diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/README.rst b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..17e89c8c35bf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+Symfony Debug Extension
+=======================
+
+This extension adds a ``symfony_zval_info($key, $array, $options = 0)`` function that:
+
+- exposes zval_hash/refcounts, allowing e.g. efficient exploration of arbitrary structures in PHP,
+- does work with references, preventing memory copying.
+
+Its behavior is about the same as:
+
+.. code-block:: php
+
+    <?php
+
+    function symfony_zval_info($key, $array, $options = 0)
+    {
+        // $options is currenlty not used, but could be in future version.
+
+        if (!array_key_exists($key, $array)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        $info = array(
+            'type' => gettype($array[$key]),
+            'zval_hash' => /* hashed memory address of $array[$key] */,
+            'zval_refcount' => /* internal zval refcount of $array[$key] */,
+            'zval_isref' => /* is_ref status of $array[$key] */,
+        );
+
+        switch ($info['type']) {
+            case 'object':
+                $info += array(
+                    'object_class' => get_class($array[$key]),
+                    'object_refcount' => /* internal object refcount of $array[$key] */,
+                    'object_hash' => spl_object_hash($array[$key]),
+                );
+                break;
+
+            case 'resource':
+                $info += array(
+                    'resource_id' => (int) substr((string) $array[$key], 13),
+                    'resource_type' => get_resource_type($array[$key]),
+                    'resource_refcount' => /* internal resource refcount of $array[$key] */,
+                );
+                break;
+
+            case 'array':
+                $info += array(
+                    'array_count' => count($array[$key]),
+                );
+                break;
+
+            case 'string':
+                $info += array(
+                    'strlen' => strlen($array[$key]),
+                );
+                break;
+        }
+
+        return $info;
+    }
+
+To enable the extension from source, run:
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    phpize
+    ./configure
+    make
+    sudo make install
+
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.m4 b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.m4
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..3c56047150569
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+dnl $Id$
+dnl config.m4 for extension symfony_debug
+
+dnl Comments in this file start with the string 'dnl'.
+dnl Remove where necessary. This file will not work
+dnl without editing.
+
+dnl If your extension references something external, use with:
+
+dnl PHP_ARG_WITH(symfony_debug, for symfony_debug support,
+dnl Make sure that the comment is aligned:
+dnl [  --with-symfony_debug             Include symfony_debug support])
+
+dnl Otherwise use enable:
+
+PHP_ARG_ENABLE(symfony_debug, whether to enable symfony_debug support,
+dnl Make sure that the comment is aligned:
+[  --enable-symfony_debug           Enable symfony_debug support])
+
+if test "$PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG" != "no"; then
+  dnl Write more examples of tests here...
+
+  dnl # --with-symfony_debug -> check with-path
+  dnl SEARCH_PATH="/usr/local /usr"     # you might want to change this
+  dnl SEARCH_FOR="/include/symfony_debug.h"  # you most likely want to change this
+  dnl if test -r $PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG/$SEARCH_FOR; then # path given as parameter
+  dnl   SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR=$PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG
+  dnl else # search default path list
+  dnl   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for symfony_debug files in default path])
+  dnl   for i in $SEARCH_PATH ; do
+  dnl     if test -r $i/$SEARCH_FOR; then
+  dnl       SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR=$i
+  dnl       AC_MSG_RESULT(found in $i)
+  dnl     fi
+  dnl   done
+  dnl fi
+  dnl
+  dnl if test -z "$SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR"; then
