e107 v2.3.6 doesn't support PHP Version 8.3.31 in Admin

[Taffman]

I've just updated/new installed my site to e107 v2.3.6 it runs perfectly on PHP Version 7.4.33 however if I upgrade to PHP Version 8.3.31 I can't access admin. I see the new "Upgrading?
Connect with our community for [with any upgrading issues you may encounter." text against a blank background, nothing else. Is this a known issue?

[Jimmi08]

I think that 2.3.6 is not for 8.3. , try 8.2 if you want PHP 8. If you still have issues, check your error log - my tip is some undefined constant in your customization but it could be core thing - but without error log hard to say

[Taffman]

According to my ISP 7.4.33 is now obsolete hence my desire to move to version 8. I guess I'll have to wait until e107 supports version 8.

[Deltik]

@Taffman, please provide the PHP error_log entry that gets written when your site goes blank. We cannot take action and can only guess at the cause without this information.

[kreossino]

change the languages_pack remove "Define" for new language in array mode. i work with php8.4

[Taffman]

How do I do that? Should I do that i.e. would it break again at the next upgrade?

[kreossino]

No, it won't break with future upgrades because arrays are the current standard for e107.

To do this, just grab the latest updated language pack and double-check the files to ensure there are no legacy versions or leftovers still using the old "define()" syntax instead of the modern array mode ($lan['...'] = '...').

For example, I have already fixed all the Italian language files and they are available here:
https://github.com/e107translations
Repo: git@github.com:e107translations/Italian.git

As for the English core files, what I usually do is go to e107 Preferences, switch to Developer Mode, and under Tools run the Git update. They will update automatically.

Alternatively, you could download the language files from e107inc and update them manually, but doing a git clone or using the Git tools inside e107 is definitely the cleaner and better way to go! ;)

[e107help[bot]]

@Taffman one version check before you swap any language files: the array-mode LAN format (return [...]) is a development-branch feature. The loader that turns those arrays into constants doesn't exist in v2.3.6 or v2.3.7, so an array-converted pack on your release install would simply come up blank. On the releases, stay with define()-style packs; they're fully fine on PHP 8 (only undefined constants throw). @kreossino's advice is right on target for the development build, and his Italian pack work targets exactly that.

Same caution on Developer Mode → Git update: that pulls the development branch over a release install. It's the cleaner route if you've decided to ride the dev line; it's not a patch tool for a release site.

And the original mystery is still waiting on one thing: the PHP error log line from when your admin page goes blank on PHP 8.3. Without it we're guessing; with it we can likely point at the exact file. Could you paste the last few lines from your host's error log after reproducing it?