this script when called will output the list of files in its folder, minus itself, as JSON

filesJSON.php

<?php

/* this script when called will output the list of files in its folder, minus itself, as JSON */

$files = scandir('./');

$justFilesNoFolders = array_filter($files, function($item) {
    return !is_dir($item);
}
);

$withoutThisScript = array_filter($justFilesNoFolders, function($item) {
    return $item != basename(__FILE__);
}
);

$justValues = array_values($withoutThisScript);

$asJSONString = json_encode($justValues);

echo $asJSONString;

?>