Compatibility checker for PHP 4.4?

  • Resolved George Notaras

    (@gnotaras)


    9 years, 1 month ago

    Today I received some feedback about errors when one of my plugins is used with PHP 4.4. Since I don’t currently have the opportunity to test such an old PHP version and since I’m not sure if the user will be able to provide the relevant log messages that could help me identify the issue, is there any 3rd party utility that could perform this kind of checking?

    George

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

  • Hi George,

    PHP 4.4 was released 11 years ago and is no longer supported. I do not recommend making changes that enable the use of outdated, insecure versions of PHP like that. PHP 4 support was discontinued in 2007. https://php.net/releases/

    I’d recommend they update their PHP version ASAP.

    As far as you testing old versions, I’m unaware of any utilities that do it. I’m not sure if you can even get PHP 4 for MAMP now.

    Point that user to this page:

    https://www.ads-software.com/about/requirements/

    Be sure to point out this part…

    WordPress also works with PHP 5.2.4+ and MySQL 5.0+, but these versions have reached official End Of Life and as such may expose your site to security vulnerabilities.

    There’s also to “official” hosting requirements page here:

    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Hosting_WordPress

    From all of that, I agree with John that anyone that’s still using PHP 4.4 on a live site is just asking for trouble.

    Thread Starter George Notaras

    (@gnotaras)

    Hi, thanks all for this information.

    That’s true, PHP 4.4 belongs to history (distribution packages actually exist in a part of php.net called ‘museum’ – not even archives!). I’ll let the user know about the official requirements.

    George

    PS: I thought I had marked this topic as resolved so that people don’t bother with it any further. After finding php4 in the ‘museum’ I had already taken the decision to not test it at all. Now marking it as resolved for good.

    Moderator Samuel Wood (Otto)

    (@otto42)

    www.ads-software.com Admin

    Note that WordPress itself has not worked with PHP 4 since version 3.2, 6 years ago. You can safely tell those users to upgrade their hosting. ??

    Thread Starter George Notaras

    (@gnotaras)

    […] WordPress itself has not worked with PHP 4 since version 3.2 […]

    Yeap, that’s old ?? Now that makes me a little skeptical about the accuracy of the user feedback.. He said he’s running WP 4.4.2 with PHP 4.4 and I’m wondering if that could be possible.. Anyway I’ve let him know about the current server requirements.

    Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Yeah, that wouldn’t work at all. ??

    Maybe he meant PHP 5.4, or perhaps even 5.4.4?

    Thread Starter George Notaras

    (@gnotaras)

    Maybe he meant PHP 5.4, or perhaps even 5.4.4?

    James, that’s very possible because the initial feedback I received contained one or two other inaccuraces. The error messages from the logs would be helpful, but I’m still waiting for these.

    Thanks all for your input. The moment I found php 4.4.9 in the php museum, I just knew something was wrong with that feedback. Turns out I’ve most probably wasted everyone’s time with this topic.. ??

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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