July 2015 Summaries

The PHP 7 release is expected to bring significant improvements, including a performance boost and new language features. The new uniform variable syntax will change the way expressions are evaluated, and engine exceptions will facilitate handling errors in applications. Two new operators, the spaceship operator and the null coalesce operator, have been added, which can make code more concise and readable. Scalar type hints will also be introduced, allowing for more precise control over function and method parameters. The release is expected to occur before the end of 2015, but a beta version is already available for testing, and users are encouraged to test their applications and report any issues they find.

DigitalOcean has closed a Series B funding round worth $83 million, led by Access Industries with participation from Andreessen Horowitz. This funding aims to help developers thrive and scaling startups grow on their infrastructure as the company continues to evolve from its humble beginnings as a simple cloud offering two datacenter regions in 2011. Over the years, DigitalOcean has expanded its hardware footprint, added features, and addressed pain points for developers, including creating a simple control panel and now focusing on addressing challenges as they grow, such as spinning up servers and creating production environments to handle load at any scale. The company is grateful to its community, investors, and team for their support and looks forward to writing the next chapter together.