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Complete Guide to Setting Up a PHP Development Environment on CentOS 7

gitbox 2025-06-24

Introduction

In today’s internet era, PHP is a popular programming language widely used for dynamic website and application development. This article offers a comprehensive guide to help you smoothly set up a PHP environment on CentOS 7, ensuring efficient development and deployment.

Preparation

First, ensure your CentOS 7 system is updated to the latest version. Run the following command to update the system:

sudo yum update

Installing Necessary Dependencies

Before installing PHP, some dependencies need to be installed. Use the following command to install the EPEL repository:

sudo yum install -y epel-release

Next, add the Remi repository to access the latest PHP versions:

sudo yum install -y https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-7.rpm

Installing PHP

Install PHP 7.4 from the Remi repository by running:

sudo yum --enablerepo=remi-php74 install -y php

Verifying PHP Installation

After installation, check the PHP version to confirm it was installed correctly:

php -v

Installing Common PHP Extensions

To enhance PHP functionality, it’s recommended to install extensions like MySQL support, GD for graphics, and mbstring for multibyte strings:

sudo yum --enablerepo=remi-php74 install -y php-mysqlnd php-gd php-mbstring php-xml

Configuring PHP

Edit the PHP configuration file to adjust parameters such as memory_limit and upload_max_filesize according to your needs:

sudo vi /etc/php.ini

Save and exit the editor after making changes.

Restarting the Web Server

Restart your web server to apply configuration changes.

If you are using Apache, run:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

If you are using Nginx, run:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Testing the PHP Environment

Create a test file to verify PHP is working correctly. Create a file named info.php with the following content:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Place this file in your web server’s root directory (e.g., /var/www/html/), then access it in your browser at:

http://your_server_ip/info.php

If the PHP information page is displayed, your environment is set up successfully.

Conclusion

Following the above steps, you have successfully set up a PHP development environment on CentOS 7. Proper configuration and extension installation will ensure smooth project development. It’s recommended to stay updated with PHP best practices to enhance server performance and security.