PHP super class constructors

In C++, Java, and Scala, instantiating an object automatically invokes the parent class's constructor. Not in PHP 5. Instead you have to invoke it yourself. I am surprised. This potentially a huge source of awful errors.

And for a silly reason because PHP creators couldn't put in the automatic invocation? Is there some other explanation?

Then again, Obj-C doesn't automatically invoke it's parent constructor. I've been waist deep in Obj-C for the past few years and while I won't say that never caused a problem, I've had far bigger issues with Obj-C (e.g., not crashing when accessing uninitialized variables).