refactored the class and classbase classes, and introduced a classimpl class in the src directory, this is a first step to remove all zend-specific code from the header files, so that we can later have a hhvm backend for the php-cpp library

6 files changed, 1894 insertions, 1820 deletions

diff --git a/src/base.cpp b/src/base.cpp
index 75363af..d415845 100644
--- a/src/base.cpp
+++ b/src/base.cpp
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ MixedObject *Base::store(zend_class_entry *entry TSRMLS_DC)
 #endif
     
     // store the two destruct methods in temporary vars
-    DestructType *destructMethod = &ClassBase::destructObject;
-    FreeType *freeMethod = &ClassBase::freeObject;
+    DestructType *destructMethod = &ClassImpl::destructObject;
+    FreeType *freeMethod = &ClassImpl::freeObject;
 
     // the destructor and clone handlers are set to NULL. I dont know why, but they do not
     // seem to be necessary...
diff --git a/src/classbase.cpp b/src/classbase.cpp
index afb37aa..037661e 100644
--- a/src/classbase.cpp
+++ b/src/classbase.cpp
@@ -14,1410 +14,27 @@
 namespace Php {
 
 /**
- *  Retrieve our C++ implementation object
- *  @param  entry
- *  @return ClassBase
- */
-static ClassBase *cpp_class(zend_class_entry *entry)
-{
-    // we need the base class (in user space the class may have been overridden,
-    // but we are not interested in these user space classes)
-    while (entry->parent) entry = entry->parent;
-    
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400
-    // retrieve the comment (it has a pointer hidden in it to the ClassBase object)
-    const char *comment = entry->info.user.doc_comment;
-#else
-    // retrieve the comment php5.3 style (it has a pointer hidden in it to the ClassBase object)
-    const char *comment = entry->doc_comment;
-#endif    
-    
-    // the first byte of the comment is an empty string (null character), but
-    // the next bytes contain a pointer to the ClassBase class
-    return *((ClassBase **)(comment + 1));
-}
-
-/**
- *  Retrieve the CPP object
- *  @param  val
- *  @return Base
- */
-static Base *cpp_object(const zval *val TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // retrieve the old object, which we are going to copy
-    MixedObject *object = (MixedObject *)zend_object_store_get_object(val TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // return the cpp object
-    return object->cpp;
-}
-
-/**
  *  Protected constructor
  *  @param  classname   Class name
  *  @param  flags       Class flags
  */
-ClassBase::ClassBase(const char *classname, int flags) : _name(classname)
+ClassBase::ClassBase(const char *classname, int flags)
 {
     // the flags hold a method-flag-value, this should be converted into a class-type
-    if (flags & Abstract) _type = ClassType::Abstract;
-    if (flags & Final) _type = ClassType::Final;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Destructor
- */
-ClassBase::~ClassBase()
-{
-    // destruct the entries
-    if (_entries) delete[] _entries;
-
-    // php 5.3 deallocates the doc_comment by iself
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400    
-    if (_comment) free(_comment);
-#endif
-}
-
-/**
- *  Extended zend_internal_function structure that we use to store an
- *  instance of the ClassBase object. We need this for static method calls
- */
-struct CallData
-{
-    // the internal function is the first member, so
-    // that it is possible to cast an instance of this 
-    // struct to a zend_internal_function
-    zend_internal_function func;
-    
-    // and a pointer to the ClassBase object
-    ClassBase *self;
-};
-
-/**
- *  Handler function that runs the __call function
- *  @param  ...     All normal parameters for function calls
- */
-void ClassBase::callMethod(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
-{
-    // retrieve the originally called (and by us allocated) function object
-    // (this was copied from the zend engine source code, code looks way too
-    // ugly to be made by me)
-    CallData *data = (CallData *)EG(current_execute_data)->function_state.function;
-    zend_internal_function *func = &data->func;
-
-    // retrieve the function name
-    const char *name = func->function_name;
-    ClassBase *meta = data->self;
-    
-    // the data structure was allocated by ourselves in the getMethod or 
-    // getStaticMethod functions, we no longer need it now
-    efree(data);
-
-    // the function could throw an exception
-    try
-    {
-        // wrap the return value
-        Value result(return_value, true);
-
-        // construct parameters
-        Parameters params(this_ptr, ZEND_NUM_ARGS() TSRMLS_CC);
-
-        // retrieve the base object
-        Base *base = params.object();
-        
-        // is this a static, or a non-static call?
-        if (base) result = meta->callCall(base, name, params);
-        else result = meta->callCallStatic(name, params);
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // because of the two-step nature, we are going to report the error ourselves
-        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Undefined method %s", name);
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // process the exception
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Handler function that runs the __invoke function
- *  @param  ...     All normal parameters for function calls
- */
-void ClassBase::callInvoke(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
-{
-    // retrieve the originally called (and by us allocated) function object
-    // (this was copied from the zend engine source code, code looks way too
-    // ugly to be made by me)
-    CallData *data = (CallData *)EG(current_execute_data)->function_state.function;
-
-    // get self reference
-    ClassBase *meta = data->self;
-
-    // the data structure was allocated by ourselves in the getMethod or 
-    // getStaticMethod functions, we no longer need it now
-    efree(data);
-
-    // the function could throw an exception
-    try
-    {
-        // wrap the return value
-        Value result(return_value, true);
-
-        // construct parameters
-        Parameters params(this_ptr, ZEND_NUM_ARGS() TSRMLS_CC);
-
-        // retrieve the base object
-        Base *base = params.object();
-
-        // call the actual __invoke method on the base object
-        result = meta->callInvoke(base, params);
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // because of the two-step nature, we are going to report the error ourselves
-        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Function name must be a string");
-
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // process the exception
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Method that returns the function definition of the __call function
- *  @param  object_ptr
- *  @param  method_name
- *  @param  method_len
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zend_function
- */
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-zend_function *ClassBase::getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method_name, int method_len TSRMLS_DC)
-#else
-zend_function *ClassBase::getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method_name, int method_len, const struct _zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
-#endif
-{
-    // something strange about the Zend engine (once more). The structure with
-    // object-handlers has a get_method and call_method member. When a function is
-    // called, the get_method function is called first, to retrieve information
-    // about the method (like the handler that should be called to execute it),
-    // after that, this returned handler is also called. The call_method property
-    // of the object_handlers structure however, never gets called. Typical.
-    
-    // first we'll check if the default handler does not have an implementation,
-    // in that case the method is probably already implemented as a regular method
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-    auto *defaultFunction = std_object_handlers.get_method(object_ptr, method_name, method_len TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-    auto *defaultFunction = std_object_handlers.get_method(object_ptr, method_name, method_len, key TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-
-    // did the default implementation do anything?
-    if (defaultFunction) return defaultFunction;
-    
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(*object_ptr TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // this is peculiar behavior of the zend engine, we first are going to dynamically 
-    // allocate memory holding all the properties of the __call method (we initially
-    // had an implementation here that used a static variable, and that worked too,
-    // but we'll follow thread safe implementation of the Zend engine here, although
-    // it is strange to allocate and free memory in one and the same method call (free()
-    // call happens in call_method())
-    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
-    auto *function = &data->func;
-    
-    // we're going to set all properties
-    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
-    function->module = nullptr;
-    function->handler = &ClassBase::callMethod;
-    function->arg_info = nullptr;
-    function->num_args = 0;
-    function->required_num_args = 0;
-    function->scope = entry;
-    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
-    function->function_name = method_name;
-    
-    // store pointer to ourselves
-    data->self = cpp_class(entry);
-    
-    // done (cast to zend_function* is allowed, because a zend_function is a union
-    // that has one member being a zend_internal_function)
-    return (zend_function *)data;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Method that is called right before a static method call is attempted
- *  @param  entry
- *  @param  method
- *  @param  method_len
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zend_function
- */
-zend_function *ClassBase::getStaticMethod(zend_class_entry *entry, char* method, int method_len TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // first we'll check if the default handler does not have an implementation,
-    // in that case the method is probably already implemented as a regular method
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-    auto *defaultFunction = zend_std_get_static_method(entry, method, method_len TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-    auto *defaultFunction = zend_std_get_static_method(entry, method, method_len, nullptr TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-
-    // did the default implementation do anything?
-    if (defaultFunction) return defaultFunction;
-
-    // just like we did in getMethod() (see comment there) we are going to dynamically
-    // allocate data holding information about the function
-    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
-    auto *function = &data->func;
-    
-    // we're going to set all properties
-    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
-    function->module = nullptr;
-    function->handler = ClassBase::callMethod;
-    function->arg_info = nullptr;
-    function->num_args = 0;
-    function->required_num_args = 0;
-    function->scope = nullptr;
-    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
-    function->function_name = method;
-    
-    // store pointer to ourselves
-    data->self = cpp_class(entry);
-    
-    // done (cast to zend_function* is allowed, because a zend_function is a union
-    // that has one member being a zend_internal_function)
-    return (zend_function *)data;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Method that returns the closure -- this is the __invoke handler!
- *  @param  object
- *  @param  entry_ptr
- *  @param  func
- *  @param  object_ptr
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::getClosure(zval *object, zend_class_entry **entry_ptr, zend_function **func, zval **object_ptr TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // it is really unbelievable how the Zend engine manages to implement every feature
-    // in a complete different manner. You would expect the __invoke() and the
-    // __call() functions not to be very different from each other. However, they
-    // both have a completely different API. This getClosure method is supposed
-    // to fill the function parameter with all information about the invoke()
-    // method that is going to get called
-    
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // just like we did for getMethod(), we're going to dynamically allocate memory
-    // with all information about the function
-    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
-    auto *function = &data->func;
-    
-    // we're going to set all properties
-    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
-    function->module = nullptr;
-    function->handler = &ClassBase::callInvoke;
-    function->arg_info = nullptr;
-    function->num_args = 0;
-    function->required_num_args = 0;
-    function->scope = entry;
-    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
-    function->function_name = nullptr;
-    
-    // store pointer to ourselves
-    data->self = cpp_class(entry);
-    
-    // assign this dynamically allocated variable to the func parameter
-    // the case is ok, because zend_internal_function is a member of the
-    // zend_function union
-    *func = (zend_function *)data;
- 
-    // the object_ptr should be filled with the object on which the method is 
-    // called (otherwise the Zend engine tries to call the method statically)
-    *object_ptr = object;
-    
-    // done
-    return SUCCESS;
-};
-
-/**
- *  Retrieve pointer to our own object handlers
- *  @return zend_object_handlers
- */
-zend_object_handlers *ClassBase::objectHandlers()
-{
-    // keep static structure
-    static zend_object_handlers handlers;
-    
-    // is the object already initialized?
-    static bool initialized = false;
-    
-    // already initialized?
