In Batch PHP I showed how to call PHP from a command line. For example, with Zend Server 6 or 7 on IBM i, one would launch a PASE command line using the command CALL QP2TERM, or launch QShell using QSH, then type a command such as this:
/usr/local/zendsvr6/bin/php-cli myscript.php
For those of us who use PHP-CLI often, the above command can be a finger-buster. Let’s shorten the path by creating a symbolic link:
cd /usr/bin
ln -s /usr/local/zendsvr6/bin/php-cli phpc
I created the symbolic link in /usr/bin, a directory that is likely to be in any user’s path.
Now try the shortened command:
phpc myscript.php
To test the shortcut without a PHP script, use the -v switch, which requests version information (‘v’ for version) about your PHP installation.
phpc -v
The above command will return version information that starts out something like this:
PHP 5.3.6 (cli) (built: Apr 7 2011 09:37:14)
Copyright (c) 1997-2011 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.3.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2011 Zend Technologies
with Zend Extension Manager v5.1, Copyright (c) 2003-2010, by Zend Techno
logies
- with Zend Data Cache v4.0, Copyright (c) 2004-2010, by Zend Technologie
s [loaded] [licensed] [disabled]
- with Zend Guard Loader v3.3, Copyright (c) 1998-2010, by Zend Technolog
ies [loaded] [licensed] [enabled]
- with Zend Job Queue v4.0, Copyright (c) 2004-2010, by Zend Technologies
[loaded] [not licensed] [disabled]
By creating a symbolic link to the PHP-CLI binary, practitioners of PHP can speed their work while saving their fingers.
For more about symbolic links, see my article Link up with QShell.
