# PHP CLI Basics

# Get the PHP version

php -v

# or

php --version 

# PHP 8.1.6 (cli) (built: May 11 2022 01:14:18) (NTS gcc x86_64)
# Copyright (c) The PHP Group
# Zend Engine v4.1.6, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies
#    with Zend OPcache v8.1.6, Copyright (c), by Zend Technologie

# Get the PHP Configuration

You could have a few different php.ini files.

# Get the full `php.ini` file details

php -i

When you execute the command above you are specifically requesting the php.ini that is responsible for the command line and is not nessesarly the same one as the one Apache might be using at runtime.

# Full list of `ini` files for PHP

php --ini

# Get specific value or values

php -i | grep "memory"

# Get the installed PHP Modules

# Get the full of modules

php -m

# Get specific module or modules

php -m | grep "xml"

# Get info on PHP functions and Classes

To get these you have to use some reflection type functions

# Funcitons

php --rf str_replace

# Function [ <internal:standard> function str_replace ] {
# 
#   - Parameters [4] {
#     Parameter #0 [ <required> array|string $search ]
#     Parameter #1 [ <required> array|string $replace ]
#     Parameter #2 [ <required> array|string $subject ]
#     Parameter #3 [ <optional> &$count = null ]
#   }
#   - Return [ array|string ]
# }

# Classes

php --rc StdClass

# Class [ <internal:Core> class stdClass ] {
# 
#   - Constants [0] {
#   }
# 
#   - Static properties [0] {
#   }
# 
#   - Static methods [0] {
#   }
# 
#   - Properties [0] {
#   }
# 
#   - Methods [0] {
#   }
# }

#or

php --rc DateTime

# Output very long... so not showing it here

# PHP Web Server

php -S localhost:8090

# This command will start a web server from the current folder and run index.php

Or you can pipe the result of a string to PHP to evaluate

echo '<?php echo "Hello world"; ?>' | php

# PHP in the CRON

Specify the full path to the PHP CLI executable and PHP script. CRON does not know the full path to the PHP executable. Note: Unless you set the path to the PHP executable in the environment path config for the profile.

# Wrong CRON config:
* * * * *       php /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# Right CRON config:
* * * * *       /usr/bin/php /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# Pipe PHP CRON script output to a log

Save yourself a ton of effort and pipe the PHP CRON output to a log file. It will make it easy to see any errors and allow you to post messages for debugging purposes.

* * * * *       /usr/bin/php /var/html/myPhpCode.php >> /var/html/my.log  2>&1

The CRON entry (as mentioned above) will output all standard and error output in append mode to ‘my.log’. You can also change the ‘>>’ to ‘>’ to overwrite the ‘my.log’ file instead of appending content.

# Pass arguments to your PHP CLI script

CLI arguments can enhance your PHP script and allow interactivity via the command line.

Provide an argument to your PHP script like this:

/usr/bin/php /var/html/myPhpCode.php theArg

Example code:

 if (isset($argv[1])) {
     $myArg= $argv[1];
 } else {
     $myArg= "";
     echo "no arguments have been set!";
     exit;
 }

# Enable “display errors” via the PHP CLI

Enable and display any PHP errors by adding the -d argument.

/usr/bin/php -d display_errors=1 /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# Test your PHP CLI Script without the `php.ini` config

You can disable the php.ini config when you run your PHP CLI script

/usr/bin/php -n /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# Check your syntax via the PHP CLI

Use the PHP CLI to check your PHP language syntax by using:

/usr/bin/php -l /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# No syntax errors detected in /var/html/myPhpCode.php

# The PHP CLI config file

PHP and PHP CLI uses different php.ini files. Locate the PHP CLI file by using:

php -i | grep php.ini

# Configuration File (php.ini) Path => /etc/php/7.2/cli
# Loaded Configuration File => /etc/php/7.2/cli/php.ini

# View CRON logs

You can use the following to filter the Syslog for CRON output:

sudo grep – color -i cron /var/log/syslog

# Apr 11 03:15:01 ap-2a-adonis CRON[26625]: (root) CMD (/var/html/myPhpCode.php >> /var/html/myPhpCode.log 2>&1)

# View Apache Logs

The Apache error logs will prove to be your friend when debugging PHP CLI issues.

The location of the apache error logs depends on your Linux configuration:

RHEL / Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora – /var/log/httpd/error_log
Debian / Ubuntu Linux Apache – /var/log/apache2/error.log
FreeBSD Apache – /var/log/httpd-error.log

# Interactive Shell

To start the PHP interactive shell:

php -a