-    if (initialized) return &handlers;
-    
-    // initialize the handlers
-    memcpy(&handlers, &std_object_handlers, sizeof(zend_object_handlers));
-    
-    // install custom clone function
-    if (!clonable()) handlers.clone_obj = nullptr;
-    else handlers.clone_obj = &ClassBase::cloneObject;
-    
-    // functions for the Countable interface
-    handlers.count_elements = &ClassBase::countElements;
-    
-    // functions for the ArrayAccess interface
-    handlers.write_dimension = &ClassBase::writeDimension;
-    handlers.read_dimension = &ClassBase::readDimension;
-    handlers.has_dimension = &ClassBase::hasDimension;
-    handlers.unset_dimension = &ClassBase::unsetDimension;
-    
-    // functions for the magic properties handlers (__get, __set, __isset and __unset)
-    handlers.write_property = &ClassBase::writeProperty;
-    handlers.read_property = &ClassBase::readProperty;
-    handlers.has_property = &ClassBase::hasProperty;
-    handlers.unset_property = &ClassBase::unsetProperty;
-    
-    // when a method is called (__call and __invoke)
-    handlers.get_method = &ClassBase::getMethod;
-    handlers.get_closure = &ClassBase::getClosure;
-    
-    // handler to cast to a different type
-    handlers.cast_object = &ClassBase::cast;
-    
-    // method to compare two objects
-    handlers.compare_objects = &ClassBase::compare;
-    
-    // remember that object is now initialized
-    initialized = true;
-    
-    // done
-    return &handlers;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function to compare two objects
- *  @param  object1
- *  @param  object2
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::compare(zval *object1, zval *object2 TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // prevent exceptions
-    try
-    {
-        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object1 TSRMLS_CC);
-
-        // other object must be of the same type
-        if (entry != zend_get_class_entry(object2 TSRMLS_CC)) throw NotImplemented();
-
-        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-        ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-        
-        // get the base objects
-        Base *base1 = cpp_object(object1 TSRMLS_CC);
-        Base *base2 = cpp_object(object2 TSRMLS_CC);
-        
-        // run the compare method
-        return meta->callCompare(base1, base2);
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // it was not implemented, do we have a default?
-        if (!std_object_handlers.compare_objects) return 1;
-        
-        // call default
-        return std_object_handlers.compare_objects(object1, object2 TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // a Php::Exception was thrown by the extension __compare function, 
-        // pass this on to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        
-        // what shall we return here...
-        return 1;
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function to cast the object to a different type
- *  @param  object
- *  @param  retval
- *  @param  type
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::cast(zval *object, zval *retval, int type TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // get the base object
-    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
-    
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-    
-    // retval it not yet initialized --- and again feelings of disbelief,
-    // frustration, wonder and anger come up when you see that there are not two
-    // functions in the Zend engine that have a comparable API
-    INIT_PZVAL(retval);
-    
-    // wrap zval in value object
-    Value result(retval, true);
-    
-    // when the magic function it not implemented, an exception will be thrown,
-    // and the extension may throw a Php::Exception
-    try
-    {
-        // the result zval
-        zval *result = nullptr;
-        
-        // check type
-        switch ((Type)type) {
-        case Type::Numeric:     result = meta->callToInteger(base).detach();  break;
-        case Type::Float:       result = meta->callToFloat(base).detach();    break;
-        case Type::Bool:        result = meta->callToBool(base).detach();     break;
-        case Type::String:      result = meta->callToString(base).detach();   break;
-        default:                throw NotImplemented();             break;
-        }
-        
-        // @todo do we turn into endless conversion if the __toString object returns 'this' ??
-        // (and if it does: who cares? If the extension programmer is stupid, why do we have to suffer?)
-        
-        // is the object overwritten?
-        if (object == retval) zval_dtor(object);
-        
-        // overwrite the result
-        ZVAL_ZVAL(retval, result, 1, 1);
-    
-        // done
-        return SUCCESS;
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // is there a default?
-        if (!std_object_handlers.cast_object) return FAILURE;
-        
-        // call default
-        return std_object_handlers.cast_object(object, retval, type TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // pass on the exception to php userspace
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        
-        // done
-        return FAILURE;
-    }
-}
-    
-/**
- *  Function that is called to create space for a cloned object
- *  @param  val                     The object to be cloned
- *  @return zend_obejct_value       The object to be created
- */
-zend_object_value ClassBase::cloneObject(zval *val TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(val TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-
-    // retrieve the old object, which we are going to copy
-    MixedObject *old_object = (MixedObject *)zend_object_store_get_object(val TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // create a new base c++ object
-    auto *cpp = meta->clone(old_object->cpp);
-    
-    // report error on failure (this does not occur because the cloneObject()
-    // method is only installed as handler when we have seen that there is indeed
-    // a copy constructor)
-    if (!cpp) throw Php::Exception(std::string("Unable to clone ") + entry->name);
-
-    // the thing we're going to return
-    zend_object_value result;
-    
-    // set the handlers
-    result.handlers = meta->objectHandlers();
-    
-    // store the object
-    MixedObject *new_object = cpp->store(entry TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // store the object in the object cache
-    result.handle = cpp->handle();
-    
-    // clone the members (this will also call the __clone() function if the user
-    // had registered that as a visible method)
-    zend_objects_clone_members(&new_object->php, result, &old_object->php, Z_OBJ_HANDLE_P(val) TSRMLS_CC);
-    
-    // was a custom clone method installed? If not we call the magic c++ __clone method
-    if (!entry->clone) meta->callClone(cpp);
-    
-    // done
-    return result;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is used to count the number of elements in the object
- * 
- *  If the user has implemented the Countable interface, this method will 
- *  call the count() method
- * 
- *  @param  val
- *  @param  count
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::countElements(zval *object, long *count TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // does it implement the countable interface?
-    Countable *countable = dynamic_cast<Countable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-
-    // if it does not implement the Countable interface, we rely on the default implementation
-    if (countable) 
-    {
-        // the user function may throw an exception that needs to be processed
-        try
-        {
-            // call the count function
-            *count = countable->count();
-            
-            // done
-            return SUCCESS;
-        }
-        catch (Exception &exception)
-        {
-            // process the exception
-            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-            
-            // unreachable
-            return FAILURE;
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // Countable interface was not implemented, check if there is a default
-        if (!std_object_handlers.count_elements) return FAILURE;
-        
-        // call default
-        return std_object_handlers.count_elements(object, count TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
- * 
- *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetGet() method 
- *  of the ArrayAccess interface
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  offset          The name of the property
- *  @param  type            The type of the variable???
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zval
- */
-zval *ClassBase::readDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, int type TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // what to do with the type?
-    //
-    // the type parameter tells us whether the dimension was read in READ
-    // mode, WRITE mode, READWRITE mode or UNSET mode. 
-    // 
-    // In 99 out of 100 situations, it is called in regular READ mode (value 0), 
-    // only when it is called from a PHP script that has statements like 
-    // $x =& $object["x"], $object["x"]["y"] = "something" or unset($object["x"]["y"]), 
-    // the type parameter is set to a different value.
-    //
-    // But we must ask ourselves the question what we should be doing with such
-    // cases. Internally, the object most likely has a full native implementation,
-    // and the property that is returned is just a string or integer or some
-    // other value, that is temporary WRAPPED into a zval to make it accessible
-    // from PHP. If someone wants to get a reference to such an internal variable,
-    // that is in most cases simply impossible.
-    
-     
-    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
-    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
-    if (arrayaccess) 
-    {
-        // the C++ code may throw an exception
-        try
-        {
-            // ArrayAccess is implemented, call function
-            return toZval(arrayaccess->offsetGet(offset), type);
-        }
-        catch (Exception &exception)
-        {
-            // process the exception (send it to user space)
-            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-            
-            // unreachable
-            return Value(nullptr).detach();
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // ArrayAccess not implemented, check if there is a default handler
-        if (!std_object_handlers.read_dimension) return nullptr;
-        
-        // call default
-        return std_object_handlers.read_dimension(object, offset, type TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
- * 
- *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetSet() method 
- *  of the ArrayAccess interface
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  offset          The name of the property
- *  @param  value           The new value
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zval
- */
-void ClassBase::writeDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, zval *value TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
-    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
-    if (arrayaccess) 
-    {
-        // method may throw an exception
-        try
-        {
-            // set the value
-            arrayaccess->offsetSet(offset, value);
-        }
-        catch (Exception &exception)
-        {
-            // process the exception (send it to user space
-            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // ArrayAccess not interface, check if there is a default handler
-        if (!std_object_handlers.write_dimension) return;
-        
-        // call the default
-        std_object_handlers.write_dimension(object, offset, value TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
- * 
- *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetExists() method
- *  of the ArrayAccess interface
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  member          The member to check
- *  @param  check_empty     Was this an isset() call, or an empty() call?
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return bool
- */
-int ClassBase::hasDimension(zval *object, zval *member, int check_empty TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
-    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
-    if (arrayaccess) 
-    {
-        // user implemented callbacks could throw an exception
-        try
-        {
-            // check if the member exists
-            if (!arrayaccess->offsetExists(member)) return false;
-            
-            // we know for certain that the offset exists, but should we check
-            // more, like whether the value is empty or not?
-            if (!check_empty) return true;
-
-            // the user wants to know if the property is empty
-            return empty(arrayaccess->offsetGet(member));
-        }
-        catch (Exception &exception)
-        {
-            // process the exception (send it to user space)
-            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-            
-            // unreachable
-            return false;
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // ArrayAccess interface is not implemented, check if there is a default handler
-        if (!std_object_handlers.has_dimension) return 0;
-
-        // call default
-        return std_object_handlers.has_dimension(object, member, check_empty TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
- * 
- *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetUnset() method
- *  of the ArrayAccess interface
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  member          The member to remove
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- */
-void ClassBase::unsetDimension(zval *object, zval *member TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
-    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
-    if (arrayaccess) 
-    {
-        // user implemented code could throw an exception
-        try
-        {
-            // remove the member
-            arrayaccess->offsetUnset(member);
-        }
-        catch (Exception &exception)
-        {
-            // process the exception (send it to user space)
-            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        }
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        // ArrayAccess is not implemented, is a default handler available?
-        if (!std_object_handlers.unset_dimension) return;
-        
-        // call the default
-        std_object_handlers.unset_dimension(object, member TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Helper method to turn a property into a zval
- *  @param  value
- *  @param  type
- *  @return Value
- */
-zval *ClassBase::toZval(Value &&value, int type)
-{
-    // because we do not want the value object to destruct the zval when
-    // it falls out of scope, we detach the zval from it, if this is a regular
-    // read operation we can do this right away
-    if (type == 0) return value.detach();
-
-    // this is a more complicated read operation, the scripts wants to get
-    // deeper access to the returned value. This, however, is only possible
-    // if the value has more than once reference (if it has a refcount of one,
-    // the value object that we have here is the only instance of the zval,
-    // and it is simply impossible to return a reference or so
-    if (value.refcount() <= 1) return value.detach(); 
-
-    // we're dealing with an editable zval, return a reference variable
-    return Value(value.detach(), true).detach();
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when a property is read
- *  @param  object
- *  @param  name
- *  @param  type
- *  @param  key
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return val
- */
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-zval *ClassBase::readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type TSRMLS_DC)
-#else
-zval *ClassBase::readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type, const struct _zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
-#endif
-{
-    // what to do with the type?
