.htaccess php error using php version 8.5

[TheMetMan]

Description of the bug

I have a fresh install of Fedora 44 and cannot load my local sites.

I am getting an Internal Server Error when loading the website caused by this error in the website error log:
.htaccess: Invalid command 'php_value', perhaps misspelled or defined by a module not included in the server configuration,

A short description of what the problem is.
The website will not load and I have the Internal Server Error web page.
I have checked that httpd and mariadb and php are all running as expected.
I can find no reference to this in the Backdrop Issues.
Will I need to try and downgrade php to version 8.4 ?

Steps To Reproduce

Attempt to load a local webserver

To reproduce the behavior:

1. Go to the webserver on my local PC

Expected behavior

The home page should load.

Additional information

Having searched around I have found this explanation:

Understanding the "Invalid command 'php_value'" Error
The error message "Invalid command 'php_value'" indicates that the server does not recognize the php_value directive in your .htaccess file. This is a common issue when using modern PHP versions or specific server configurations.

So I suspect that php 8.5 is too cutting edge for Backdrop CMS 1.31.0.

Add any other information that could help, such as:

• Backdrop CMS version: 1.31.0
• Web server and its version: Apache 2.4.66 (Fedora Linux)
• PHP version: 8.5.5
• Database sever (MySQL or MariaDB?) and its version: 11.8.6-MariaDB
• Operating System and its version: Fedora Linux version 44
• Browser(s) and their versions: Brave 1.90.121

[avpaderno]

That should only happen when PHP is running as CGI/FastCGI, instead of Apache module. See php_value is not working in .htaccess files.

[izmeez]

@TheMetMan Presumably you have searched the .htaccess file for the phrase php_value to see if it is present and how it is used. Can you share what you found?

[izmeez]

Backdrop CMS is working fine with php 8.5.5 although you may find some contrib modules that need to be updated.

[TheMetMan]

@izmeez I am referring to the Backdrop .htaccess file which has many such values.
I am a bit puzzled. Sorry to seem a bit thick. I have been using Linux for well over 20 years.
I have php installed and php-fpm. I have php-fpm running which is FastCGI. I see this does not support .htaccess so what do I need to do to get this working?

[indigoxela]

@TheMetMan for some context:

• Backdrop v1.31.0 has been released May 16, 2025
• There was at least one security update since then. You're behind quite a bit.
• V1.31.0 is old and does not fully support PHP 8.5 - that came in with Issue PHP 8.5 Support #7008: PHP 8.5 support.

Re the reported problem with php_value:

Just wipe out the <IfModule mod_php.c> section in your .htaccess and set values properly in your php.ini. That's probably the quickest solution. On real hosting you'll get something else, anyway. For sure not mod_php. 😉

[TheMetMan]

Thanks you @indigoxela for the input.
I will get back to it later next week.