How To Update Xampp Php Version To 7.4

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XAMPP: Feeling a bit behind the PHP times? Let's fix that!

Hey there, fellow coders! Is your XAMPP feeling a bit, well, dusty? Like it's rocking a PHP version that belongs in a museum? If you're tired of wrestling with outdated syntax and missing out on all the cool new features, fear not! We're here to take your XAMPP on a time-traveling adventure to the glorious land of PHP 7.4.

Now, before we hop in our DeLorean made of code, there are a few things to keep in mind:

This guide is for Windows users. Our Mac and Linux comrades, you're on your own this time (but hey, maybe you can write a hilarious guide too?).
Back up your stuff! Just in case things go sideways (which, let's be honest, is part of the coding experience), make sure you have a backup of your projects and any custom configurations.

Gearing Up for the Upgrade

Alright, with the disclaimers out of the way, let's gather our supplies:

Your trusty XAMPP control panel. You know, the one you haven't opened in months because... well, let's be honest, we all procrastinate.
The PHP 7.4 download. Head over to the PHP website and snag the non-thread safe version (unless you're using a super fancy server setup, in which case, you probably don't need this guide).
A healthy dose of courage (and maybe some coffee). Upgrading software can be a bit nerve-wracking, but trust me, you've got this!

The Big Upgrade: Buckle Up!

Stop the XAMPP party. This means hitting that big red "Stop" button for both Apache and MySQL. Don't worry, they'll be back up and running soon, rocking the latest PHP threads (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Time travel within XAMPP! Head over to your XAMPP installation directory and rename the existing php folder to something like php_old. This way, if things go south, you can easily switch back to the old version (like a PHP time machine!).
Welcome the new arrival! Extract the downloaded PHP 7.4 files and rename the extracted folder to php. Now, carefully copy this shiny new php folder into your XAMPP directory.
Patching up the time rift (kind of). Open the php.ini file inside the new php folder. There might be some lines referring to the old directory location. Search for anything with "extension_dir" and make sure it points to the new php/ext folder. Save the changes, feeling like a real-life programmer hero.
Fire it up! Now, head back to your XAMPP control panel and hit that glorious "Start" button for both Apache and MySQL. Cross your fingers, hold your breath, and... BOOM! You should be good to go.

Verifying Your PHP Time Travel Success

To confirm your successful time travel mission, you can use the magic of phpinfo(). Here's how:

Create a new PHP file (name it anything you like, like php_version_check.php).
Add this line of code: <?php phpinfo(); ?>
Save the file in your XAMPP's htdocs folder (the default location for your web projects).
Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/your_filename.php (replace your_filename.php with the actual name you used).

Behold! The phpinfo() page should proudly display your new PHP 7.4 version. You've done it! You've upgraded your XAMPP and are now ready to conquer the coding world with the latest and greatest PHP features.

Remember, if you run into any issues, don't panic! There are plenty of resources online to help you troubleshoot. But hopefully, with this guide and a little bit of programmer humor, you've successfully upgraded your XAMPP and are ready to code like it's 2024 (which, spoiler alert, it is!).

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