+  dnl   AC_MSG_RESULT([not found])
+  dnl   AC_MSG_ERROR([Please reinstall the symfony_debug distribution])
+  dnl fi
+
+  dnl # --with-symfony_debug -> add include path
+  dnl PHP_ADD_INCLUDE($SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR/include)
+
+  dnl # --with-symfony_debug -> check for lib and symbol presence
+  dnl LIBNAME=symfony_debug # you may want to change this
+  dnl LIBSYMBOL=symfony_debug # you most likely want to change this 
+
+  dnl PHP_CHECK_LIBRARY($LIBNAME,$LIBSYMBOL,
+  dnl [
+  dnl   PHP_ADD_LIBRARY_WITH_PATH($LIBNAME, $SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR/lib, SYMFONY_DEBUG_SHARED_LIBADD)
+  dnl   AC_DEFINE(HAVE_SYMFONY_DEBUGLIB,1,[ ])
+  dnl ],[
+  dnl   AC_MSG_ERROR([wrong symfony_debug lib version or lib not found])
+  dnl ],[
+  dnl   -L$SYMFONY_DEBUG_DIR/lib -lm
+  dnl ])
+  dnl
+  dnl PHP_SUBST(SYMFONY_DEBUG_SHARED_LIBADD)
+
+  PHP_NEW_EXTENSION(symfony_debug, symfony_debug.c, $ext_shared)
+fi
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.w32 b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.w32
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..487e6913891cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/config.w32
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// $Id$
+// vim:ft=javascript
+
+// If your extension references something external, use ARG_WITH
+// ARG_WITH("symfony_debug", "for symfony_debug support", "no");
+
+// Otherwise, use ARG_ENABLE
+// ARG_ENABLE("symfony_debug", "enable symfony_debug support", "no");
+
+if (PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG != "no") {
+	EXTENSION("symfony_debug", "symfony_debug.c");
+}
+
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/php_symfony_debug.h b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/php_symfony_debug.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c935f67019299
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/php_symfony_debug.h
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Symfony package.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+#ifndef PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_H
+#define PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_H
+
+extern zend_module_entry symfony_debug_module_entry;
+#define phpext_symfony_debug_ptr &symfony_debug_module_entry
+
+#define PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_VERSION "1.0"
+
+#ifdef PHP_WIN32
+#	define PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_API __declspec(dllexport)
+#elif defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ >= 4
+#	define PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_API __attribute__ ((visibility("default")))
+#else
+#	define PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_API
+#endif
+
+#ifdef ZTS
+#include "TSRM.h"
+#endif
+
+ZEND_BEGIN_MODULE_GLOBALS(symfony_debug)
+	intptr_t req_rand_init;
+ZEND_END_MODULE_GLOBALS(symfony_debug)
+
+PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_MSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_RINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_RSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_MINFO_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_GINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+PHP_GSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug);
+
+PHP_FUNCTION(symfony_zval_info);
+
+static char *_symfony_debug_memory_address_hash(void *);
+static const char *_symfony_debug_zval_type(zval *);
+static const char* _symfony_debug_get_resource_type(long);
+static int _symfony_debug_get_resource_refcount(long);
+
+#ifdef ZTS
+#define SYMFONY_DEBUG_G(v) TSRMG(symfony_debug_globals_id, zend_symfony_debug_globals *, v)
+#else
+#define SYMFONY_DEBUG_G(v) (symfony_debug_globals.v)
+#endif
+
+#endif	/* PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_H */
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/symfony_debug.c b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/symfony_debug.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..2bcb922d5c98b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/symfony_debug.c
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Symfony package.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
+#include "php.h"
+#include "php_ini.h"
+#include "ext/standard/info.h"
