Uncaught TypeError: trim(): Argument #1 ($string) must be of type string, false given in phar: ... .box/src/Terminal.php:60

[Kennedy-Robert-Charles]

A fatal PHP error occurs during cv core:install. I provide details of the error below but first I'll provide some context.

I am exploring the possibility of using Drupal and CIVICRM to replace the donation management system currently used by a non-profit that I'm involved in.

I have PHP 8.3.3, MySQL Server 8.3 and installed on Windows 11.
Drupal 10.2.3 and drush have both been installed and configured using composer.

Following the CIVICRM installation guide I first tried to get the Drupal 10 code using
php ..\composer.phar require civicrm/civicrm-{core,packages,drupal-8}.
However that resulted in this confusing message from composer:
Pick one of these or leave empty to abort:
[0] drupal/civicrm_tools
I choose to abort and decided to get the CIVICRM code downloaded piece by piece in this way:

1. php composer.phar require civicrm/civicrm-core

composer's message was: Using version ^5.69 for civicrm/civicrm-core.
So to keep the rest of the downloads in sync I used these restraints:

2. php composer.phar require "civicrm/civicrm-packages:^5.69"
3. php composer.phar require "civicrm/civicrm-drupal-8:^5.69"
4. php composer.phar require civicrm/cli-tools

Now when I try to do the cv core:install I get a fatal PHP error as follows:
C:\drupal10\localhost>vendor\bin\cv core:install --cms-base-url="https://d10.example.org" --db="mysql://civicrm_user:civicrm_pswd@127.0.0.1:3306/civicrm_db"
PHP Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: trim(): Argument #1 ($string) must be of type string, false given in phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Terminal.php:60
Stack trace:
#0 phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Terminal.php(60): trim()
#1 phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Terminal.php(31): HumbugBox436\KevinGH\RequirementChecker\Terminal::initDimensions()
#2 phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Printer.php(28): HumbugBox436\KevinGH\RequirementChecker\Terminal->getWidth()
#3 phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Checker.php(17): HumbugBox436\KevinGH\RequirementChecker\Printer->__construct()
#4 phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/bin/check-requirements.php(22): HumbugBox436\KevinGH\RequirementChecker\Checker::checkRequirements()
#5 C:\drupal10\localhost\vendor\civicrm\cli-tools\extern\cv.phar(12): require('...')
#6 C:\drupal10\localhost\vendor\civicrm\cli-tools\bin\cv(7): require('...')
#7 C:\drupal10\localhost\vendor\bin\cv(119): include('...')
#8 {main}
thrown in phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/src/Terminal.php on line 60

I have tried a number of things including:
a) de-installing drush (I saw reference to a conflict on stackexchange)
b) using the dev-master version of cli-tools

Now I'm stumped. I would appreciate any suggestions on what I might try next.
Many thanks in advance ... Rob

[totten]

Thanks for reporting, @Kennedy-Robert-Charles

It smells like some kind of compatibility issue.

• Hypothesis 1: It looks like the error occurs early... Checker::checkRequirements() is supposed to run before any of the real logic. Most of the files in the backtrace involve this folder:

  phar://C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar/.box/
  

  which implies that the compatibility issue involves the box tool. (Background: box is a build-tool. It reads civicrm/cv.git and creates the final executable copy of cv, aka cv.phar. civicrm-cli-tools is just a way to distribute copies of that file.) We've been using box v4.3.8 (circa March 2023), but the latest is box v4.6.1 (circa Dec 2023).

• Suggestion 1: Try this alternate build of cv:

  https://download.civicrm.org/cv/cv.phar-v0.3.48-box461

  Basically, download that file. Replace the current C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/cv.phar. I don't know the equivalent BAT or PowerShell commands, but in bash the steps would be like:

  cd /C:/drupal10/localhost/vendor/civicrm/cli-tools/extern/
  rm cv.phar
  wget https://download.civicrm.org/cv/cv.phar-v0.3.48-box461 -O cv.phar

  Then try again. (If it doesn't work, you can always delete vendor/civicrm/cli-tools and re-run composer install.)

• Hypothesis 2: The error specifically refers to ".box/src/Terminal.php". (That file figures the #rows and #columns on the screen.) This can work a bit differently depending on OS. (And even within an OS, you might have a few different terminals -- like "Command Prompt" vs "Git bash" vs "PowerShell".) It could be a compatibility issue involving box and php83 and that specific terminal.

• Suggestion 2: Try running the command in a different terminal and/or different php version.

[Kennedy-Robert-Charles]

Thanks so much for your speedy and comprehensive response @totten !
I tried your first suggestion and it worked out perfectly. It was helpful to see the bash steps to understand exactly what you were suggesting. I successfully ran the cv core:install in a Windows Command Prompt which I had opened as an administrator. And now I have just opened the CiviCRM Home page on my Drupal site.
Cheers ... Rob

[totten]

Great, I'm glad the recompiled version worked.

Started updates to make the newer version of box be the default, eg

• civicrm/civicrm-buildkit@d6f6b8d
• Generate cv.phar on box 4.6.1 cv#189
• Generate civix.phar on box 4.6.1 totten/civix#332

(It's not a common change... it'll take a few additional steps after those to roll-out.)