-    //
-    // the type parameter tells us whether the property was read in READ
-    // mode, WRITE mode, READWRITE mode or UNSET mode. 
-    // 
-    // In 99 out of 100 situations, it is called in regular READ mode (value 0), 
-    // only when it is called from a PHP script that has statements like 
-    // $x =& $object->x, $object->x->y = "something" or unset($object->x->y)
-    // the type parameter is set to a different value.
-    //
-    // But we must ask ourselves the question what we should be doing with such
-    // cases. Internally, the object most likely has a full native implementation,
-    // and the property that is returned is just a string or integer or some
-    // other value, that is temporary WRAPPED into a zval to make it accessible
-    // from PHP. If someone wants to get a reference to such an internal variable,
-    // that is in most cases simply impossible.
-
-    // retrieve the object and class
-    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
-    
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-
-    // the default implementation throws an exception, so by catching 
-    // the exception we know if the object was implemented by the user or not
-    try
-    {
-        // convert name to a Value object
-        Value key(name);
-        
-        // is it a property with a callback?
-        auto iter = meta->_properties.find(key);
-        
-        // was it found?
-        if (iter == meta->_properties.end())
-        {
-            // retrieve value from the __get method
-            return toZval(meta->callGet(base, key), type);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            // get the value
-            return toZval(iter->second->get(base), type);
-        }
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // __get() function was not overridden by the user
-        if (!std_object_handlers.read_property) return nullptr;
-        
-        // call default
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-        return std_object_handlers.read_property(object, name, type TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-        return std_object_handlers.read_property(object, name, type, key TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
-        // implementation, send it to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        
-        // unreachable
-        return Value(nullptr).detach();
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when a property is set / updated
- * 
- *  This is the handler for the __set() function, and is called when a property
- *  is updated.
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  name            The name of the property
- *  @param  value           The new value
- *  @param  key             ???
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zval
- */
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-void ClassBase::writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value TSRMLS_DC)
-#else
-void ClassBase::writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value, const struct _zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
-#endif
-{
-    // retrieve the object and class
-    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
-    
-    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-
-    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
-    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __set method
-    try
-    {
-        // wrap the name
-        Value key(name);
-        
-        // check if the property has a callback
-        auto iter = meta->_properties.find(key);
-        
-        // is it set?
-        if (iter == meta->_properties.end())
-        {
-            // use the __set method
-            meta->callSet(base, key, value);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            // check if it could be set
-            if (iter->second->set(base, value)) return;
-            
-            // read-only property
-            zend_error(E_ERROR, "Unable to write to read-only property %s", (const char *)key);
-        }
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // __set() function was not overridden by user, check if there is a default
-        if (!std_object_handlers.write_property) return;
-        
-        // call the default
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-        std_object_handlers.write_property(object, name, value TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-        std_object_handlers.write_property(object, name, value, key TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
-        // implementation, send it to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called to check whether a certain property is set
- *  for an object
- * 
- *  This is the handler for the __isset() function, and is called when a PHP
- *  script checks if a certain property is set.
- * 
- *  The has_set_exists parameter can have the following values:
- *
- *      0 (has) whether property exists and is not NULL
- *      1 (set) whether property exists and is true
- *      2 (exists) whether property exists
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  name            The name of the property to check
- *  @param  has_set_exists  See above
- *  @param  key             ???
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return bool
- */
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-int ClassBase::hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists TSRMLS_DC)
-#else
-int ClassBase::hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists, const struct _zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
-#endif
-{
-    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
-    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __isset method
-    try
-    {
-        // get the cpp object
-        Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
-        
-        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-        ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-        
-        // convert the name to a Value object
-        Value key(name);
-
-        // check if this is a callback property
-        if (meta->_properties.find(key) != meta->_properties.end()) return true;
-
-        // call the C++ object
-        if (!meta->callIsset(base, key)) return false;
-        
-        // property exists, but what does the user want to know
-        if (has_set_exists == 2) return true;
-        
-        // we have to retrieve the property
-        Value value = meta->callGet(base, key);
-        
-        // should we check on NULL?
-        switch (has_set_exists) {
-        case 0:     return value.type() != Type::Null;
-        default:    return value.boolValue();
-        }
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // __isset was not implemented, do we have a default?
-        if (!std_object_handlers.has_property) return 0;
-
-        // call default
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-        return std_object_handlers.has_property(object, name, has_set_exists TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-        return std_object_handlers.has_property(object, name, has_set_exists, key TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
-        // implementation, send it to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        
-        // unreachable
-        return false;
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when a property is removed from the project
- * 
- *  This is the handler for the __unset() method
- * 
- *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
- *  @param  member          The member to remove
- *  @param  key
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- */
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-void ClassBase::unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member TSRMLS_DC)
-#else
-void ClassBase::unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member, const struct _zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
-#endif
-{
-    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
-    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __unset method
-    try
-    {
-        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
-        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-        ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-        
-        // property name
-        Value name(member);
-        
-        // is this a callback property?
-        auto iter = meta->_properties.find(name);
-        
-        // if the property does not exist, we forward to the __unset
-        if (iter == meta->_properties.end()) meta->callUnset(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC), member);
-        
-        // callback properties cannot be unset
-        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Property %s can not be unset", (const char *)name);
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // __unset was not implemented, do we have a default?
-        if (!std_object_handlers.unset_property) return;
-        
-        // call the default
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
-        std_object_handlers.unset_property(object, member TSRMLS_CC);
-#else
-        std_object_handlers.unset_property(object, member, key TSRMLS_CC);
-#endif
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
-        // implementation, send it to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when an object is about to be destructed
- *  This will call the magic __destruct method
- *  @param  object
- *  @param  handle
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- */
-void ClassBase::destructObject(zend_object *object, zend_object_handle handle TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // allocate memory for the object
-    MixedObject *obj = (MixedObject *)object;
-    
-    // get meta info
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(object->ce);
-    
-    // prevent exceptions
-    try
-    {
-        // call the destruct function
-        if (obj->cpp) meta->callDestruct(obj->cpp);
-    }
-    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
-    {
-        // fallback on the default destructor call
-        zend_objects_destroy_object(object, handle TSRMLS_CC);
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // a regular Php::Exception was thrown by the extension, pass it on
-        // to PHP user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called to clean up space that is occupied by the object
- *  @param  object      The object to be deallocated
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- */
-void ClassBase::freeObject(zend_object *object TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // allocate memory for the object
-    MixedObject *obj = (MixedObject *)object;
-    
-    // deallocate the cpp object
-    if (obj->cpp) delete obj->cpp;
-    
-    // pass on to the default destructor
-    zend_objects_free_object_storage(object TSRMLS_CC);
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function that is called when an instance of the class needs to be created.
- *  This function will create the C++ class, and the PHP object
- *  @param  entry                   Pointer to the class information
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zend_object_value       The newly created object
- */
-zend_object_value ClassBase::createObject(zend_class_entry *entry TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
-    ClassBase *meta = cpp_class(entry);
-
-    // create a new base C++ object
-    auto *cpp = meta->construct();
-
-    // report error on failure
-    if (!cpp) throw Php::Exception(std::string("Unable to instantiate ") + entry->name);
-
-    // the thing we're going to return
-    zend_object_value result;
-    
-    // set the handlers
-    result.handlers = meta->objectHandlers();
-    
-    // store the object
-    cpp->store(entry TSRMLS_CC);
-
-    // store the object in the object cache
-    result.handle = cpp->handle();
-    
-    // done
-    return result;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Function to create a new iterator to iterate over an object
- *  @param  entry                   The class entry
- *  @param  object                  The object to iterate over
- *  @param  by_ref                  ?????
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return zend_object_iterator*   Pointer to the iterator
- */
-zend_object_iterator *ClassBase::getIterator(zend_class_entry *entry, zval *object, int by_ref TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // by-ref is not possible (copied from SPL)
-    if (by_ref) throw Php::Exception("Foreach by ref is not possible");
-    
-    // retrieve the traversable object
-    Traversable *traversable = dynamic_cast<Traversable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // user may throw an exception in the getIterator() function
-    try
-    {
-        // create an iterator
-        auto *iterator = traversable->getIterator();
-        
-        // return the implementation
-        return iterator->implementation();
-    }
-    catch (Exception &exception)
-    {
-        // user threw an exception in its method 
-        // implementation, send it to user space
-        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
-        
-        // unreachable
-        return nullptr;
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- *  Method that is called to serialize an object
- *  @param  object      The object to be serialized
- *  @param  buffer      Buffer in which to store the data
- *  @param  buf_len     Size of the bufffer
- *  @param  data        ??
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::serialize(zval *object, unsigned char **buffer, zend_uint *buf_len, zend_serialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // get the serializable object
-    Serializable *serializable = dynamic_cast<Serializable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // call the serialize method on the object
-    auto value = serializable->serialize();
-
-    // allocate the buffer, and copy the data into it (the zend engine will 
-    // (hopefully) clean up the data for us - the default serialize method does
-    // it like this too)
-    *buffer = (unsigned char*)estrndup(value.c_str(), value.size());
-    *buf_len = value.size();
-
-    // done
-    return SUCCESS;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Method that is called to unserialize an object
- *  @param  object      The object to be unserialized
- *  @param  entry       The class entry to which is belongs
- *  @param  buffer      Buffer holding the unserialized data
- *  @param  data        All the unserialize data
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
- *  @return int
- */
-int ClassBase::unserialize(zval **object, zend_class_entry *entry, const unsigned char *buffer, zend_uint buf_len, zend_unserialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-    // create the PHP object
-    object_init_ex(*object, entry);
-    
-    // turn this into a serializale
-    Serializable *serializable = dynamic_cast<Serializable*>(cpp_object(*object TSRMLS_CC));
-    
-    // call the unserialize method on it
-    serializable->unserialize((const char *)buffer, buf_len);
-    
-    // done
-    return SUCCESS;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Retrieve an array of zend_function_entry objects that hold the 
- *  properties for each method. This method is called at extension
- *  startup time to register all methods.
- * 
- *  @param  classname       The class name
- *  @return zend_function_entry[]
- */
-const struct _zend_function_entry *ClassBase::entries()
-{
-    // already initialized?
-    if (_entries) return _entries;
-    
-    // allocate memory for the functions
-    _entries = new zend_function_entry[_methods.size() + 1];
-    
-    // keep iterator counter
-    int i = 0;
-
-    // loop through the functions
-    for (auto &method : _methods)
-    {
-        // retrieve entry
-        zend_function_entry *entry = &_entries[i++];
-
-        // let the function fill the entry
-        method->initialize(entry, _name);
-    }
-
-    // last entry should be set to all zeros
-    zend_function_entry *last = &_entries[i];
-
-    // all should be set to zero
-    memset(last, 0, sizeof(zend_function_entry));
-
-    // done
-    return _entries;
+    if (flags & Abstract) _impl = std::make_shared<ClassImpl>(classname, ClassType::Abstract);
+    else if (flags & Final) _impl = std::make_shared<ClassImpl>(classname, ClassType::Final);
+    else _impl = std::make_shared<ClassImpl>(classname, ClassType::Regular);
 }
 
 /**
- *  Initialize the class, given its name
- * 
- *  The module functions are registered on module startup, but classes are
- *  initialized afterwards. The Zend engine is a strange thing. Nevertheless,
- *  this means that this method is called after the module is already available.