+#include "php_symfony_debug.h"
+#include "ext/standard/php_rand.h"
+#include "ext/standard/php_lcg.h"
+#include "ext/spl/php_spl.h"
+#include "Zend/zend_gc.h"
+
+ZEND_DECLARE_MODULE_GLOBALS(symfony_debug)
+
+ZEND_BEGIN_ARG_INFO_EX(symfony_zval_arginfo, 0, 0, 2)
+	ZEND_ARG_INFO(0, key)
+	ZEND_ARG_ARRAY_INFO(0, array, 0)
+	ZEND_ARG_INFO(0, options)
+ZEND_END_ARG_INFO()
+
+const zend_function_entry symfony_debug_functions[] = {
+	PHP_FE(symfony_zval_info,	symfony_zval_arginfo)
+	PHP_FE_END
+};
+
+PHP_FUNCTION(symfony_zval_info)
+{
+	zval *key = NULL, *arg = NULL;
+	zval **data = NULL;
+	HashTable *array = NULL;
+	long options = 0;
+
+	if (zend_parse_parameters(ZEND_NUM_ARGS(), "zh|l", &key, &array, &options) == FAILURE) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	switch (Z_TYPE_P(key)) {
+		case IS_STRING:
+			if (zend_symtable_find(array, Z_STRVAL_P(key), Z_STRLEN_P(key) + 1, (void **)&data) == FAILURE) {
+				return;
+			}
+		break;
+		case IS_LONG:
+			if (zend_hash_index_find(array, Z_LVAL_P(key), (void **)&data)) {
+				return;
+			}
+		break;
+	}
+
+	arg = *data;
+
+	array_init(return_value);
+
+	add_assoc_string(return_value, "type", (char *)_symfony_debug_zval_type(arg), 1);
+	add_assoc_stringl(return_value, "zval_hash", _symfony_debug_memory_address_hash((void *)arg), 16, 1);
+	add_assoc_long(return_value, "zval_refcount", Z_REFCOUNT_P(arg));
+	add_assoc_bool(return_value, "zval_isref", (zend_bool)Z_ISREF_P(arg));
+
+	if (Z_TYPE_P(arg) == IS_OBJECT) {
+		static char hash[33] = {0};
+		php_spl_object_hash(arg, (char *)hash);
+		add_assoc_stringl(return_value, "object_class", (char *)Z_OBJCE_P(arg)->name, Z_OBJCE_P(arg)->name_length, 1);
+		add_assoc_long(return_value, "object_refcount", EG(objects_store).object_buckets[Z_OBJ_HANDLE_P(arg)].bucket.obj.refcount);
+		add_assoc_string(return_value, "object_hash", hash, 1);
+	} else if (Z_TYPE_P(arg) == IS_ARRAY) {
+		add_assoc_long(return_value, "array_count", zend_hash_num_elements(Z_ARRVAL_P(arg)));
+	} else if(Z_TYPE_P(arg) == IS_RESOURCE) {
+		add_assoc_long(return_value, "resource_id", Z_LVAL_P(arg));
+		add_assoc_string(return_value, "resource_type", (char *)_symfony_debug_get_resource_type(Z_LVAL_P(arg)), 1);
+		add_assoc_long(return_value, "resource_refcount", _symfony_debug_get_resource_refcount(Z_LVAL_P(arg)));
+	} else if (Z_TYPE_P(arg) == IS_STRING) {
+		add_assoc_long(return_value, "strlen", Z_STRLEN_P(arg));
+	}
+}
+
+static const char* _symfony_debug_get_resource_type(long rsid)
+{
+	const char *res_type;
+	res_type = zend_rsrc_list_get_rsrc_type(rsid);
+
+	if (!res_type) {
+		return "Unknown";
+	}
+
+	return res_type;
+}
+
+static int _symfony_debug_get_resource_refcount(long rsid)
+{
+	zend_rsrc_list_entry *le;
+
+	if (zend_hash_index_find(&EG(regular_list), rsid, (void **) &le)==SUCCESS) {
+		return le->refcount;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static char *_symfony_debug_memory_address_hash(void *address)
+{
+	static char result[17] = {0};
+	intptr_t address_rand;
+
+	if (!SYMFONY_DEBUG_G(req_rand_init)) {
+		if (!BG(mt_rand_is_seeded)) {
+			php_mt_srand(GENERATE_SEED() TSRMLS_CC);
+		}
+		SYMFONY_DEBUG_G(req_rand_init) = (intptr_t)php_mt_rand();
+	}
+
+	address_rand = (intptr_t)address ^ SYMFONY_DEBUG_G(req_rand_init);
+
+	snprintf(result, 17, "%016zx", address_rand);
+
+	return result;
+}
+
+static const char *_symfony_debug_zval_type(zval *zv)
+{
+	switch (Z_TYPE_P(zv)) {
+		case IS_NULL:
+			return "NULL";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_BOOL:
+			return "boolean";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_LONG:
+			return "integer";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_DOUBLE:
+			return "double";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_STRING:
+			return "string";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_ARRAY:
+			return "array";
+			break;
+
+		case IS_OBJECT:
+			return "object";
+
+		case IS_RESOURCE:
+			return "resource";
+
+		default:
+			return "unknown type";
+	}
+}
+
+zend_module_entry symfony_debug_module_entry = {
+	STANDARD_MODULE_HEADER,
+	"symfony_debug",
+	symfony_debug_functions,
