Discover the easiest methods to install multiple versions of PHP on your Mac using Homebrew, MAMP, XAMPP, Docker, phpbrew, and Virtual Machines.
Ways to Install Multiple Versions of PHP on Mac
Using Homebrew
Homebrew is a popular package manager for macOS that allows you to install and manage various software packages, including different versions of PHP. Here’s how you can use Homebrew to install multiple versions of PHP on your Mac:
- Install Homebrew: If you don’t have Homebrew installed on your Mac already, you can easily install it by opening Terminal and running the following command:
/bin/bash -c “$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)” - Install PHP versions: Once Homebrew is installed, you can use it to install different versions of PHP. Open Terminal and run the following command to see the available PHP versions:
brew search [email protected]
This command will show you a list of available PHP versions. Choose the version you want to install and run the following command to install it:
brew install [email protected]
Replace 7.4 with the desired version number.
Switch PHP versions: After installing multiple PHP versions, you can switch between them using the brew link command. For example, to switch to PHP 7.4, run the following command:
brew link –overwrite –force [email protected]
This will set PHP 7.4 as the active version.
Using MAMP
MAMP is a popular local development environment that allows you to run Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your Mac. Here’s how you can use MAMP to install and manage multiple versions of PHP:
- Download and install MAMP: Go to the MAMP website (https://www.mamp.info/) and download the latest version of MAMP. Once the download is complete, double-click the installer package and follow the on-screen instructions to install MAMP on your Mac.
- Install additional PHP versions: By default, MAMP comes with a single version of PHP. To install additional PHP versions, you can download the desired version from the official PHP website (https://www.php.net/downloads.php) and extract it to the MAMP directory. Make sure to place each version in a separate folder within the MAMP directory.
- Configure MAMP to use different PHP versions: After installing multiple PHP versions, you need to configure MAMP to use the desired version. Open MAMP and go to Preferences > PHP. In the PHP section, you will see a dropdown menu that allows you to select the PHP version. Choose the version you want to use and click on Apply to save the changes. Restart MAMP for the changes to take effect.
Using XAMPP
XAMPP is another popular local development environment that allows you to run Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your Mac. Here’s how you can use XAMPP to install and manage multiple versions of PHP:
- Download and install XAMPP: Go to the XAMPP website (https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html) and download the latest version of XAMPP for macOS. Once the download is complete, double-click the installer package and follow the on-screen instructions to install XAMPP on your Mac.
- Install additional PHP versions: By default, XAMPP comes with a single version of PHP. To install additional PHP versions, you can download the desired version from the official PHP website (https://www.php.net/downloads.php) and extract it to the XAMPP directory. Make sure to place each version in a separate folder within the XAMPP directory.
- Configure XAMPP to use different PHP versions: After installing multiple PHP versions, you need to configure XAMPP to use the desired version. Open XAMPP and go to the XAMPP Control Panel. Click on the “Config” button next to Apache and select “PHP (php.ini)”. In the PHP configuration file, uncomment the line that corresponds to the desired PHP version by removing the semicolon (;) at the beginning of the line. Save the changes and restart XAMPP for the changes to take effect.
Using Docker
Docker is a platform that allows you to package and distribute applications in containers. It provides a convenient way to run different versions of PHP on your Mac without interfering with your system’s PHP installation. Here’s how you can use Docker to install and manage multiple versions of PHP:
- Install Docker: If you don’t have Docker installed on your Mac already, you can download and install it from the official Docker website (https://www..com/products/-desktop).
- Pull PHP images: Docker provides pre-built PHP images for different versions. Open Terminal and run the following command to pull the desired PHP image:
pull php:7.4
Replace 7.4 with the desired version number.
Run PHP containers: Once the PHP image is pulled, you can run PHP containers using the following command:
run -d –name my-php-container -v /path/to/your/code:/var/www/html php:7.4
Replace /path/to/your/code with the path to your PHP code on your Mac. This command will start a PHP container running the specified version of PHP.
Using phpbrew
phpbrew is a command-line tool that allows you to easily install and manage multiple versions of PHP. Here’s how you can use phpbrew to install and switch between different versions of PHP on your Mac:
- Install phpbrew: Open Terminal and run the following command to install phpbrew:
curl -L -O https://github.com/phpbrew/phpbrew/raw/master/phpbrew
chmod +x phpbrew
sudo mv phpbrew /usr/local/bin/phpbrew - Initialize phpbrew: After installing phpbrew, you need to initialize it by running the following command:
phpbrew init
This command will add the necessary configuration to your shell startup file (e.g., .bashrc or .zshrc).
Install PHP versions: Once phpbrew is initialized, you can use it to install different versions of PHP. Run the following command to see the available PHP versions:
phpbrew known
This command will show you a list of available PHP versions. Choose the version you want to install and run the following command to install it:
phpbrew install 7.4.15 +default
Replace 7.4.15 with the desired version number.
Switch PHP versions: After installing multiple PHP versions, you can switch between them using the following command:
phpbrew switch 7.4.15
Replace 7.4.15 with the version you want to switch to.
Using Virtual Machines
Virtual machines provide a way to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. You can use virtual machines to install and manage different versions of PHP on your Mac. Here’s how you can use virtual machines to achieve this:
- Install a virtual machine software: There are several virtual machine software options available for macOS, such as VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) and VMware Fusion (https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion.html). Choose a virtual machine software that suits your needs and follow the installation instructions provided by the software vendor.
- Create a virtual machine: Once you have a virtual machine software installed, you can create a new virtual machine and install a desired operating system (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS) on it.
- Install PHP on the virtual machine: After setting up the virtual machine, you can install different versions of PHP on it using the package manager provided by the operating system. For example, if you are using Ubuntu, you can use the apt package manager to install PHP. Run the following command to install PHP 7.4:
sudo apt install php7.4
Replace 7.4 with the desired version number.
Access the virtual machine: Once PHP is installed on the virtual machine, you can access it by connecting to the virtual machine using the virtual machine software. This will allow you to develop and test your PHP applications using the desired version of PHP.
By following the methods described above, you can easily install and manage multiple versions of PHP on your Mac. Whether you choose to use Homebrew, MAMP, XAMPP, Docker, phpbrew, or virtual machines, you’ll have the flexibility to work with different PHP versions based on your specific needs and requirements.