- *  This function will inform the Zend engine about the existence of the
- *  class.
- * 
- *  @param  prefix      namespace prefix
- *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  Protected constructor
+ *  @param  classname   Class name
+ *  @param  type        Class type
  */
-void ClassBase::initialize(const std::string &prefix TSRMLS_DC)
+ClassBase::ClassBase(const char *classname, ClassType type)
 {
-    // the class entry
-    zend_class_entry entry;
-
-    // update the name
-    if (prefix.size() > 0) _name = prefix + "\\" + _name;
-
-    // initialize the class entry
-    INIT_CLASS_ENTRY_EX(entry, _name.c_str(), _name.size(), entries());
-
-    // we need a special constructor
-    entry.create_object = &ClassBase::createObject;
-    
-    // register function that is called for static method calls
-    entry.get_static_method = &ClassBase::getStaticMethod;
-    
-    // for traversable classes we install a special method to get the iterator
-    if (traversable()) entry.get_iterator = &ClassBase::getIterator;
-    
-    // for serializable classes, we install callbacks for serializing and unserializing
-    if (serializable())
-    {
-        // add handlers to serialize and unserialize
-        entry.serialize = &ClassBase::serialize;
-        entry.unserialize = &ClassBase::unserialize;
-    }
-    
-    // register the class
-    _entry = zend_register_internal_class(&entry TSRMLS_CC);
-    
-    // allocate doc comment to contain an empty string + a hidden pointer
-    if (!_comment)
-    {
-        // allocate now
-        _comment = (char *)malloc(1 + sizeof(ClassBase *));
-        
-        // empty string on first position
-        _comment[0] = '\0';
-        
-        // this pointer has to be copied to temporary pointer, as &this causes compiler error
-        ClassBase *base = this;
-        
-        // copy the 'this' pointer to the doc-comment
-        memcpy(_comment+1, &base, sizeof(ClassBase *));
-    }
-    
-    // store pointer to the class in the unused doc_comment member
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400    
-    _entry->info.user.doc_comment = _comment;
-#else
-    // and store the wrapper inside the comment
-    _entry->doc_comment = _comment;
-#endif
-
-    // set access types flags for class
-    _entry->ce_flags = (int)_type;
-    
-    // declare all member variables
-    for (auto &member : _members) member->initialize(_entry TSRMLS_CC);
+    // construct implementation
+    _impl = std::make_shared<ClassImpl>(classname, type);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1436,152 +53,15 @@ void ClassBase::notImplemented()
  *  @param  method      The actual method
  *  @param  flags       Optional flags
  *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_0 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-    
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_1 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_2 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_3 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_4 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_5 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_6 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_7 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, callback, flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a static method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
  */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_0 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_0 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_1 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_2 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_3 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_4 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_5 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_6 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const method_callback_7 &callback, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, callback, flags, args); }
 
 /**
  *  Add a static method to the class
@@ -1589,305 +69,47 @@ ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_0 &method,
  *  @param  method      The actual method
  *  @param  flags       Optional flags
  *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
  */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_1 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a static method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_2 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a static method to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the method
- *  @param  method      The actual method
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_3 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_0 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, method, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_1 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, method, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_2 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, method, flags, args); }
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, const native_callback_3 &method, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, method, flags, args); }
 
 /**
  *  Add an abstract method to the class
  *  @param  name        Name of the method
  *  @param  flags       Optional flags (like public or protected)
  *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::method(const char *name, int flags, const Arguments &args)
-{
-    // add the method
-    _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, Abstract | flags, args));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, std::nullptr_t value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NullMember>(name, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, int16_t value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, int32_t value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, int64_t value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, bool value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<BoolMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, char value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, &value, 1, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const std::string &value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Add a property to the class
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  value       Actual property value
- *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
  */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const char *value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, value, strlen(value), flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
+void ClassBase::method(const char *name, int flags, const Arguments &args) { _impl->method(name, flags, args); }
 
 /**
  *  Add a property to the class
  *  @param  name        Name of the property
  *  @param  value       Actual property value
  *  @param  flags       Optional flags
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
  */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, double value, int flags)
-{
-    // add property
-    _members.push_back(std::make_shared<FloatMember>(name, value, flags));
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, std::nullptr_t value, int flags)     { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, int16_t value, int flags)            { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, int32_t value, int flags)            { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, int64_t value, int flags)            { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, bool value, int flags)               { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, char value, int flags)               { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const std::string &value, int flags) { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const char *value, int flags)        { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, double value, int flags)             { _impl->property(name, value, flags); }
 
 /**
  *  Set property with callbacks
  *  @param  name        Name of the property
  *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
  */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Set property with callbacks
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Set property with callbacks
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @param  setter      Setter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Set property with callbacks
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @param  setter      Setter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Set property with callbacks
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @param  setter      Setter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
-/**
- *  Set property with callbacks
- *  @param  name        Name of the property
- *  @param  getter      Getter method
- *  @param  setter      Setter method
- *  @return ClassBase   Same object to allow chaining
- */
-ClassBase &ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter)
-{
-    // add property
-    _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter);
-
-    // allow chaining
-    return *this;
-}
-
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter) { _impl->property(name, getter); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter) { _impl->property(name, getter); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter) { _impl->property(name, getter, setter); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter) { _impl->property(name, getter, setter); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter) { _impl->property(name, getter, setter); }
+void ClassBase::property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter) { _impl->property(name, getter, setter); }
 
 /**
  *  End namespace
diff --git a/src/classimpl.cpp b/src/classimpl.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ee7b0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/classimpl.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,1444 @@
+/**
+ *  ClassImpl.cpp
+ *
+ *  Implementation file for the ClassImpl class
+ *
+ *  @author Emiel Bruijntjes <emiel.bruijntjes@copernica.com>
+ *  @copyright 2014 Copernica BV
+ */
+#include "includes.h"
+
+/**
+ *  Set up namespace
+ */
+namespace Php {
+
+/**
+ *  Destructor
+ */
+ClassImpl::~ClassImpl()
+{
+    // destruct the entries
+    if (_entries) delete[] _entries;
+
+    // php 5.3 deallocates the doc_comment by iself
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400    
+    if (_comment) free(_comment);
+#endif
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Retrieve our C++ implementation object
+ *  @param  entry
+ *  @return ClassImpl
+ */
+static ClassImpl *cpp_impl(zend_class_entry *entry)
+{
+    // we need the base class (in user space the class may have been overridden,
+    // but we are not interested in these user space classes)
+    while (entry->parent) entry = entry->parent;
+    
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400
+    // retrieve the comment (it has a pointer hidden in it to the ClassBase object)
+    const char *comment = entry->info.user.doc_comment;
+#else
+    // retrieve the comment php5.3 style (it has a pointer hidden in it to the ClassBase object)
+    const char *comment = entry->doc_comment;
+#endif    
+    
+    // the first byte of the comment is an empty string (null character), but
+    // the next bytes contain a pointer to the ClassBase class
+    return *((ClassImpl **)(comment + 1));
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Retrieve the extension's class object
+ *  @param  entry
+ *  @return ClassBase
+ */
+ClassBase *ClassImpl::base(zend_class_entry *entry)
+{
+    // first the implementation class
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+    
+    // and now the base
+    return impl->_base;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Retrieve the CPP object
+ *  @param  val
+ *  @return Base
+ */
+static Base *cpp_object(const zval *val TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // retrieve the old object, which we are going to copy
+    MixedObject *object = (MixedObject *)zend_object_store_get_object(val TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // return the cpp object
+    return object->cpp;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Extended zend_internal_function structure that we use to store an
+ *  instance of the ClassBase object. We need this for static method calls
+ */
+struct CallData
+{
+    // the internal function is the first member, so
+    // that it is possible to cast an instance of this 
+    // struct to a zend_internal_function
+    zend_internal_function func;
+    
+    // and a pointer to the ClassImpl object
+    ClassImpl *self;
+};
+
+/**
+ *  Handler function that runs the __call function
+ *  @param  ...     All normal parameters for function calls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::callMethod(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
+{
+    // retrieve the originally called (and by us allocated) function object
+    // (this was copied from the zend engine source code, code looks way too
+    // ugly to be made by me)
+    CallData *data = (CallData *)EG(current_execute_data)->function_state.function;
+    zend_internal_function *func = &data->func;
+
+    // retrieve the function name
+    const char *name = func->function_name;
+    ClassBase *meta = data->self->_base;
+    
+    // the data structure was allocated by ourselves in the getMethod or 
+    // getStaticMethod functions, we no longer need it now
+    efree(data);
+
+    // the function could throw an exception
+    try
+    {
+        // wrap the return value
+        Value result(return_value, true);
+
+        // construct parameters
+        Parameters params(this_ptr, ZEND_NUM_ARGS() TSRMLS_CC);
+
+        // retrieve the base object
+        Base *base = params.object();
+        
+        // is this a static, or a non-static call?
+        if (base) result = meta->callCall(base, name, params);
+        else result = meta->callCallStatic(name, params);
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // because of the two-step nature, we are going to report the error ourselves
+        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Undefined method %s", name);
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // process the exception
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Handler function that runs the __invoke function
+ *  @param  ...     All normal parameters for function calls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::callInvoke(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
+{
+    // retrieve the originally called (and by us allocated) function object
+    // (this was copied from the zend engine source code, code looks way too
+    // ugly to be made by me)
+    CallData *data = (CallData *)EG(current_execute_data)->function_state.function;
+
+    // get self reference
+    ClassBase *meta = data->self->_base;
+
+    // the data structure was allocated by ourselves in the getMethod or 
+    // getStaticMethod functions, we no longer need it now
+    efree(data);
+
+    // the function could throw an exception
+    try
+    {
+        // wrap the return value
+        Value result(return_value, true);
+
+        // construct parameters
+        Parameters params(this_ptr, ZEND_NUM_ARGS() TSRMLS_CC);
+
+        // retrieve the base object
+        Base *base = params.object();
+
+        // call the actual __invoke method on the base object
+        result = meta->callInvoke(base, params);
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // because of the two-step nature, we are going to report the error ourselves
+        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Function name must be a string");
+
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // process the exception
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Method that returns the function definition of the __call function
+ *  @param  object_ptr
+ *  @param  method_name
+ *  @param  method_len
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zend_function
+ */
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+zend_function *ClassImpl::getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method_name, int method_len TSRMLS_DC)
+#else
+zend_function *ClassImpl::getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method_name, int method_len, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
+#endif
+{
+    // something strange about the Zend engine (once more). The structure with
+    // object-handlers has a get_method and call_method member. When a function is
+    // called, the get_method function is called first, to retrieve information
+    // about the method (like the handler that should be called to execute it),
+    // after that, this returned handler is also called. The call_method property
+    // of the object_handlers structure however, never gets called. Typical.
