The only thing php need is lots of C wrappers instead of relying on extension and sapi methods that has bogged it down to just a web language. While language runtime does not restrict it, the php-src specifically favours web implementation and bias towards web friendly API. If php has to change, it will change by making use of FFI and WASM to bring in tons of tech that already exists and is very performant. Look at python library system where most of the cool code is written in C / CPP and brought in. Languages like php, go, rust ( partially as it can import C ), Java, JS runtimes are restricted by these native impmementation barriers. Some languages will wrap C code like projects using cgo or JNI to make things easier. We need more of that in PhP.
