Run PHP from the command line

Question

I have installed XAMPP v1.8.3 for my PHP development. I am new to Ubuntu, so I don't know how to set environment variable for PHP which is located at /opt/lampp/bin/php.

I can run PHP scripts from localhost just fine, but I wanted to run them from the command line as well.

I want to set this variable for every user, since I am the only one who uses this system.

score 28 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 13 '14 at 14:23

28

To open an interactive php shell, just type in a terminal:

php -a

As for opening a file, just:

php filename.php

answered Apr 13 '14 at 14:23

animaletdesequia

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The OP problem is: *I don't know how to set environment variable for php which is located at /opt/lampp/bin/php .* – Radu Rădeanu Apr 13 '14 at 17:08
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@darent Thanks. This was the first search result I got from Google and `php -a` was exactly what I looked for. – Martin Thoma Feb 25 '15 at 16:52

score 21 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '14 at 14:47

21

Environment variables are set in /etc/environment. You will find the $PATH variable in this file. This variable stores the path to binaries in various locations.

To add /opt/lampp/bin to the location searched for binary files, just append this path preceded by a : to the path variable.

For example, if the $PATH variable was:

/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games

add /opt/lampp/bin to the end of it, so that it becomes:

/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/opt/lampp/bin

After doing this, do a source /etc/environment.

edited Apr 13 '14 at 14:47

Radu Rădeanu

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answered Apr 13 '14 at 14:25

jobin

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@sud_the_devil: Just edited my answer. – jobin Apr 13 '14 at 14:32
I opened the file by issuing **sudo subl /opt/lampp/bin/php** and then appended the location as you asked me to do . Here's the link to the opened file. [PATH](http://i.imgur.com/bywNrYr.png) Do I need to restart my system after that?? – sud_the_devil Apr 13 '14 at 14:38
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No, you don't need to restart your system. Can you paste the output of `echo $PATH` after you have added the path and done a `source /etc/environment` and `ls /opt/lampp/bin/php`? – jobin Apr 13 '14 at 14:41
This is the output of **echo $PATH**: /usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games And this is the output of **ls /opt/lampp/bin/php**: /opt/lampp/bin/php – sud_the_devil Apr 13 '14 at 14:46
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@sud_the_devil you are required to edit the environment file and not the php executable. Your command should be `sudo subl /etc/environment` – Srihari Apr 13 '14 at 14:47
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@sud_the_devil Add only `/opt/lampp/bin`, not `/opt/lampp/bin/php` which is the executable file. – Radu Rădeanu Apr 13 '14 at 14:48
@ Srihari @RaduRădeanu Thank you guys, my bad ... It works now – sud_the_devil Apr 13 '14 at 14:50
@Jobin : I have added your response as the answer . – sud_the_devil Apr 13 '14 at 14:51

score 13 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 16 '17 at 14:27

13

As an alternative to /opt/lampp/bin/php, to run a php script from the command line, you just need to install php5-cli:

sudo apt-get install php5-cli

And run your script with:

php myscript.php

editor's note: depending on your version, you may need to install php7.0-cli etc instead

edited Mar 16 '17 at 14:27

Zanna

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answered Apr 13 '14 at 14:22

Sylvain Pineau

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`php5-cli` is in a different package. – Wutaz Apr 13 '14 at 15:30
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@Wutaz On what planet? ([hint](http://www.ozonesolutions.com/programming/2011/09/execute-php-5-script-command-line-ubuntu-linux/)) – e-sushi Jul 25 '14 at 03:10
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Doesn't work. Instead of execution a script it just prints file content like `cat` does – Green Jul 27 '17 at 04:12

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 16 '17 at 14:21

0

You can use

php /var/www/html/yourProjctFolder/yourFile.php

This will call your php file and output if you have written echo or print statement

edited Mar 16 '17 at 14:21

Zanna

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answered Apr 30 '15 at 12:14

RN Kushwaha

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No, wrong.It just prints file content like `cat` does. No execution – Green Jul 27 '17 at 04:16
@Green It seems that you don't have proper set up of php on your system. – RN Kushwaha Jul 27 '17 at 17:54
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It seems that you have to type `-f` between `php` and filename to make it work => `php -f file.php` – Green Jul 28 '17 at 01:27

Run PHP from the command line

4 Answers4

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