Compiling PHP and installing it under one directory

Question

I have to compile a few versions of PHP in work but I need an apache service for each version running like we have on Windows. However the configure options seem to have different folders for everything. I was wondering if there was an easy way to configure so when I make install it is all in one folder, with all the extensions in ext etc rather than scattered around the system.

I want to compile 5.5.1, 5.3.27, 5.2.17 and 4.3.11.

Now this wouldn't be a problem with just one PHP version but with multiple versions things will probably be overwritten/conflicted in other ways.

Say I want everything to go to /php/5.5.1/

./configure --prefix=/php/5.5.1/

How else is this to be configured to put everything in that folder? Has anyone else done this?

Answer 1

The --prefix will make sure all man pages, config files and includes are compiled in that location. The --exec-prefix will do the same only for executables and extensions

./configure --prefix=/php/5.5.1/ --exec-prefix=/php/5.5.1//exec 

Answer 2

You might want to try using phpbrew instead of installing these your self. phpbrew is a frontend that can help with the managing, switching and compiling of different versions of PHP. It works similarly to perlbrew for Perl.

Example

To see what versions you have setup:

$ phpbrew known Available stable versions: php-5.3.10 php-5.3.9 php-5.3.8 php-5.3.7 

To install a version:

$ phpbrew -d install --test php-5.4.0 

To use a version:

$ phpbrew use php-5.4.0RC7 

To make your default a different version:

$ phpbrew switch php-5.4.0 

What about Apache

phpbrew can provide you the ability to include variants, so that you can include things such as mysql support or Apache support (apxs).

$ phpbrew install php-5.3.10 +mysql +apxs2 

If you have you'r own version of Apache installed, you can direct phpbrew to it's location:

$ phpbrew install php-5.3.10 +mysql +apxs2=/usr/local/bin/apxs2 

You'll need to maintain different versions of Apache httpd.conf files for each individual PHP, if you're using it with a web server.