GnuPG PHP Extension for IBM i: Now Included with Seiden Support
At Seiden Group, we listen to client requests that keep their IBM i applications secure, modern, and practical.
Recently, a customer asked us to port the GnuPG (GNUPG) PHP extension to IBM i. This extension is now available to Seiden Support subscribers.
Seiden PHP+ Delivers PHP 8.5 to IBM i
Each year brings a new PHP release. We’ve prepared Seiden PHP+ so that IBM i users can adopt PHP 8.5 shortly after it becomes generally available (GA) around November 20, 2025. As I mentioned in Keep Your PHP Secure: Why Regular Updates Matter, PHP users should adopt a regular upgrade schedule to make upgrades easier.
Notable Enhancements in PHP 8.5
Two updates stand out to me:
Keep Your PHP Secure: Why Regular Updates Matter
Cybersecurity best practices require regular security assessments, including for PHP.
We recommend installing PHP patch releases at least quarterly. You can review all regular PHP updates, including CVE security fixes, on the php.net changelog page. Our Seiden PHP+ changelog provides additional updates that we include in our supported Seiden PHP+ package.
Easy Job Scheduling and Queuing with Seiden PHP+ on IBM i
Using a job queue or scheduler to run PHP scripts helps ensure that PHP-based processes are run successfully and on time.
To make it easy for Seiden PHP+ users to schedule jobs, we provide job scheduler or queue functionality and support with our Seiden PHP+ SmartSupport.
Benefits include the ability to:
Seiden PHP+: Built for IBM i. Backed by Experts.
I’m pleased to share that over the past year, we’ve rebranded our PHP distribution as Seiden PHP+.
When we first created CommunityPlus+ PHP, it was meant to fill a gap—providing a stable, supported PHP environment for IBM i after Zend Server Basic was discontinued. The new name, Seiden PHP+, better reflects our team’s role in offering and supporting this full-featured, enterprise-grade PHP stack that businesses rely on for speed, stability, and security.
For those who want hands-on help, our Install & Learn service is a great way to get started, and our SmartSupport program keeps your system secure and running smoothly. Whether you’re using PHP for new APIs or modernizing legacy web apps, Seiden PHP+ is designed to support you.
Thanks to all our clients and partners who’ve helped us improve this platform. We’re proud to continue developing tools and services that move IBM i forward.
Contact us to schedule a complimentary PHP upgrade assessment. I’d love to hear what you’re building.
Creating a Debug Log with the PHP Toolkit for IBM i
One of my favorite features of the PHP Toolkit for IBM i is its ability to generate a detailed debug log. The log includes connection information, program call options, parameters in and out, and performance timing. When we receive questions about the toolkit as part of our SmartSupport, a debug log helps resolve the question quickly.
Why use the PHP Toolkit? It can call commands, RPG, COBOL, and CL programs, flexibly and fast. The debug log can make troubleshooting easier than with other methods that don’t have a log, such as stored procedures.
PHP 8.4 Is Here
PHP 8.4 represents another step in PHP’s evolution, once again improving performance and adding features to help developers write more concise, high quality code.
PHP 8.4 is now available for IBM i from Seiden Group.
PHP: The “RPG” of Open Source for IBM i
Reliable. Versatile. Fast. The terms we use to describe modern RPG applications apply to PHP as well. That’s why PHP remains a top choice to supplement RPG for IBM i projects involving the web, APIs, and high-volume transactions.
One sterling example is Curbstone’s PCI-validated payment solution, which uses PHP-based portals to process over 8 billion dollars in credit card payments annually with 99.99% uptime availability.
PHP on IBM i Rebuild Announcement
On August 12, 2024, we pushed a major update to Seiden PHP+, in versions from 7.3 to 8.3, to accommodate IBM updates to OpenSSL. If you receive warnings in your PHP error log resembling: Module "PDO" is already loaded in Unknown on line 0, follow the steps in this article.