+    
+    // first we'll check if the default handler does not have an implementation,
+    // in that case the method is probably already implemented as a regular method
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+    auto *defaultFunction = std_object_handlers.get_method(object_ptr, method_name, method_len TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+    auto *defaultFunction = std_object_handlers.get_method(object_ptr, method_name, method_len, key TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+
+    // did the default implementation do anything?
+    if (defaultFunction) return defaultFunction;
+    
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(*object_ptr TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // this is peculiar behavior of the zend engine, we first are going to dynamically 
+    // allocate memory holding all the properties of the __call method (we initially
+    // had an implementation here that used a static variable, and that worked too,
+    // but we'll follow thread safe implementation of the Zend engine here, although
+    // it is strange to allocate and free memory in one and the same method call (free()
+    // call happens in call_method())
+    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
+    auto *function = &data->func;
+    
+    // we're going to set all properties
+    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
+    function->module = nullptr;
+    function->handler = &ClassImpl::callMethod;
+    function->arg_info = nullptr;
+    function->num_args = 0;
+    function->required_num_args = 0;
+    function->scope = entry;
+    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
+    function->function_name = method_name;
+    
+    // store pointer to ourselves
+    data->self = cpp_impl(entry);
+    
+    // done (cast to zend_function* is allowed, because a zend_function is a union
+    // that has one member being a zend_internal_function)
+    return (zend_function *)data;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Method that is called right before a static method call is attempted
+ *  @param  entry
+ *  @param  method
+ *  @param  method_len
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zend_function
+ */
+zend_function *ClassImpl::getStaticMethod(zend_class_entry *entry, char* method, int method_len TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // first we'll check if the default handler does not have an implementation,
+    // in that case the method is probably already implemented as a regular method
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+    auto *defaultFunction = zend_std_get_static_method(entry, method, method_len TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+    auto *defaultFunction = zend_std_get_static_method(entry, method, method_len, nullptr TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+
+    // did the default implementation do anything?
+    if (defaultFunction) return defaultFunction;
+
+    // just like we did in getMethod() (see comment there) we are going to dynamically
+    // allocate data holding information about the function
+    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
+    auto *function = &data->func;
+    
+    // we're going to set all properties
+    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
+    function->module = nullptr;
+    function->handler = ClassImpl::callMethod;
+    function->arg_info = nullptr;
+    function->num_args = 0;
+    function->required_num_args = 0;
+    function->scope = nullptr;
+    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
+    function->function_name = method;
+    
+    // store pointer to ourselves
+    data->self = cpp_impl(entry);
+    
+    // done (cast to zend_function* is allowed, because a zend_function is a union
+    // that has one member being a zend_internal_function)
+    return (zend_function *)data;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Method that returns the closure -- this is the __invoke handler!
+ *  @param  object
+ *  @param  entry_ptr
+ *  @param  func
+ *  @param  object_ptr
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::getClosure(zval *object, zend_class_entry **entry_ptr, zend_function **func, zval **object_ptr TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // it is really unbelievable how the Zend engine manages to implement every feature
+    // in a complete different manner. You would expect the __invoke() and the
+    // __call() functions not to be very different from each other. However, they
+    // both have a completely different API. This getClosure method is supposed
+    // to fill the function parameter with all information about the invoke()
+    // method that is going to get called
+    
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // just like we did for getMethod(), we're going to dynamically allocate memory
+    // with all information about the function
+    auto *data = (CallData *)emalloc(sizeof(CallData));
+    auto *function = &data->func;
+    
+    // we're going to set all properties
+    function->type = ZEND_INTERNAL_FUNCTION;
+    function->module = nullptr;
+    function->handler = &ClassImpl::callInvoke;
+    function->arg_info = nullptr;
+    function->num_args = 0;
+    function->required_num_args = 0;
+    function->scope = entry;
+    function->fn_flags = ZEND_ACC_CALL_VIA_HANDLER;
+    function->function_name = nullptr;
+    
+    // store pointer to ourselves
+    data->self = cpp_impl(entry);
+    
+    // assign this dynamically allocated variable to the func parameter
+    // the case is ok, because zend_internal_function is a member of the
+    // zend_function union
+    *func = (zend_function *)data;
+ 
+    // the object_ptr should be filled with the object on which the method is 
+    // called (otherwise the Zend engine tries to call the method statically)
+    *object_ptr = object;
+    
+    // done
+    return SUCCESS;
+};
+
+/**
+ *  Retrieve pointer to our own object handlers
+ *  @return zend_object_handlers
+ */
+zend_object_handlers *ClassImpl::objectHandlers()
+{
+    // keep static structure
+    static zend_object_handlers handlers;
+    
+    // is the object already initialized?
+    static bool initialized = false;
+    
+    // already initialized?
+    if (initialized) return &handlers;
+    
+    // initialize the handlers
+    memcpy(&handlers, &std_object_handlers, sizeof(zend_object_handlers));
+    
+    // install custom clone function
+    if (!_base->clonable()) handlers.clone_obj = nullptr;
+    else handlers.clone_obj = &ClassImpl::cloneObject;
+    
+    // functions for the Countable interface
+    handlers.count_elements = &ClassImpl::countElements;
+    
+    // functions for the ArrayAccess interface
+    handlers.write_dimension = &ClassImpl::writeDimension;
+    handlers.read_dimension = &ClassImpl::readDimension;
+    handlers.has_dimension = &ClassImpl::hasDimension;
+    handlers.unset_dimension = &ClassImpl::unsetDimension;
+    
+    // functions for the magic properties handlers (__get, __set, __isset and __unset)
+    handlers.write_property = &ClassImpl::writeProperty;
+    handlers.read_property = &ClassImpl::readProperty;
+    handlers.has_property = &ClassImpl::hasProperty;
+    handlers.unset_property = &ClassImpl::unsetProperty;
+    
+    // when a method is called (__call and __invoke)
+    handlers.get_method = &ClassImpl::getMethod;
+    handlers.get_closure = &ClassImpl::getClosure;
+    
+    // handler to cast to a different type
+    handlers.cast_object = &ClassImpl::cast;
+    
+    // method to compare two objects
+    handlers.compare_objects = &ClassImpl::compare;
+    
+    // remember that object is now initialized
+    initialized = true;
+    
+    // done
+    return &handlers;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function to compare two objects
+ *  @param  object1
+ *  @param  object2
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::compare(zval *object1, zval *object2 TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // prevent exceptions
+    try
+    {
+        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object1 TSRMLS_CC);
+
+        // other object must be of the same type
+        if (entry != zend_get_class_entry(object2 TSRMLS_CC)) throw NotImplemented();
+
+        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+        ClassBase *meta = base(entry);
+        
+        // get the base objects
+        Base *base1 = cpp_object(object1 TSRMLS_CC);
+        Base *base2 = cpp_object(object2 TSRMLS_CC);
+        
+        // run the compare method
+        return meta->callCompare(base1, base2);
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // it was not implemented, do we have a default?
+        if (!std_object_handlers.compare_objects) return 1;
+        
+        // call default
+        return std_object_handlers.compare_objects(object1, object2 TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // a Php::Exception was thrown by the extension __compare function, 
+        // pass this on to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        
+        // what shall we return here...
+        return 1;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function to cast the object to a different type
+ *  @param  object
+ *  @param  retval
+ *  @param  type
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::cast(zval *object, zval *retval, int type TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // get the base object
+    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
+    
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+    ClassBase *meta = ClassImpl::base(entry);
+    
+    // retval it not yet initialized --- and again feelings of disbelief,
+    // frustration, wonder and anger come up when you see that there are not two
+    // functions in the Zend engine that have a comparable API
+    INIT_PZVAL(retval);
+    
+    // wrap zval in value object
+    Value result(retval, true);
+    
+    // when the magic function it not implemented, an exception will be thrown,
+    // and the extension may throw a Php::Exception
+    try
+    {
+        // the result zval
+        zval *result = nullptr;
+        
+        // check type
+        switch ((Type)type) {
+        case Type::Numeric:     result = meta->callToInteger(base).detach();  break;
+        case Type::Float:       result = meta->callToFloat(base).detach();    break;
+        case Type::Bool:        result = meta->callToBool(base).detach();     break;
+        case Type::String:      result = meta->callToString(base).detach();   break;
+        default:                throw NotImplemented();             break;
+        }
+        
+        // @todo do we turn into endless conversion if the __toString object returns 'this' ??
+        // (and if it does: who cares? If the extension programmer is stupid, why do we have to suffer?)
+        
+        // is the object overwritten?
+        if (object == retval) zval_dtor(object);
+        
+        // overwrite the result
+        ZVAL_ZVAL(retval, result, 1, 1);
+    
+        // done
+        return SUCCESS;
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // is there a default?
+        if (!std_object_handlers.cast_object) return FAILURE;
+        
+        // call default
+        return std_object_handlers.cast_object(object, retval, type TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // pass on the exception to php userspace
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        
+        // done
+        return FAILURE;
+    }
+}
+    
+/**
+ *  Function that is called to create space for a cloned object
+ *  @param  val                     The object to be cloned
+ *  @return zend_obejct_value       The object to be created
+ */
+zend_object_value ClassImpl::cloneObject(zval *val TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(val TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+    ClassBase *meta = impl->_base;
+
+    // retrieve the old object, which we are going to copy
+    MixedObject *old_object = (MixedObject *)zend_object_store_get_object(val TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // create a new base c++ object
+    auto *cpp = meta->clone(old_object->cpp);
+    
+    // report error on failure (this does not occur because the cloneObject()
+    // method is only installed as handler when we have seen that there is indeed
+    // a copy constructor)
+    if (!cpp) throw Php::Exception(std::string("Unable to clone ") + entry->name);
+
+    // the thing we're going to return
+    zend_object_value result;
+    
+    // set the handlers
+    result.handlers = impl->objectHandlers();
+    
+    // store the object
+    MixedObject *new_object = cpp->store(entry TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // store the object in the object cache
+    result.handle = cpp->handle();
+    
+    // clone the members (this will also call the __clone() function if the user
+    // had registered that as a visible method)
+    zend_objects_clone_members(&new_object->php, result, &old_object->php, Z_OBJ_HANDLE_P(val) TSRMLS_CC);
+    
+    // was a custom clone method installed? If not we call the magic c++ __clone method
+    if (!entry->clone) meta->callClone(cpp);
+    
+    // done
+    return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is used to count the number of elements in the object
+ * 
+ *  If the user has implemented the Countable interface, this method will 
+ *  call the count() method
+ * 
+ *  @param  val
+ *  @param  count
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::countElements(zval *object, long *count TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // does it implement the countable interface?
