proposed syntax

compiled code

class Bar extends AwesomeClass {

    const FOO = 'Foo';
    public $bar = 'Bar';
    protected $var = 'Var';
    private $secret = 'Secret';

    public function init() {
        $this->myFunction('Foo');
        echo(self::FOO);
    }
    
    public function myFunction($arg) {
        doSomething();
    }
    
    public function string() {
        $string = 'Hello World ';
        $trimmed = trim($string);
    }
    
    protected function globals() {
        print($_GET['query']);
        print($_POST['data']);
        print($_REQUEST['something']);
        print($_SESSION['user']);
    }
    
    public function dataTypes() {
        $string = 'string';
        $array = array('item', 'anotherItem');
        $dict = array('key' => 'value', 'another key' => 'another value');
        $dict['newKey'] = 'some other value';
        $dict['some other key'] = 'testing';
    }
    
    public function shortCuts() {
        $___TMP___ = explode('Foo|Bar|Foo|Bar');
        $foo = $___TMP___['1'];
        print($foo);
    }
    
    public function regularPhp() {
        $variable = 'Something';
    }
}

gistfile1.txt

class Bar extends AwesomeClass

    const FOO = 'Foo'
    bar = 'Bar' //without the visibility indicator, it defaults to public
    protected var = 'Var'
    private secret = 'Secret'

    //but if you want, you can declare public
    public func init()
        this.myFunction('Foo')
        echo(self::FOO)

    func myFunction(arg)
        doSomething()

    private func string()
        string = 'Hello World '
        trimmed = string.trim()

    protected func globals()
        print(_GET.query)
        print(_POST.data)
        print(_REQUEST.something)
        print(_SESSION.user)

    func dataTypes()
        string = 'string'

        //arrays can't have custom keys
        array = ['item', 'anotherItem']

        //this would be a stdObj or an array
        dict = {key: 'value', 'another key': 'another value'}
        dict.newKey = 'some other value'
        dict.'some other key' = 'testing'

    func shortCuts()
        foo = 'Foo|Bar|Foo|Bar'.explode('|')[1]
        print(foo) //outputs 'Bar'

    func regularPhp()
        <<<
        $variable = 'Something';
        >>>

Would the indentation matter? If so, you could maybe use something similar to Ruby's syntax?

func myFunction(arg)
    doSomething()

private // indented underneath will be private

    func foo()
        string = 'Hello World '
        trimmed = string.trim()

    func bar()
        string = 'Hello World '
        trimmed = string.trim()

@polarblau I would rather think of a syntax that resembles php's rather than twist it all around... IMHO, defining visibility currently is not broken on php.

I see your point. Maybe I just like Ruby too much :D .
Good luck — really looking forward to seeing where you take this.