Install Composer

When to use it

Before installing a PHP application's dependencies with composer install. Run Install PHP first: Composer needs a php command.

This playbook has no options.

What it does on the server

1. Checks that a php command exists.
2. Installs unzip, which Composer uses to unpack packages quickly.
3. Downloads the current stable composer.phar from getcomposer.org and checks it against the SHA-256 checksum published beside it. A mismatch stops the run before anything is installed.
4. Confirms the download runs with the server's PHP, then installs it at /usr/local/bin/composer.

A Composer already installed at /usr/local/bin/composer keeps its version. Update it later with composer self-update.

After the run

In your application's directory, run composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader as the account that owns the code, not as root.

Common problems

"Composer needs PHP, and there is no php command on this server." — Run Install PHP first. If PHP is installed but php is not on the PATH, run Install PHP again with Make this the version php runs on.

"The downloaded Composer does not run with this server's PHP" — The server's default PHP is older than the current Composer supports. Install a newer PHP and make it the version php runs.

"The Composer download did not match the checksum getcomposer.org publishes for it." — The download was corrupted or altered. Nothing was installed; run the playbook again.