+    Countable *countable = dynamic_cast<Countable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+
+    // if it does not implement the Countable interface, we rely on the default implementation
+    if (countable) 
+    {
+        // the user function may throw an exception that needs to be processed
+        try
+        {
+            // call the count function
+            *count = countable->count();
+            
+            // done
+            return SUCCESS;
+        }
+        catch (Exception &exception)
+        {
+            // process the exception
+            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+            
+            // unreachable
+            return FAILURE;
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // Countable interface was not implemented, check if there is a default
+        if (!std_object_handlers.count_elements) return FAILURE;
+        
+        // call default
+        return std_object_handlers.count_elements(object, count TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
+ * 
+ *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetGet() method 
+ *  of the ArrayAccess interface
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  offset          The name of the property
+ *  @param  type            The type of the variable???
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zval
+ */
+zval *ClassImpl::readDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, int type TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // what to do with the type?
+    //
+    // the type parameter tells us whether the dimension was read in READ
+    // mode, WRITE mode, READWRITE mode or UNSET mode. 
+    // 
+    // In 99 out of 100 situations, it is called in regular READ mode (value 0), 
+    // only when it is called from a PHP script that has statements like 
+    // $x =& $object["x"], $object["x"]["y"] = "something" or unset($object["x"]["y"]), 
+    // the type parameter is set to a different value.
+    //
+    // But we must ask ourselves the question what we should be doing with such
+    // cases. Internally, the object most likely has a full native implementation,
+    // and the property that is returned is just a string or integer or some
+    // other value, that is temporary WRAPPED into a zval to make it accessible
+    // from PHP. If someone wants to get a reference to such an internal variable,
+    // that is in most cases simply impossible.
+    
+     
+    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
+    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
+    if (arrayaccess) 
+    {
+        // the C++ code may throw an exception
+        try
+        {
+            // ArrayAccess is implemented, call function
+            return toZval(arrayaccess->offsetGet(offset), type);
+        }
+        catch (Exception &exception)
+        {
+            // process the exception (send it to user space)
+            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+            
+            // unreachable
+            return Value(nullptr).detach();
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // ArrayAccess not implemented, check if there is a default handler
+        if (!std_object_handlers.read_dimension) return nullptr;
+        
+        // call default
+        return std_object_handlers.read_dimension(object, offset, type TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
+ * 
+ *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetSet() method 
+ *  of the ArrayAccess interface
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  offset          The name of the property
+ *  @param  value           The new value
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zval
+ */
+void ClassImpl::writeDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, zval *value TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
+    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
+    if (arrayaccess) 
+    {
+        // method may throw an exception
+        try
+        {
+            // set the value
+            arrayaccess->offsetSet(offset, value);
+        }
+        catch (Exception &exception)
+        {
+            // process the exception (send it to user space
+            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // ArrayAccess not interface, check if there is a default handler
+        if (!std_object_handlers.write_dimension) return;
+        
+        // call the default
+        std_object_handlers.write_dimension(object, offset, value TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
+ * 
+ *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetExists() method
+ *  of the ArrayAccess interface
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  member          The member to check
+ *  @param  check_empty     Was this an isset() call, or an empty() call?
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return bool
+ */
+int ClassImpl::hasDimension(zval *object, zval *member, int check_empty TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
+    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
+    if (arrayaccess) 
+    {
+        // user implemented callbacks could throw an exception
+        try
+        {
+            // check if the member exists
+            if (!arrayaccess->offsetExists(member)) return false;
+            
+            // we know for certain that the offset exists, but should we check
+            // more, like whether the value is empty or not?
+            if (!check_empty) return true;
+
+            // the user wants to know if the property is empty
+            return empty(arrayaccess->offsetGet(member));
+        }
+        catch (Exception &exception)
+        {
+            // process the exception (send it to user space)
+            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+            
+            // unreachable
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // ArrayAccess interface is not implemented, check if there is a default handler
+        if (!std_object_handlers.has_dimension) return 0;
+
+        // call default
+        return std_object_handlers.has_dimension(object, member, check_empty TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
+ * 
+ *  This is the [] operator in PHP, and mapped to the offsetUnset() method
+ *  of the ArrayAccess interface
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  member          The member to remove
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::unsetDimension(zval *object, zval *member TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // does it implement the arrayaccess interface?
+    ArrayAccess *arrayaccess = dynamic_cast<ArrayAccess*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // if it does not implement the ArrayAccess interface, we rely on the default implementation
+    if (arrayaccess) 
+    {
+        // user implemented code could throw an exception
+        try
+        {
+            // remove the member
+            arrayaccess->offsetUnset(member);
+        }
+        catch (Exception &exception)
+        {
+            // process the exception (send it to user space)
+            exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // ArrayAccess is not implemented, is a default handler available?
+        if (!std_object_handlers.unset_dimension) return;
+        
+        // call the default
+        std_object_handlers.unset_dimension(object, member TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Helper method to turn a property into a zval
+ *  @param  value
+ *  @param  type
+ *  @return Value
+ */
+zval *ClassImpl::toZval(Value &&value, int type)
+{
+    // because we do not want the value object to destruct the zval when
+    // it falls out of scope, we detach the zval from it, if this is a regular
+    // read operation we can do this right away
+    if (type == 0) return value.detach();
+
+    // this is a more complicated read operation, the scripts wants to get
+    // deeper access to the returned value. This, however, is only possible
+    // if the value has more than once reference (if it has a refcount of one,
+    // the value object that we have here is the only instance of the zval,
+    // and it is simply impossible to return a reference or so
+    if (value.refcount() <= 1) return value.detach(); 
+
+    // we're dealing with an editable zval, return a reference variable
+    return Value(value.detach(), true).detach();
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when a property is read
+ *  @param  object
+ *  @param  name
+ *  @param  type
+ *  @param  key
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return val
+ */
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+zval *ClassImpl::readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type TSRMLS_DC)
+#else
+zval *ClassImpl::readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
+#endif
+{
+    // what to do with the type?
+    //
+    // the type parameter tells us whether the property was read in READ
+    // mode, WRITE mode, READWRITE mode or UNSET mode. 
+    // 
+    // In 99 out of 100 situations, it is called in regular READ mode (value 0), 
+    // only when it is called from a PHP script that has statements like 
+    // $x =& $object->x, $object->x->y = "something" or unset($object->x->y)
+    // the type parameter is set to a different value.
+    //
+    // But we must ask ourselves the question what we should be doing with such
+    // cases. Internally, the object most likely has a full native implementation,
+    // and the property that is returned is just a string or integer or some
+    // other value, that is temporary WRAPPED into a zval to make it accessible
+    // from PHP. If someone wants to get a reference to such an internal variable,
+    // that is in most cases simply impossible.
+
+    // retrieve the object and class
+    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
+    
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+    ClassBase *meta = impl->_base;
+    
+    // the default implementation throws an exception, so by catching 
+    // the exception we know if the object was implemented by the user or not
+    try
+    {
+        // convert name to a Value object
+        Value key(name);
+        
+        // is it a property with a callback?
+        auto iter = impl->_properties.find(key);
+        
+        // was it found?
+        if (iter == impl->_properties.end())
+        {
+            // retrieve value from the __get method
+            return toZval(meta->callGet(base, key), type);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // get the value
+            return toZval(iter->second->get(base), type);
+        }
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // __get() function was not overridden by the user
+        if (!std_object_handlers.read_property) return nullptr;
+        
+        // call default
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+        return std_object_handlers.read_property(object, name, type TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+        return std_object_handlers.read_property(object, name, type, key TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
+        // implementation, send it to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        
+        // unreachable
+        return Value(nullptr).detach();
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when a property is set / updated
+ * 
+ *  This is the handler for the __set() function, and is called when a property
+ *  is updated.
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  name            The name of the property
+ *  @param  value           The new value
+ *  @param  key             ???
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zval
+ */
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+void ClassImpl::writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value TSRMLS_DC)
+#else
+void ClassImpl::writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
+#endif
+{
+    // retrieve the object and class
+    Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
+    
+    // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+    auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+    ClassBase *meta = impl->_base;
+
+    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
+    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __set method
+    try
+    {
+        // wrap the name
+        Value key(name);
+        
+        // check if the property has a callback
+        auto iter = impl->_properties.find(key);
+        
+        // is it set?
+        if (iter == impl->_properties.end())
+        {
+            // use the __set method
+            meta->callSet(base, key, value);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // check if it could be set
+            if (iter->second->set(base, value)) return;
+            
+            // read-only property
+            zend_error(E_ERROR, "Unable to write to read-only property %s", (const char *)key);
+        }
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // __set() function was not overridden by user, check if there is a default
+        if (!std_object_handlers.write_property) return;
+        
+        // call the default
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+        std_object_handlers.write_property(object, name, value TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+        std_object_handlers.write_property(object, name, value, key TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
+        // implementation, send it to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called to check whether a certain property is set
+ *  for an object
+ * 
+ *  This is the handler for the __isset() function, and is called when a PHP
+ *  script checks if a certain property is set.
+ * 
+ *  The has_set_exists parameter can have the following values:
+ *
+ *      0 (has) whether property exists and is not NULL
+ *      1 (set) whether property exists and is true
+ *      2 (exists) whether property exists
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  name            The name of the property to check
+ *  @param  has_set_exists  See above
+ *  @param  key             ???
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return bool
+ */
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+int ClassImpl::hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists TSRMLS_DC)
+#else
+int ClassImpl::hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
+#endif
+{
+    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
+    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __isset method
+    try
+    {
+        // get the cpp object
+        Base *base = cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC);
+        
+        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+        ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+        ClassBase *meta = impl->_base;
+        
+        // convert the name to a Value object
+        Value key(name);
+
+        // check if this is a callback property
+        if (impl->_properties.find(key) != impl->_properties.end()) return true;
+
+        // call the C++ object
+        if (!meta->callIsset(base, key)) return false;
+        
+        // property exists, but what does the user want to know
+        if (has_set_exists == 2) return true;
+        
+        // we have to retrieve the property
+        Value value = meta->callGet(base, key);
+        
+        // should we check on NULL?
+        switch (has_set_exists) {
+        case 0:     return value.type() != Type::Null;
+        default:    return value.boolValue();
+        }
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // __isset was not implemented, do we have a default?
+        if (!std_object_handlers.has_property) return 0;
+
+        // call default
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+        return std_object_handlers.has_property(object, name, has_set_exists TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+        return std_object_handlers.has_property(object, name, has_set_exists, key TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
+        // implementation, send it to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        
+        // unreachable
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when a property is removed from the project
+ * 
+ *  This is the handler for the __unset() method
+ * 
+ *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+ *  @param  member          The member to remove
+ *  @param  key
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ */
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+void ClassImpl::unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member TSRMLS_DC)
+#else
+void ClassImpl::unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC)
+#endif
+{
+    // the default implementation throws an exception, if we catch that
+    // we know for sure that the user has not overridden the __unset method
+    try
+    {
+        // retrieve the class entry linked to this object
+        auto *entry = zend_get_class_entry(object TSRMLS_CC);
+
+        // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+        ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+        
+        // property name
+        Value name(member);
+        
+        // is this a callback property?
