Re: [PHP-DEV] RFC: testing php8.4 against libxml-rs (memory-safe libxml2) - Debian ITP #1146060

On Sat, Aug 29, 2026 at 12:13 PM Pierre <[email protected]> wrote:

> Le 29/08/2026 à 17:43, Riaan de Beer a écrit :
> > Hi,
> >
> > libxml2 is unmaintained since Dec 2025. I built libxml-rs - native-Rust
> > reimplementation, C ABI compatible:
> >
> > https://github.com/infinityabundance/libxml-rs
> > Debian ITP: https://bugs.debian.org/1146060
>
> Hello,
>
> I won't tell if it's a good idea or not, I'm not a core contributor, but
> libxml2 doesn't seem to be unmaintained, yes the latest release is dated
> from dec. 2025, but the repository continue to live its life and has had
> many commits since:
> https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/commits/master?ref_type=HEADS -
> I just think they don't have such breaking bug to fix.
>
> XML is old and mature, libxml2 is old and mature, there's probably not
> much to add to it for it to work gracefully and they don't really need
> to create new releases that often.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Pierre
>

it was briefly unmaintained before new maintainers stepped up.
https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libxml2/-/work_items/1023 🤷