
$TV = array(
"flintstones" => array(
"series" => "flintstones",
"nights" => array("monday", "thursday", "friday"),
"members" => array(
array( "name" => "fred", "role" => "lead", "age" => 36, ),
array( "name" => "wilma", "role" => "wife", "age" => 31, ),
array( "name" => "pebbles", "role" => "kid", "age" => 4, ),
),
),
"jetsons" => array(
"series" => "jetsons",
"nights" => array("wednesday", "saturday"),
"members" => array(
array( "name" => "george", "role" => "lead", "age" => 41, ),
array( "name" => "jane", "role" => "wife", "age" => 39, ),
array( "name" => "elroy", "role" => "kid", "age" => 9, ),
),
),
"simpsons" => array(
"series" => "simpsons",
"nights" => array("monday"),
"members" => array(
array( "name" => "homer", "role" => "lead", "age" => 34, ),
array( "name" => "marge", "role" => "wife", "age" => 37, ),
array( "name" => "bart", "role" => "kid", "age" => 11, ),
),
),
);
Compare the same array from perldoc perldsc. JSON syntax would be even better (simpler keys) and also quite short.
A solution to this sadness was proposed and widely supported by users in a PHP RFC, but was shot down by the core developers.