+        auto iter = impl->_properties.find(name);
+        
+        // if the property does not exist, we forward to the __unset
+        if (iter == impl->_properties.end()) impl->_base->callUnset(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC), member);
+        
+        // callback properties cannot be unset
+        zend_error(E_ERROR, "Property %s can not be unset", (const char *)name);
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // __unset was not implemented, do we have a default?
+        if (!std_object_handlers.unset_property) return;
+        
+        // call the default
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID < 50399
+        std_object_handlers.unset_property(object, member TSRMLS_CC);
+#else
+        std_object_handlers.unset_property(object, member, key TSRMLS_CC);
+#endif
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // user threw an exception in its magic method 
+        // implementation, send it to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when an object is about to be destructed
+ *  This will call the magic __destruct method
+ *  @param  object
+ *  @param  handle
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::destructObject(zend_object *object, zend_object_handle handle TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // allocate memory for the object
+    MixedObject *obj = (MixedObject *)object;
+    
+    // get meta info
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(object->ce);
+    
+    // prevent exceptions
+    try
+    {
+        // call the destruct function
+        if (obj->cpp) impl->_base->callDestruct(obj->cpp);
+    }
+    catch (const NotImplemented &exception)
+    {
+        // fallback on the default destructor call
+        zend_objects_destroy_object(object, handle TSRMLS_CC);
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // a regular Php::Exception was thrown by the extension, pass it on
+        // to PHP user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called to clean up space that is occupied by the object
+ *  @param  object      The object to be deallocated
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::freeObject(zend_object *object TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // allocate memory for the object
+    MixedObject *obj = (MixedObject *)object;
+    
+    // deallocate the cpp object
+    if (obj->cpp) delete obj->cpp;
+    
+    // pass on to the default destructor
+    zend_objects_free_object_storage(object TSRMLS_CC);
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function that is called when an instance of the class needs to be created.
+ *  This function will create the C++ class, and the PHP object
+ *  @param  entry                   Pointer to the class information
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zend_object_value       The newly created object
+ */
+zend_object_value ClassImpl::createObject(zend_class_entry *entry TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // we need the C++ class meta-information object
+    ClassImpl *impl = cpp_impl(entry);
+
+    // create a new base C++ object
+    auto *cpp = impl->_base->construct();
+
+    // report error on failure
+    if (!cpp) throw Php::Exception(std::string("Unable to instantiate ") + entry->name);
+
+    // the thing we're going to return
+    zend_object_value result;
+    
+    // set the handlers
+    result.handlers = impl->objectHandlers();
+    
+    // store the object
+    cpp->store(entry TSRMLS_CC);
+
+    // store the object in the object cache
+    result.handle = cpp->handle();
+    
+    // done
+    return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Function to create a new iterator to iterate over an object
+ *  @param  entry                   The class entry
+ *  @param  object                  The object to iterate over
+ *  @param  by_ref                  ?????
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return zend_object_iterator*   Pointer to the iterator
+ */
+zend_object_iterator *ClassImpl::getIterator(zend_class_entry *entry, zval *object, int by_ref TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // by-ref is not possible (copied from SPL)
+    if (by_ref) throw Php::Exception("Foreach by ref is not possible");
+    
+    // retrieve the traversable object
+    Traversable *traversable = dynamic_cast<Traversable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // user may throw an exception in the getIterator() function
+    try
+    {
+        // create an iterator
+        auto *iterator = traversable->getIterator();
+        
+        // return the implementation
+        return iterator->implementation();
+    }
+    catch (Exception &exception)
+    {
+        // user threw an exception in its method 
+        // implementation, send it to user space
+        exception.process(TSRMLS_C);
+        
+        // unreachable
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Method that is called to serialize an object
+ *  @param  object      The object to be serialized
+ *  @param  buffer      Buffer in which to store the data
+ *  @param  buf_len     Size of the bufffer
+ *  @param  data        ??
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::serialize(zval *object, unsigned char **buffer, zend_uint *buf_len, zend_serialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // get the serializable object
+    Serializable *serializable = dynamic_cast<Serializable*>(cpp_object(object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // call the serialize method on the object
+    auto value = serializable->serialize();
+
+    // allocate the buffer, and copy the data into it (the zend engine will 
+    // (hopefully) clean up the data for us - the default serialize method does
+    // it like this too)
+    *buffer = (unsigned char*)estrndup(value.c_str(), value.size());
+    *buf_len = value.size();
+
+    // done
+    return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Method that is called to unserialize an object
+ *  @param  object      The object to be unserialized
+ *  @param  entry       The class entry to which is belongs
+ *  @param  buffer      Buffer holding the unserialized data
+ *  @param  data        All the unserialize data
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ *  @return int
+ */
+int ClassImpl::unserialize(zval **object, zend_class_entry *entry, const unsigned char *buffer, zend_uint buf_len, zend_unserialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // create the PHP object
+    object_init_ex(*object, entry);
+    
+    // turn this into a serializale
+    Serializable *serializable = dynamic_cast<Serializable*>(cpp_object(*object TSRMLS_CC));
+    
+    // call the unserialize method on it
+    serializable->unserialize((const char *)buffer, buf_len);
+    
+    // done
+    return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Retrieve an array of zend_function_entry objects that hold the 
+ *  properties for each method. This method is called at extension
+ *  startup time to register all methods.
+ * 
+ *  @param  classname       The class name
+ *  @return zend_function_entry[]
+ */
+const struct _zend_function_entry *ClassImpl::entries()
+{
+    // already initialized?
+    if (_entries) return _entries;
+    
+    // allocate memory for the functions
+    _entries = new zend_function_entry[_methods.size() + 1];
+    
+    // keep iterator counter
+    int i = 0;
+
+    // loop through the functions
+    for (auto &method : _methods)
+    {
+        // retrieve entry
+        zend_function_entry *entry = &_entries[i++];
+
+        // let the function fill the entry
+        method->initialize(entry, _name);
+    }
+
+    // last entry should be set to all zeros
+    zend_function_entry *last = &_entries[i];
+
+    // all should be set to zero
+    memset(last, 0, sizeof(zend_function_entry));
+
+    // done
+    return _entries;
+}
+
+/**
+ *  Initialize the class, given its name
+ * 
+ *  The module functions are registered on module startup, but classes are
+ *  initialized afterwards. The Zend engine is a strange thing. Nevertheless,
+ *  this means that this method is called after the module is already available.
+ *  This function will inform the Zend engine about the existence of the
+ *  class.
+ * 
+ *  @param  base        the c++ class object created in the extension
+ *  @param  prefix      namespace prefix
+ *  @param  tsrm_ls
+ */
+void ClassImpl::initialize(ClassBase *base, const std::string &prefix TSRMLS_DC)
+{
+    // store base pointer
+    _base = base;
+    
+    // the class entry
+    zend_class_entry entry;
+
+    // update the name
+    if (prefix.size() > 0) _name = prefix + "\\" + _name;
+
+    // initialize the class entry
+    INIT_CLASS_ENTRY_EX(entry, _name.c_str(), _name.size(), entries());
+
+    // we need a special constructor
+    entry.create_object = &ClassImpl::createObject;
+    
+    // register function that is called for static method calls
+    entry.get_static_method = &ClassImpl::getStaticMethod;
+    
+    // for traversable classes we install a special method to get the iterator
+    if (_base->traversable()) entry.get_iterator = &ClassImpl::getIterator;
+    
+    // for serializable classes, we install callbacks for serializing and unserializing
+    if (_base->serializable())
+    {
+        // add handlers to serialize and unserialize
+        entry.serialize = &ClassImpl::serialize;
+        entry.unserialize = &ClassImpl::unserialize;
+    }
+    
+    // register the class
+    _entry = zend_register_internal_class(&entry TSRMLS_CC);
+    
+//    // register the classes
+//    for (auto &interface : _interfaces)
+//    {
+//        // register this interface
+//        zend_class_implements(_entry, 1, interface->_entry);
+//    }
+    
+    // allocate doc comment to contain an empty string + a hidden pointer
+    if (!_comment)
+    {
+        // allocate now
+        _comment = (char *)malloc(1 + sizeof(ClassBase *));
+        
+        // empty string on first position
+        _comment[0] = '\0';
+        
+        // this pointer has to be copied to temporary pointer, as &this causes compiler error
+        ClassImpl *impl = this;
+        
+        // copy the 'this' pointer to the doc-comment
+        memcpy(_comment+1, &impl, sizeof(ClassImpl *));
+    }
+    
+    // store pointer to the class in the unused doc_comment member
+#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400    
+    _entry->info.user.doc_comment = _comment;
+#else
+    // and store the wrapper inside the comment
+    _entry->doc_comment = _comment;
+#endif
+
+    // set access types flags for class
+    _entry->ce_flags = (int)_type;
+    
+    // declare all member variables
+    for (auto &member : _members) member->initialize(_entry TSRMLS_CC);
+}
+
+/**
+ *  End namespace
+ */
+}
+
diff --git a/src/classimpl.h b/src/classimpl.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bfb4532
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/classimpl.h
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+/**
+ *  ClassImpl.h
+ *
+ *  Base implementation class that stores all methods and properties that
+ *  exist for a class.
+ *
+ *  @author Emiel Bruijntjes <emiel.bruijntjes@copernica.com>
+ *  @copyright 2014 Copernica BV
+ */
+
+/**
+ *  Set up namespace
+ */
+namespace Php {
+
+/**
+ *  Class definition
+ */
+class ClassImpl
+{
+private:
+    /**
+     *  Pointer to the actual Php::Class<X> that is created in the extension
+     *  @var    ClassBase
+     */
+    ClassBase *_base = nullptr;
+
+    /**
+     *  Name of the class
+     *  @var    string
+     */
+    std::string _name;
+
+    /**
+     *  The comment for reflexion, with a stored pointer to ourselves
+     *  @var    char*
+     */
+    char *_comment = nullptr;
+
+    /**
+     *  The class type (this can be values like Php::Abstract and Php::Final)
+     *  @var    ClassType
+     */
+    ClassType _type = ClassType::Regular;
+
+    /** 
+     *  The class entry
+     *  @var    zend_class_entry
+     */
+    zend_class_entry *_entry = nullptr;
+
+    /**
+     *  Pointer to the entries
+     *  @var    zend_function_entry[]
+     */
+    zend_function_entry *_entries = nullptr;
+    
+    /**
+     *  All class methods
+     *  @var    std::list
+     */
+    std::list<std::shared_ptr<Method>> _methods;
+    
+    /**
+     *  All class members (class properties)
+     *  @var    std::list
+     */
+    std::list<std::shared_ptr<Member>> _members;
+    
+    /**
+     *  Map of dynamically accessible properties
+     *  @var    std::map
+     */
+    std::map<std::string,std::shared_ptr<Property>> _properties;
+
+
+    /**
+     *  Retrieve an array of zend_function_entry objects that hold the 
+     *  properties for each method. This method is called at extension
+     *  startup time to register all methods.
