Update the "Update PHP" support page

[ironprogrammer]

Proposed updates for: ​https://wordpress.org/support/update-php/

Why?

• The references to PHP support on this page are outdated, and should adhere to current ​PHP 7.4 or higher recommendation (​also).
• Adds new section for checking PHP version in use.
• Miscellaneous grammar tweaks and rephrasing.
• Compatibility checker plugin referenced in article is out of date✦.
• Steps to update PHP on many hosting providers are out of date✦.
• When a site's PHP should be updated, Site Health PHP update notices link to this page, so it should have current information available to the community.

Proposed Updates

• See the ​Google Doc with suggested changes.
• Copy changes in doc show the current text (yellow highlight) followed by the updated/new text (no highlight).
• There are two sections in the page✦ where additional discussion is needed, but the other changes can be independent of this.
• Default doc permissions are view only -- ticket participants can request comment/edit access as needed.

✦ Additional Discussion Points

• The ​currently referenced ​PHP Compatibility Checker plugin does not support 7.4 and up (​yet), which foils compatibility checking for non-developers, as the recommended alternative is to install PHP_CodeSniffer + PHPCompatibilityWP. This is not optimal for most users. Are there any other compatibility checking options available?
• The ​PHP update instructions (per hosting company) are outdated. It looks like these can be updated through a PR to servehappy-resources, but is there a process for that? Does it involve enlisting #hosting-community resources to review and update?

Follow-up to ​Trac #56199, the PHP insecure version awareness initiative updates that are shipping with WordPress 6.1.

[dd32]

The page content for the update-php page is available here:

​https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress.org/blob/trunk/wordpress.org/public_html/wp-content/themes/pub/wporg-support/helphub-update-php-strings.php

A PR would be appreciated if anyone wants to take it on.

The PHP update instructions (per hosting company) are outdated. It looks like these can be updated through a PR to servehappy-resources, but is there a process for that? Does it involve enlisting #hosting-community resources to review and update?

A PR seems like the process for that. Someone from the Hosting team can likely help approve and merge it, but the ​ServeHappy team has a few members from multiple WordPress teams.

[ironprogrammer]

Thank you, @dd32! I’ll submit a PR tomorrow.

Brings parts of the "Update PHP" support page up to date. See Trac ticket for additional details.

Meta Trac ticket: https://meta.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/6516

Few more suggested changes:

• ​https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress.org/pull/95/files#diff-011f219680c25dbead7804217ea9b23de13e25c333d64c428b33fcfaa6c6f273R59 the "PHP is the coding language WordPress is built on" is not true. PHP is one of the coding languages.
• Same line, "its version is set at the server-level by your hosting company". Confusing? How can a version be "set". Better to say something like "it is installed on your server by the hosting company. Often there are several installed versions and you can choose which one is used for your website.".

In response to @azaozz:

• ​https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress.org/pull/95/files#diff-011f219680c25dbead7804217ea9b23de13e25c333d64c428b33fcfaa6c6f273R59 the "PHP is the coding language WordPress is built on" is not true. PHP is one of the coding languages.
• Same line, "its version is set at the server-level by your hosting company". Confusing? How can a version be "set". Better to say something like "it is installed on your server by the hosting company. Often there are several installed versions and you can choose which one is used for your website.".

Adjustments applied in ff6657b10 and 1397299c2.

Yes, reads a lot better now imho. Good job!

Just one more comment about a version of an application being "set". Not sure this is clear enough, it is not an option to set the version of an app. The app has to be upgraded.

Thanks, @azaozz!

Just one more comment about a version of an application being "set". Not sure this is clear enough, it is not an option to set the version of an app. The app has to be upgraded.

Also updated the "How to update..." section to remove reference to "set". Clarified that PHP is installed on the server (7a0d829544282d7439378eb5dc4ee2ed0b5e9ab6).

[sabernhardt]

Related: ​#core54228 asked to remove the PHP Compatibility Checker plugin information (or at least give a warning).

@ironprogrammer Is this ready to go now?

@dd32, yes, these updates are ready.

[dd32]

In 12248:

Support: Update PHP page: Update the copy of the update PHP page.

Props ironprogrammer, azaozz, sabernhardt.
Closes ​https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress.org/pull/95.
See #6516.

[dd32]

The currently referenced PHP Compatibility Checker plugin does not support 7.4 and up (yet),

Keeping this ticket open for these additional discussion points.