[krob]

I call B.S. No way they are removing json_encode/json_decode from php. That would essentially be removing an extremely high-volume method from the php stack.

[consciousness]

I second your call. That would be a completely insane move!

[meritt]

Not removing it but are needing to replace it with an open-source + free-software version of the code so repo maintainers won't reject the software.