Conquering the Code Canyon: How to Install PHP 8.1 on Ubuntu 20.04 Without Summoning Cthulhu (Probably)
You've decided to waltz with the latest version of PHP, the magnificent PHP 8.1. But here you are, staring down the barrel of your Ubuntu 20.0.4 terminal, feeling like a lone programmer in a spaghetti western. Fear not, fearless coder! This here guide will have you rocking PHP 8.1 faster than you can say "variable scope."
First things first: Acknowledging the Lack of Official Love
Now, Ubuntu 20.04 is a fine vintage, but it doesn't come pre-loaded with PHP 8.1. No worries, that's what third-party repositories are for. We'll be using the trusty Ondrej repository, a haven for PHP enthusiasts.
Side note: If you're unfamiliar with repositories, think of them like buffets for your system. You get to pick and choose the software you want, and it gets delivered straight to your terminal door (well, virtually).
Adding the Ondrej Buffet to Your Software Smorgasbord
-
Update your package list like a responsible adult:
Bashsudo apt update -
Summon the key to the Ondrej kingdom:
sudo apt install -y curl wget gnupg
wget -q https://deb.ondrej.org/gpgkey | sudo -E apt-key add -
Don't worry about the fancy letters and symbols, this magic incantation just adds a security key to verify the software you're about to install. Think of it like checking IDs at a fancy club – gotta make sure everything's legit.
- Tell your system where the PHP 8.1 goodies reside:
echo "deb http://deb.ondrej.org/ubuntu focal php-focal main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ondrej-php.list
Focal is the codename for Ubuntu 20.04. We're basically giving our system the address of the PHP 8.1 treasure trove.
Now, the Fun Part: Installation Time!
- Another round of updates to make sure everything's spick and span:
sudo apt update
- The grand finale – bringing PHP 8.1 on board:
sudo apt install php8.1 php8.1-fpm php8.1-cli php8.1-common php8.1-mbstring php8.1-xml php8.1-json php8.1-curl
This installs PHP 8.1 itself, along with some essential companion modules (like mbstring for fancy text handling and curl for web communication). Feel free to add more modules based on your coding needs – just search for "php8.1-" followed by the module name.
Verification: Did You Actually Install It?
Feeling skeptical? Let's check if PHP 8.1 is chilling on your system like a coding buddy. Run this command in your terminal:
php -v
If you see something like "PHP 8.1.x (cli)" displayed, then congratulations, you've successfully installed PHP 8.1! High fives all around!
Bonus Round: Taming the Web Server Beast (Optional)
If you plan on using PHP for web development, you'll need to configure your web server (like Apache or Nginx) to work with PHP 8.1. This is a whole other adventure, but fear not, there are many resources online to guide you through this step.
Remember, this guide focused on getting PHP 8.1 installed, not wrestling web servers.
Conquering Code Canyon: You've Got This!
There you have it, adventurers! With these steps, you've tamed the wilds of the terminal and installed PHP 8.1 on your Ubuntu 20.04 system. Now go forth and conquer that code canyon – the possibilities are endless!
