How to Upgrade Your PHP Version with Ondrej’s PPA and an Automation Script

PHP is the backbone of many web applications and frameworks, making it essential to keep your PHP version up-to-date for optimal performance, security, and compatibility. In this blog, we will guide you through upgrading your PHP version using Ondrej’s PPA on Ubuntu and automating the installation of necessary extensions with a script. Let’s dive in!

Why upgrade PHP?

Why Upgrade PHP?

Upgrading PHP ensures:

Security: Protect your applications with the latest security patches.
Performance: Newer versions are faster and more efficient.
Features: Leverage new language features to improve your codebase.

Ondrej’s PPA is a trusted source for installing and managing PHP versions on Ubuntu, maintained by Ondřej Surý. It provides the latest stable versions and extensions of PHP.

Prerequisites

Before we start, ensure you:

Have sudo privileges on your Ubuntu system.
Are running an Ubuntu version compatible with Ondrej’s PPA (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04).
Have backed up your web applications and configuration files.

Step 1: Add Ondrej’s PPA

First, let’s add the PPA repository to your system. Open a terminal and run the following commands:

				
					sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install ca-certificates apt-transport-https software-properties-common -y
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
sudo apt update

Step 2: Install the desired PHP version

To install PHP 8.4 (or any desired version), use:

				
					sudo apt install php8.4

Verify the installation:

				
					php8.4 --version

You should see the installed version displayed in the output.

Step 3: Automate extension installation

If you are migrating from an older PHP version (e.g., PHP 8.3), you may want to install the same extensions for PHP 8.4. Here’s how you can automate this process with a script:

1. Create a script file:

				
					touch install_php_extensions.sh
chmod +x install_php_extensions.sh

2. Edit the script using a text editor:

				
					nano install_php_extensions.sh

3. Add the following content:

				
					#!/bin/bash

# Get installed extensions for PHP 8.3
extensions=$(dpkg -l | grep php8.3- | awk '{print $2}' | sed 's/php8.3-/php8.4-/g')

# Loop through each extension and install the PHP 8.4 equivalent
for extension in $extensions; do
    if apt-cache show "$extension" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
        echo "Installing $extension..."
        sudo apt-get install -y "$extension"
    else
        echo "$extension not found for PHP 8.4, skipping..."
    fi
done

4. Execute the script to install extensions for PHP 8.4:

				
					./install_php_extensions.sh

This script identifies all currently installed PHP 8.3 extensions and attempts to install their PHP 8.4 counterparts.

Step 4: Test your setup

After the upgrade, check that your PHP environment is working correctly:

1. Verify Installed Extensions:

				
					php8.4 -m

2. Test Web Applications: Visit your website and ensure all features work as expected.

3. Check PHP Configuration:

				
					php8.4 -i

Step 5: Clean up (Optional)

If you no longer need the older PHP version, you can remove it:

				
					sudo apt remove php8.3
sudo apt autoremove -y

However, proceed with caution and ensure all applications are fully compatible with the newer version.

Conclusion

Upgrading PHP with Ondrej’s PPA is a straightforward process that ensures you’re always running the latest and most secure PHP version. By leveraging a simple script, you can automate the installation of necessary extensions, saving time and reducing errors.

With your PHP version up-to-date, your web applications are better equipped to perform efficiently and securely in today’s demanding environments. Happy coding!