In the dynamic world of PHP development, compatibility across different PHP versions is crucial. This blog explores the seamless integration of Composer, with multiple PHP versions. Specifically catering to developers with multiple PHP binaries installed, we'll guide you on harnessing Composer's power for diverse PHP environments.

Mac and Linux:

To run Composer with PHP 7.4, for example:

/usr/bin/php7.4 /usr/local/bin/composer install

For php 8.0 you can run the following command, replace "8.0" with "8.1", "8.2", and "8.3" accordingly for other versions.

/usr/bin/php8.0 /usr/local/bin/composer install

Windows:

On Windows, you can specify the full path to the PHP executable:

"C:\Program Files\PHP\<version>\php.exe" "C:\ProgramData\ComposerSetup\bin\composer.bat" install

Replace "<version>" with your desired PHP version.

Conclusion:

Managing multiple PHP versions with Composer is a valuable skill for developers working on different projects. By understanding the default locations of PHP binaries and Composer on different operating systems, along with the proper syntax for invoking specific PHP versions, you can ensure a seamless and efficient development environment. Whether you're dealing with compatibility issues or testing your code against various PHP versions, this knowledge will empower you to navigate the complexities of PHP development with confidence.