Changes/Php56

PHP 5.6

Summary

Update the PHP stack to new version 5.6.

Owner

• Name: Remi Collet
• Email: remi @ fedora project DOT org
• Release notes owner: Petr Bokoc pbokoc at redhat dot com

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora 21
• Last updated: 2014-06-19
• Tracker bug: #1089323

Upstream releases:

• PHP 5.6.0alpha3 released Mar 6th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0beta1 released Apr 11th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0beta2 released May 2nd 2014
• PHP 5.6.0beta3 released May 15th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0beta6 released Jun 6th 2014 (last before RC)
• PHP 5.6.0RC1 released Jun 19th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0RC2 released Jul 3rd 2014
• PHP 5.6.0RC3 released Jul 31th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0RC4 released Aug 14th 2014
• PHP 5.6.0 finale planed for Aug 28th

Fedora build

• php-5.6.0-0.1.RC1.fc21 built Jun 19th 2014
• php-5.6.0-0.3.RC2.fc21 built Jul 7th 2014
• php-5.6.0-0.5.RC3.fc21 built Jul 31th 2014
• php-5.6.0-0.6.RC4.fc21 built Aug 14th 2014

Detailed Description

Important changes in this new version:

Security:

• TLS Peer Verification
• Improved TLS Defaults

Language improvements:

• Constant Scalar Expressions
• Argument Unpacking
• Syntax for variadic functions
• Power Operator
• Importing namespaced functions

New tool:

• PHP debugger provided in the new php-dbg subpackage (phpdbg command)

Benefit to Fedora

Provides the latest upstream PHP version.

Scope

• Proposal owners:

Mass rebuild of all C extensions (repoquery --whatrequires 'php(api)')

• Other developers:

(pure) PHP extension owners: ensure compatibility, usually this is detected by running upstream test suite, when exists.

PHP webapp owners: test

• Release engineering:

N/A.

• Policies and guidelines:

N/A.

Upgrade/compatibility impact

This new version should maintains compatibility with version 5.5.x.

How To Test

• test PHP web applications available in the repository

Fedora 19/20 users can use backported packages from remi-php56 repository.

User Experience

Web developer will get the latest upstream PHP version.

Dependencies

Mass rebuild need: from repoquery --whatrequires 'php(zend-abi)'

Known as not ready:

• php-pecl-parsekit (mostly dead upstream)

Contingency Plan

According to upstream roadmap, 5.6.0 final should be released around June.

• Contingency mechanism: Wait for 5.6.0RC1 for rawhide import, so we'll, at least, ship a RC. In case of big trouble, revert to F20 version (5.5.x).

• Contingency deadline: June
• Blocks release?: No
• Blocks product?: No

Documentation

Upstream documentation: Migrating from PHP 5.5.x to PHP 5.6.x (work in progress, should be ready for final)