As of today, PHP 7.4 is end of life, which means the PHP 7 version is now officially retired.
Some distributions will backport security patches, but really, it’s time to move on. If you want more info on PHP 7 options, there’s a great thread on LowEndTalk by @lewellyn that has links.
How much this affects you depends on how you use PHP.
Are you mainly an admin? If so, the good news is that PHP 8 has had a couple revs and you may find that a lot of packages “just work”. There may be some config stuff on your server, though even this has been streamlined in many distros. For example, on Debian’s /etc/alternatives system should handled switching the php-fpm.sock symlink.
If you’re primarily a developer, then you should already know about PHP 8 since it’s been out for two years. Heck, just having named arguments (new in PHP 8) should motivate you to switch ASAP! You might scan the Backward Incompatible Changes and the PHP guide on how to migrate to 8.0.
RIP PHP 7!
Related Posts:
Five Times When Updating Your OS Would Have Saved You From Being Hacked
"OMG! I Never Knew That!": The Simply Linux Tip That Has Got Me More Thanks Than Anything I've Ever ...
Have You Missed Any of these LowEndBoxTV Videos?
Need a Laugh? Read the Linux Kernel List's Foam-Mouthed Responses to Russian Programmers Banned from...
LowEndBoxTV: Ubuntu 24: Hot Rod Ferrari Speed Freak, Crippled Dump Truck, or Somewhere in Between?
LowEndBoxTV: Free Power Toys for Your Linux Server!
Raindog308 is a longtime LowEndTalk community administrator, technical writer, and self-described techno polymath. With deep roots in the *nix world, he has a passion for systems both modern and vintage, ranging from Unix, Perl, Python, and Golang to shell scripting and mainframe-era operating systems like MVS. He’s equally comfortable with relational database systems, having spent years working with Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.
As an avid user of LowEndBox providers, Raindog runs an empire of LEBs, from tiny boxes for VPNs, to mid-sized instances for application hosting, and heavyweight servers for data storage and complex databases. He brings both technical rigor and real-world experience to every piece he writes.
Beyond the command line, Raindog is a lover of German Shepherds, high-quality knives, target shooting, theology, tabletop RPGs, and hiking in deep, quiet forests.
His goal with every article is to help users, from beginners to seasoned sysadmins, get more value, performance, and enjoyment out of their infrastructure.
You can find him daily in the forums at LowEndTalk under the handle @raindog308.
I was surprised when I received this information.