PHP upgrade needed - Page 2

**Kevin** · 12-14-2021, 05:30 PM

Just a quick update. I have 2 of 3 of the builds done for 7.4.25. That means the hard part is done I just have two more time consuming steps.

The final result will be a new 7.4 option in the CNC. Nobody will be auto-switched and no file changes should be needed. Unless of course you are upgrading all the way from 5 or if you need to modify something to be 7.4 compatible. It will be considered experimental at first.

*Hotdog* · 12-14-2021, 08:20 PM

Okay, will check the CnC in a few days.

**Kevin** · 12-14-2021, 08:45 PM

Oh you can bet I will post here. The third build completed. Unfortunately, I have to redo the second one I started on my way out the door. It failed due to insufficient disk space though so I know it will finish this time.

**Kevin** · 12-14-2021, 10:46 PM

The 3 builds are now all built and installed. All that is left is to add the PHP 7.4 branch to the CNC. I have a script of how to do that but I am going to wait to do so in the morning. I don't think I can screw up beyond offering a broken PHP but I am being careful and I am hopeful that going to 8.0 will be a similar process.

If you really want to try something special, php-7.4.25 is now installed. Our Apache engines don't know about it but it is in the $PATH if you want to see what a script thinks about it.

**Kevin** · 12-15-2021, 11:31 AM

7.4.25 is now an option in the CNC and it works. Please begin testing.

*Hotdog* · 12-15-2021, 08:19 PM

PHP 7.4.25 works great on my site, both the front end and back end of Joomla. And, Joomla stopped complaining about PHP! Thanks, Kevin.

**Kevin** · 12-15-2021, 08:28 PM

That is good to hear. I do plan to start working on 8.0 as well but unfortunately my time has gotten even worse. My mom was transferred from the hospital that is only 15 minutes from my house to one that is an hour and 15 minutes away (unless I want to pay almost $6 in tolls to shave off 15-20 minutes).

*Trilby* · 12-17-2021, 04:01 AM

No problems with 7.4.25. Thanks

**Kevin** · 12-20-2021, 02:18 AM

BTW, I ran into a major snag with PHP 8.0.12. ionCube does not support PHP 8. They are planning to add support with a different product that will not be backwards-compatible. ionCube is used by a bunch of things but they are often small things like plugins rather than main stream apps. We will look into whether or not we can provide a simple check for "do I need ionCube?" rather than the obvious "upgrade and see what breaks". We may also just wait for the new software to exist or ionCube to fall out of importance.

*Hotdog* · 12-21-2021, 06:50 PM

ionCube isn't promising PHP 8 support in the near future. On Dec 2, 2021 they said, "For timeframes on PHP 8.1 support, we would currently not expect it to be within the next 2 months, within the next 6 months is possible, and we would expect it within the next 12 months. These estimates will of course change over time. " By then (12 months) even security patches for PHP 7.4 will have ceased. And, as Kevin pointed out that involves a new software product.

Developers of extensions, components, etc. earning a living from their work and going to be looking for an alternative, IMHO.