Accept plaintext as alias for var_export format by dilipom13 · Pull Request #6286 · wp-cli/wp-cli

dilipom13 · 2026-03-21T15:12:44Z

Treat plaintext as an alias for var_export wherever that output format is used (per maintainer note).
Add Utils\is_var_export_format() and use it in param_dump, print_value, and Formatter.
Document plaintext in wp cli param-dump and wp cli alias list synopses.
Add Behat coverage and a small PHPUnit test for the helper.

Please review it.
Thanks, @schlessera, for the guidance.

github-actions · 2026-03-21T15:12:53Z

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gemini-code-assist · 2026-03-21T15:13:06Z

Summary of Changes

Hello, I'm Gemini Code Assist¹! I'm currently reviewing this pull request and will post my feedback shortly. In the meantime, here's a summary to help you and other reviewers quickly get up to speed!

This pull request enhances WP-CLI's output formatting capabilities by introducing "plaintext" as a convenient alias for the "var_export" format. This change streamlines the user experience by providing a more intuitive option for developers who prefer a plain text representation of data that is still valid PHP. The implementation includes a new utility function for format detection, integration into core output mechanisms, updated command documentation, and comprehensive test coverage to ensure reliability.

Highlights

New Output Format Alias: Introduced "plaintext" as an alias for the "var_export" output format across WP-CLI commands, aligning with maintainer notes.
Helper Function: Added a new utility function, "Utils\is_var_export_format()", to consistently check for "var_export" or "plaintext" formats.
Core Integration: Integrated the new format alias and helper function into "WP_CLI\Formatter", "WP_CLI::print_value", and "CLI_Command::param_dump" for consistent behavior.
Documentation Updates: Updated documentation for "wp cli param-dump" and "wp cli alias list" to reflect the availability of the "plaintext" output format.
Test Coverage: Expanded test coverage with new Behat scenarios for "aliases", "cli", and "formatter" features, and a PHPUnit test for the "is_var_export_format" utility.

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Code Review

This pull request introduces plaintext as an alias for the var_export output format, enhancing user experience by providing a more intuitive format name. The changes are consistently applied across various commands (cli alias list, cli param-dump) and the Formatter class. A new utility function Utils\is_var_export_format() centralizes the logic, and the new functionality is well-covered by Behat and PHPUnit tests.

My review includes a couple of suggestions to improve code clarity and maintainability.

I am having trouble creating individual review comments. Click here to see my feedback.

php/class-wp-cli.php (1189-1190)

This new elseif block has the same implementation as the one that follows on lines 1191-1192. This creates redundancy. To improve maintainability, you could combine both conditions into a single block.

For example, you could replace lines 1189-1192 with:

} elseif ( Utils\is_var_export_format( Utils\get_flag_value( $assoc_args, 'format' ) ) || is_array( $value ) || is_object( $value ) ) {
    $_value = var_export( $value, true );
}

php/utils.php (494)

The type hint for $format is mixed, which is too general. Based on its usage with Utils\get_flag_value(), this parameter will typically be a string or null. Using a more specific type hint like @param string|null $format would improve code clarity and help static analysis tools.

 * @param string|null $format Format flag value from command arguments.

swissspidy · 2026-03-21T15:45:42Z

php/utils.php

+ * @param mixed $format Format flag value from command arguments.
+ * @return bool
+ */
+function is_var_export_format( $format ) {


We don't really need an extra function for this one line check. Let's just inline this everywhere

Okay @swissspidy, but still I am confused.
Why are so many files failing

I think I need to check more.

codecov · 2026-03-21T15:47:05Z

Codecov Report

❌ Patch coverage is 86.66667% with 2 lines in your changes missing coverage. Please review.

Files with missing lines	Patch %	Lines
php/WP_CLI/Formatter.php	80.00%	2 Missing ⚠️

📢 Thoughts on this report? Let us know!

swissspidy · 2026-03-21T15:49:56Z

No idea why there are so many test failures 🤔

dilipom13 · 2026-03-21T18:52:31Z

Hello @swissspidy, again, I updated from my side.
Please review it. as per your availability.

Accept plaintext as alias for var_export format

9cc7b27

dilipom13 requested a review from a team as a code owner March 21, 2026 15:12

github-actions bot added command:cli Related to 'cli' command command:cli-alias Related to 'cli alias' command command:cli-param-dump Related to 'cli param-dump' command labels Mar 21, 2026

Merge branch 'main' into fix-4774-plaintext-var-export-alias

4e5921d

gemini-code-assist bot reviewed Mar 21, 2026

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swissspidy reviewed Mar 21, 2026

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Accept plaintext as alias for var_export format

cfce02f

dilipom13 and others added 2 commits March 28, 2026 10:16

Merge branch 'main' into fix-4774-plaintext-var-export-alias

9e76f16

Fix param-dump plaintext option and print_value scalar BC

164b0d1

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Accept plaintext as alias for var_export format#6286

Accept plaintext as alias for var_export format#6286
dilipom13 wants to merge 5 commits intowp-cli:mainfrom
dilipom13:fix-4774-plaintext-var-export-alias

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dilipom13 Mar 21, 2026 •

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dilipom13 commented Mar 21, 2026

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Code Review

php/class-wp-cli.php (1189-1190)

php/utils.php (494)

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