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 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.
What’s New & Exciting in PHP on IBM i in 2024
A proven IBM i solution for API, mobile, and web application development, PHP is now at version 8.3. Solid and dependable, today’s PHP is fast, easy to code, yet powerful for the modern developer.
In the video below, courtesy of Toronto User Group (TUG), Alan Seiden explores modern uses for PHP. He provides tips and code samples, discusses recent PHP enhancements, and offers his recommendations for security and performance. You’ll also learn how:
- IBM i users enjoy easy updates and fast performance.
- The PHP package comes with key extensions, tested and working out of the box.
- Each new PHP release is faster, more powerful, and encourages better development practices, to reduce technical debt.
Call/Parm Your Open Source Apps from RPG and CL with QSHCALL
A few years back I created the QShell on IBM i (QshOni) project to allow QShell/PASE (open source) apps to be more easily integrated and used with traditional IBM i job streams written in RPG and CL. Since then, many developers have adopted QshOni to utilize their open source apps in conjunction with their classic traditional apps.
Recently I added several new commands to QshOni to make living the PASE life even easier for RPG developers. Today’s focus will be on the QSHCALL command.
Which PHP Versions Get Critical Security Updates?
Although there are many reasons—including performance—to update to newer PHP releases, the number one reason is to avoid losing security updates.
Each version of PHP (7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, etc.) has three years of support before it is considered end of life. For two years, it gets bug fixes and all security fixes. In the third year, it gets only critical security fixes. After that, nothing!
Our Favorite ibm_db2 Settings for PHP
When supporting our Seiden CP+ PHP, we found that documentation for the “classic” ibm_db2 extension for IBM i wasn’t easy to find.
To help ourselves as well as others, we updated the PHP.net manual to describe each ibm_db2.i5_* setting. This blog post links to that manual page and highlights a few of our favorite ibm_db2 settings.
PHP 8.3 for IBM i Released in Seiden PHP
Last week the IBM i community got PHP 8.3, the newest version, via Seiden PHP+.
While PHP 8.3 has valuable updates, PHP 8.0 and lower are no longer receiving even security fixes, increasing your risk of issues with security and certainly with your next security audit. Contact Alan for a free upgrade assessment.
PHP 8.3’s new features include json_validate. You’ll find the full list of changes and supporting details at PHP.Watch.
IBM i Modernization Seminar at IBM France
On December 5, 2023, Alan joins fellow IBM Champions Koen Decorte and Charles Guarino at IBM France for a day-long seminar and networking event focused on IBM i modernization, AI, Business Intelligence (BI), and cyber resilience.
Sponsored by IBM and CD-Invest, the seminar agenda balances educational sessions with opportunities to ask questions and have informal discussions with the presenters and fellow attendees.
PHP 8.3: How the Community Helps PHP Evolve
The inclusion in PHP 8.3 of two enhancements by Seiden Group’s own Calvin Buckley* inspired me to write this post.
PHP is moved forward by its community. Each year there is a new major release with enhancements, each month a maintenance release. PHP 8.3 is another achievement in the steady cycle of improvements.
Here are some key resources for understanding how the PHP language is built and enhanced.
Older 32-Bit PHP & PASE Apps Can Break in IBM i 7.5
This alert was originally published in Seiden Group’s July 2023 Support Bulletin.
Seiden PHP+ fully supports IBM i 7.5.
IBM i 7.5 includes OpenSSL 1.1.1, an upgrade that can disable older PASE applications that were tied to 1.0.2 or earlier.