Remi Collet has released PHP 84 Alpha 1 packages for Linux distributions based on Fedora and RHEL.

PHP 8.4 as Software Collection

Version  8.4.0alpha1 has been released. It's still in development and will enter soon in the stabilization phase for the developers, and the test phase for the users (see the  schedule).

RPM of this upcoming version of PHP 8.4, are available in remi repository for Fedora ≥ 38 and Enterprise Linux ≥ 8 (RHEL, CentOS, Alma, Rocky...) in a fresh new  Software Collection (php84) allowing its installation beside the system version.

As I (still) strongly believe in SCL's potential to provide a simple way to allow installation of various versions simultaneously, and as I think it is useful to offer this feature to allow developers to test their applications, to allow sysadmin to prepare a migration or simply to use this version for some specific application, I decide to create this new SCL.

I also plan to propose this new version as a Fedora 42 change (as F41 should be released a few weeks before PHP 8.4.0).

Installation :

yum install php84

To be noticed:

• the SCL is independent from the system and doesn't alter it
• this SCL is available in remi-safe repository (or remi for Fedora)
• installation is under the /opt/remi/php84 tree, configuration under the /etc/opt/remi/php84 tree
• the FPM service (php84-php-fpm) is available, listening on /var/opt/remi/php84/run/php-fpm/www.sock
• the php84 command gives simple access to this new version, however, the module or scl command is still the recommended way.
• for now, the collection provides 8.4.0-alpha1, and alpha/beta/RC versions will be released in the next weeks
• some of the PECL extensions are already available, see the  extensions status page
• tracking issue  #258 can be used to follow the work in progress on RPMS of PHP and extensions
• the php84-syspaths package allows to use it as the system's default version

Also, read other entries about  SCL especially the description of  My PHP workstation.

$ module load php84
$ php --version
PHP 8.4.0alpha1 (cli) (built: Jul  2 2024 13:43:13) (NTS gcc x86_64)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Zend Engine v4.4.0-dev, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies
    with Zend OPcache v8.4.0alpha1, Copyright (c), by Zend Technologies

As always, your feedback is welcome on the tracking ticket, a SCL dedicated  forum is also open.

PHP 8.4 as Software Collection