Now I remember why I left it so long to add UTF-8 support to the Alpha Framework: the current support for UTF-8 in PHP5 is unpleasant to work with to say the least. Some third party libraries try to make it more bearable, Patchwork UTF-8 in particular is commendable, but these are just plugging gaps in the core language until PHP6 comes along (right around the time we'll see Perl6, and Duke Nukem Forever 2...).

In the interim, we suffer. You can follow my sad trial of bleakness and sorrow here: Convert Alpha to UTF-8

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Updated 2024 : note that the above post was originally published in 2013, but is left here for archival purposes. I have fixed several broken links.