+	PHP_MINIT(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_MSHUTDOWN(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_RINIT(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_RSHUTDOWN(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_MINFO(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_VERSION,
+	PHP_MODULE_GLOBALS(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_GINIT(symfony_debug),
+	PHP_GSHUTDOWN(symfony_debug),
+	NULL,
+	STANDARD_MODULE_PROPERTIES_EX
+};
+
+#ifdef COMPILE_DL_SYMFONY_DEBUG
+ZEND_GET_MODULE(symfony_debug)
+#endif
+
+PHP_GINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	symfony_debug_globals->req_rand_init = 0;
+}
+
+PHP_GSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+
+}
+
+PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+PHP_MSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+PHP_RINIT_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+PHP_RSHUTDOWN_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	return SUCCESS;
+}
+
+PHP_MINFO_FUNCTION(symfony_debug)
+{
+	php_info_print_table_start();
+	php_info_print_table_header(2, "Symfony Debug support", "enabled");
+	php_info_print_table_header(2, "Symfony Debug version", PHP_SYMFONY_DEBUG_VERSION);
+	php_info_print_table_end();
+}
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/tests/001.phpt b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/tests/001.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a0015a939445c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Debug/Resources/ext/tests/001.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+--TEST--
+Test symfony_zval_info API
+--SKIPIF--
+<?php if (!extension_loaded("symfony_debug")) print "skip"; ?>
+--FILE--
+<?php 
+
+$int = 42;
+$float = 42.42;
+$str = "foobar";
+$object = new StdClass;
+$array = array('foo', 'bar');
+$resource = tmpfile();
+$null = null;
+$bool = true;
+
+$anotherint = 42;
+$refcount2 = &$anotherint;
+
+$var = array('int' => $int,
+			 'float' => $float,
+			 'str' => $str,
+			 'object' => $object,
+			 'array' => $array,
+			 'resource' => $resource,
+			 'null' => $null,
+			 'bool' => $bool,
+			 'refcount' => &$refcount2);
+
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('int', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('float', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('str', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('object', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('array', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('resource', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('null', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('bool', $var));
+
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('refcount', $var));
+var_dump(symfony_zval_info('not-exist', $var));
+?>
+--EXPECTF--
+array(4) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(7) "integer"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+}
+array(4) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(6) "double"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+}
+array(5) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(6) "string"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+  ["strlen"]=>
+  int(6)
+}
+array(7) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(6) "object"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+  ["object_class"]=>
+  string(8) "stdClass"
+  ["object_refcount"]=>
+  int(1)
+  ["object_hash"]=>
+  string(32) "%s"
+}
+array(5) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(5) "array"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+  ["array_count"]=>
+  int(2)
+}
+array(7) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(8) "resource"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+  ["resource_id"]=>
+  int(4)
+  ["resource_type"]=>
+  string(6) "stream"
+  ["resource_refcount"]=>
+  int(1)
+}
+array(4) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(4) "NULL"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+}
+array(4) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(7) "boolean"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(2)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(false)
+}
+array(4) {
+  ["type"]=>
+  string(7) "integer"
+  ["zval_hash"]=>
+  string(16) "%s"
+  ["zval_refcount"]=>
+  int(3)
+  ["zval_isref"]=>
+  bool(true)
+}
+NULL
\ No newline at end of file