Description:
------------
When setting a static variable by reference (as one would want to do in PHP4 since the object model uses copies instead of references) the static variable becomes non-static and is lost when the function ends. I assume this could be fixed by making the reference itself static instead of the variable.

This can also be "fixed" by using a container as the static variable (an array or object) and setting the var by ref within the array/object.

$v[0] =& $var;
or
$v->v =& $var;

I also tested this in PHP 5.0.4 and the same thing happens. I realize that PHP5 uses refs instead of copies by default.

Reproduce code:
---------------
function a() {
    static $v;
    $a = 0;
    if (!isset($v)) {
        $v =& $a;
        echo 'setting v<br/> ';
    }
}
a();
a();
function b() {
    static $w;
    $a = 0;
    if (!isset($w)) {
        $w = $a;
        echo 'setting w<br/> ';
    }
}
b();
b();

Expected result:
----------------
setting v
setting w

Actual result:
--------------
setting v
setting v
setting w