How to use the command phpenv (with examples)

The phpenv command is a PHP version manager that is used for development purposes. It allows you to easily install, manage, and switch between different versions of PHP on your machine. This can be particularly useful when working on projects that require specific PHP versions or when you need to test your code against different PHP versions.

Use case 1: Install a PHP version globally

Code:

phpenv install version

Motivation: Installing a PHP version globally allows you to make it available for use across different projects on your machine. This can be useful when you want to ensure consistent behavior across multiple projects or when you want to use a specific PHP version that is not the default on your system.

Explanation:

• phpenv install: This is the command used to install a PHP version.
• version: The argument provided after install is the version of PHP that you want to install. For example, 7.4.12 or 8.0.0.

Example output:

Downloading php-7.4.12.tar.bz2...
-> https://www.php.net/distributions/php-7.4.12.tar.bz2
Installing PHP versions...

Use case 2: Refresh shim files for all PHP binaries known to phpenv

Code:

phpenv rehash

Motivation: Refreshing shim files is necessary when you have installed or removed PHP versions using phpenv and want to ensure that the system is aware of the changes. This command updates the linkages to the PHP binaries and ensures that the correct version is used when executing PHP commands.

Explanation:

• phpenv rehash: This command refreshes the shim files for all PHP binaries known to phpenv.

Example output:

Rehashing...

Use case 3: List all installed PHP versions

Code:

phpenv versions

Motivation: Listing all installed PHP versions can be helpful when you want to check which versions are currently available on your machine. This command allows you to see a list of installed PHP versions and easily switch between them if needed.

Explanation:

• phpenv versions: This command lists all installed PHP versions.

Example output:

* 7.4.12 (set by /path/to/phpenv_version)
  7.3.23
  7.2.34

Use case 4: Display the currently active PHP version

Code:

phpenv version

Motivation: Displaying the currently active PHP version can be useful when you need to confirm which version is being used for a particular project. This command helps you ensure that you are using the correct PHP version in your development environment.

Explanation:

• phpenv version: This command displays the currently active PHP version.

Example output:

7.4.12 (set by /path/to/phpenv_version)

Use case 5: Set the global PHP version

Code:

phpenv global version

Motivation: Setting the global PHP version allows you to define a default version that will be used across all projects on your machine unless explicitly overridden. This can be useful when you want to ensure consistency and avoid compatibility issues with different PHP versions.

Explanation:

• phpenv global: This command sets the global PHP version.
• version: The argument provided after global is the PHP version that you want to set as the global version. For example, 7.4.12 or 8.0.0.

Example output:

Setting global PHP version to 7.4.12...

Use case 6: Set the local PHP version, which overrides the global version

Code:

phpenv local version

Motivation: Setting the local PHP version allows you to specify a PHP version that is specific to a particular project directory. This overrides the global PHP version for that project, allowing you to have different PHP versions for different projects.

Explanation:

• phpenv local: This command sets the local PHP version.
• version: The argument provided after local is the PHP version that you want to set as the local version for the current project. For example, 7.4.12 or 8.0.0.

Example output:

Setting local PHP version to 7.4.12...

Use case 7: Unset the local PHP version

Code:

phpenv local --unset

Motivation: Unsetting the local PHP version allows you to remove the project-specific PHP version that was previously set. This can be useful when you no longer want to use a different PHP version for a particular project and want to revert to the global version.

Explanation:

• phpenv local --unset: This command unsets the local PHP version for the current project.

Example output:

Local PHP version unset for the current project.

Conclusion

The phpenv command is a powerful tool for managing PHP versions in a development environment. With its various use cases, you can easily install, switch between, and set different PHP versions, ensuring compatibility and consistency across your projects. Whether you need to ensure compatibility with legacy code or want to experiment with the latest PHP features, phpenv has got you covered.