PHP 5 Unleashed

Chapter 8. PEAR

IN THIS CHAPTER

• What Is PEAR?

• Getting and Installing PEAR

• Using the PEAR Package Manager

• Using the PEAR Website

• Using PEAR Packages in Applications

PEAR (PHP Extension and Application Repository) is a powerful tool that enhances and aids in the development of PHP applications. In short, it is a repository of reusable PHP code, but it has become much more than a mere collection of code in the few years of its existence.

The seeds for PEAR were planted in late 1999 by Stig S. Bakken and began coming to fruition as early as January 2000 at the PHP Developers' Meeting in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Over the next three years, PEAR and its surrounding framework were discussed, standardized, solidified, and developed until a stable PEAR version 1.0 was ...