+     * 
+     *  @param  classname       The class name
+     *  @return zend_function_entry[]
+     */
+    const zend_function_entry *entries();
+
+    /**
+     *  Helper method to turn a property into a zval
+     *  @param  value
+     *  @param  type
+     *  @return Value
+     */
+    static zval *toZval(Value &&value, int type);
+
+public:
+    /**
+     *  Constructor
+     *  @param  name            Class name
+     *  @param  type            Class type
+     */
+    ClassImpl(const char *name, ClassType type) : _name(name), _type(type) {}
+
+    /**
+     *  No copying or moving
+     *  @param  that
+     */
+    ClassImpl(const ClassImpl &that) = delete;
+    ClassImpl(ClassImpl &&that) = delete;
+
+    /**
+     *  Destructor
+     */
+    virtual ~ClassImpl();
+
+    /**
+     *  Retrieve the extension's class object
+     *  @param  entry
+     *  @return ClassBase
+     */
+    static ClassBase *base(zend_class_entry *entry);
+
+    /**
+     *  Initialize the class, given its name
+     * 
+     *  The module functions are registered on module startup, but classes are
+     *  initialized afterwards. The Zend engine is a strange thing. Nevertheless,
+     *  this means that this method is called after the module is already available.
+     *  This function will inform the Zend engine about the existence of the
+     *  class.
+     * 
+     *  @param  base        The extension C++ class 
+     *  @param  ns          Namespace name
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     */
+    void initialize(ClassBase *base, const std::string &ns TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Static member functions to create or clone objects based on this class
+     *  @param  entry                   Pointer to class information
+     *  @param  val                     The object to be cloned
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zend_object_value       Object info
+     */
+    static zend_object_value createObject(zend_class_entry *entry TSRMLS_DC);
+    static zend_object_value cloneObject(zval *val TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void destructObject(zend_object *object, unsigned int handle TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void freeObject(zend_object *object TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Static member function that get called when a method or object is called
+     *  @param  ht                      ??
+     *  @param  return_value            Zval holding the variable to store the return value in
+     *  @param  return_value_ptr        Pointer to the same zval
+     *  @param  this_ptr                Object being called
+     *  @param  return_value_used       Is the return value used or not?
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     */
+    static void callMethod(int ht, zval *return_value, zval **return_value_ptr, zval *this_ptr, int return_value_used TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void callInvoke(int ht, zval *return_value, zval **return_value_ptr, zval *this_ptr, int return_value_used TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is used to count the number of elements in the object
+     *  If the user has implemented the Countable interface, this method will 
+     *  call the count() method
+     *  @param  val
+     *  @param  count
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return int
+     */
+    static int countElements(zval *object, long *count TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is called when the object is used as an array in PHP
+     *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+     *  @param  offset          The name of the property
+     *  @param  value           The new value
+     *  @param  type            The type of the variable???
+     *  @param  check_empty     ????
+     *  @return zval
+     */
+    static zval *readDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, int type TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void writeDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, zval *value TSRMLS_DC);
+    static int  hasDimension(zval *object, zval *offset, int check_empty TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void unsetDimension(zval *object, zval *offset TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Retrieve pointer to our own object handlers
+     *  @return zend_object_handlers
+     */
+    zend_object_handlers *objectHandlers();
+
+    /**
+     *  Function to create a new iterator to iterate over an object
+     *  @param  entry                   The class entry
+     *  @param  object                  The object to iterate over
+     *  @param  by_ref                  ?????
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zend_object_iterator*   Pointer to the iterator
+     */
+    static zend_object_iterator *getIterator(zend_class_entry *entry, zval *object, int by_ref TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is called when a property is being read
+     *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+     *  @param  offset          The name of the property
+     *  @param  type            The type of the variable???
+     *  @param  key             ???
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zval
+     */
+    static zval *readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC);
+    static zval *readProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int type TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is called when a property is set / updated
+     *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+     *  @param  name            The name of the property
+     *  @param  value           The new value
+     *  @param  key             ???
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zval
+     */
+    static void writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void writeProperty(zval *object, zval *name, zval *value TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is called to check whether a certain property is set
+     *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+     *  @param  name            The name of the property to check
+     *  @param  has_set_exists  See above
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return bool
+     */
+    static int hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC);
+    static int hasProperty(zval *object, zval *name, int has_set_exists TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function that is called when a property is removed from the project
+     *  @param  object          The object on which it is called
+     *  @param  member          The member to remove
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     */
+    static void unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC);
+    static void unsetProperty(zval *object, zval *member TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Method that returns information about the function signature of a undefined method
+     *  @param  object_ptr
+     *  @param  method
+     *  @param  method_len
+     *  @param  key
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zend_function
+     */
+    static zend_function *getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method, int method_len TSRMLS_DC);
+    static zend_function *getMethod(zval **object_ptr, char *method, int method_len, const zend_literal *key TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Method that returns information about the function signature of an undefined static method
+     *  @param  object_ptr
+     *  @param  method
+     *  @param  method_len
+     *  @param  key
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return zend_function
+     */
+    static zend_function *getStaticMethod(zend_class_entry *entry, char* method, int method_len TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Method that returns information about the __invoke() method
+     *  @param  object
+     *  @param  entry
+     *  @param  func
+     *  @param  object_ptr
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return int
+     */
+    static int getClosure(zval *object, zend_class_entry **entry, zend_function **func, zval **object_ptr TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function to cast the object to a different type
+     *  @param  object
+     *  @param  retval
+     *  @param  type
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return int
+     */
+    static int cast(zval *object, zval *retval, int type TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Function to compare two objects
+     *  @param  object1
+     *  @param  object2
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return int
+     */
+    static int compare(zval *object1, zval *object2 TSRMLS_DC);
+
+    /**
+     *  Methods that are called to serialize/unserialize an object
+     *  @param  object      The object to be serialized
+     *  @param  entry       The class entry to which the object belongs
+     *  @param  buffer      Buffer in which to store the data
+     *  @param  buf_len     Size of the bufffer
+     *  @param  data        Structure describing the serialize/unserialize data
+     *  @param  tsrm_ls
+     *  @return int
+     */
+    static int serialize(zval *object, unsigned char **buffer, unsigned int *buf_len, zend_serialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC);
+    static int unserialize(zval **object, zend_class_entry *entry, const unsigned char *buffer, unsigned int buf_len, zend_unserialize_data *data TSRMLS_DC);
+    
+    /**
+     *  Add a method to the class
+     *  zend_serialize_data     
+     *  The method will be accessible as one of the class methods in your PHP
+     *  code. When the method is called, it will automatically be forwarded
+     *  to the C++ implementation. The flags can be Php::Public, Php::Protected
+     *  or Php::Private (using private methods can be useful if you for example
+     *  want to make the __construct() function private). The access-modified
+     *  flag can be bitwise combined with the flag Php::Final or Php::Abstract).
+     * 
+     *  @param  name        Name of the method
+     *  @param  method      The actual method
+     *  @param  flags       Optional flags
+     *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
+     */
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_0 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_1 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_2 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_3 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_4 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_5 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_6 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const method_callback_7 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags, args)); }
+
+    /**
+     *  Add a static method to the class
+     * 
+     *  Because a C++ static method is just a regular function, that happens to
+     *  have access to the private variables of the class at compile time, you
+     *  can register any function that matches one of the function signatures
+     *  
+     *  @param  name        Name of the method
+     *  @param  method      The actual method
+     *  @param  flags       Optional flags
+     *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
+     */
+    void method(const char *name, const native_callback_0 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const native_callback_1 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const native_callback_2 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args)); }
+    void method(const char *name, const native_callback_3 &method, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, method, flags | ZEND_ACC_STATIC, args)); }
+
+    /**
+     *  Add an abstract method to the class
+     * 
+     *  @param  name        Name of the method
+     *  @param  flags       Optional flags (like public or protected)
+     *  @param  args        Description of the supported arguments
+     */
+    void method(const char *name, int flags=0, const Arguments &args = {}) { _methods.push_back(std::make_shared<Method>(name, Abstract | flags, args)); }
+
+    /**
+     *  Add a property to the class
+     * 
+     *  Every instance of this class will have this property. The property
+     *  can be Php::Public, Php::Protected or Php::Private (altough setting
+     *  private properties is odd as the implementation of the class is in CPP,
+     *  so why use private properties while the whole implementation is already
+     *  hidden)
+     * 
+     *  @param  name        Name of the property
+     *  @param  value       Actual property value
+     *  @param  flags       Optional flags
+     */
+    void property(const char *name, std::nullptr_t value, int flags = Php::Public)      { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NullMember>(name, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, int16_t value, int flags = Php::Public)             { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, int32_t value, int flags = Php::Public)             { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, int64_t value, int flags = Php::Public)             { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<NumericMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, bool value, int flags = Php::Public)                { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<BoolMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, char value, int flags = Php::Public)                { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, &value, 1, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, const std::string &value, int flags = Php::Public)  { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, const char *value, int flags = Php::Public)         { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<StringMember>(name, value, strlen(value), flags)); }
+    void property(const char *name, double value, int flags = Php::Public)              { _members.push_back(std::make_shared<FloatMember>(name, value, flags)); }
+
+    /**
+     *  Set property with callbacks
+     *  @param  name        Name of the property
+     *  @param  getter      Getter method
+     *  @param  setter      Setter method
+     */
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter)                                    { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter); }
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter)                                    { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter); }
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter)   { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter); }
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_0 &setter)   { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter); }
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_0 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter)   { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter); }
+    void property(const char *name, const getter_callback_1 &getter, const setter_callback_1 &setter)   { _properties[name] = std::make_shared<Property>(getter,setter); }
+    
+
+
+
+};
+
+/**
+ *  End namespace
+ */
+}
+
diff --git a/src/includes.h b/src/includes.h
index f06f686..c8f69e9 100644
--- a/src/includes.h
+++ b/src/includes.h
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@
 #include "../include/traversable.h"
 #include "../include/classtype.h"
 #include "../include/classbase.h"
-#include "../include/class.h"
 #include "../include/interface.h"
+#include "../include/class.h"
 #include "../include/namespace.h"
 #include "../include/extension.h"
 #include "../include/call.h"
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
 #include "invaliditerator.h"
 #include "traverseiterator.h"
 #include "streambuf.h"
+#include "classimpl.h"
 
 #ifndef ZVAL_COPY_VALUE
 #define ZVAL_COPY_VALUE(z, v)  \
diff --git a/src/namespace.cpp b/src/namespace.cpp
index e828112..d462684 100644
--- a/src/namespace.cpp
+++ b/src/namespace.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ void Namespace::initialize(const std::string &parent TSRMLS_DC)
     std::string prefix = parent.size() ? parent + "\\" + _name : _name;
     
     // loop through the classes in this namespace
-    for (auto &c : _classes) c->initialize(prefix TSRMLS_CC);
+    for (auto &c : _classes) c->implementation()->initialize(c.get(), prefix TSRMLS_CC);
     
     // and loop through the other namespaces
     for (auto &n : _namespaces) n->initialize(prefix TSRMLS_CC);