Loading dynamic modules in public directories

[pdeman2]

Okay, so I've developed a number of misc PHP extensions for my own use, but right now I'm working on one designed for larger PHP project.  I need this extension to be placed in the document root with the rest of the PHP scripts.  It cannot be placed in the PHP extension directory.  Everything that I've read thus far states that this is possible.  The only problem is, I can't figure out how.  Obviously this type of module needs to be dynamically loaded, so I've tried all sorts of different ways of using dl() to load the DSO file, but it always looks for the file in the PHP extensions directory.

 

Any one know the solution?

 

Thanks.

[trq]

Everything that I've read thus far states that this is possible.

 

Everything like what? The dl() manual sure doesn't sound like it....

 

The directory where the extension is loaded from depends on your platform:

 

Windows - If not explicitly set in the php.ini, the extension is loaded from c:\php4\extensions\ by default.

 

Unix - If not explicitly set in the php.ini, the default extension directory depends on

 

    * whether PHP has been built with --enable-debug or not

    * whether PHP has been built with (experimental) ZTS (Zend Thread Safety) support or not

    * the current internal ZEND_MODULE_API_NO (Zend internal module API number, which is basically the date on which a major module API change happened, e.g. 20010901)

 

Taking into account the above, the directory then defaults to <install-dir>/lib/php/extensions/ <debug-or-not>-<zts-or-not>-ZEND_MODULE_API_NO, e.g. /usr/local/php/lib/php/extensions/debug-non-zts-20010901 or /usr/local/php/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-zts-20010901.

[pdeman2]

From the PHP article at http://www.php.net/manual/en/zend.using.php

Warning

 

For security reasons, you should not put your dynamic modules into publicly accessible directories. Even though it can be done and it simplifies testing, you should put them into a separate directory in production environments.

 

Granted, this does say you shouldn't do it, the point is that you can.  Also, I know I remember using a PHP optimizer that worked exactly like this.

[trq]

Have you looked at the user comments in the man entry for dl()? There is a function (second from the bottom) that may be of use.

[pdeman2]

I must have missed that one.  This is very helpful.  I'll try it out in a little while.

 

Thanks for the help.

[trq]

I would be pretty careful using the dl() function too..... From the man.

 

    Note:  As of PHP 5, the dl() function is deprecated in every SAPI except CLI. Use Extension Loading Directives  method instead.

 

    Note: Since PHP 6 this function is disabled in all SAPIs, except CLI, CGI and embed.

[pdeman2]

Yes, I noticed that a couple days ago.  This makes me nervous, but as far as PHP 6 goes, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.