WP PHP 5.3+ (Check w/ Dashboard Notice)

Stub for WordPress themes/plugins that require PHP v5.3+.

Example Usage in a Typical WordPress Theme/Plugin File

<?php
/*
	Plugin Name: My Plugin
	Plugin URI: http://example.com/my-plugin
	Description: Example plugin.
	Author: Example Author.
	Version: 0.1-alpha
	Author URI: http://example.com
	Text Domain: my-plugin
*/
if(require(dirname(__FILE__).'/wp-php53.php')) // TRUE if running PHP v5.3+.
	require dirname(__FILE__).'/my-plugin-code.php'; // OK to load your plugin.
else wp_php53_notice(); // Creates a PHP v5.3+ Dashboard notice for the site owner.

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Understanding if(require('wp-php53.php'))

The wp-php53.php file will automatically return TRUE upon being included in your scripts, IF (and only if) the installation site is running PHP v5.3+. Otherwise it returns FALSE. Therefore, the simplest way to run your check, is to use if(require('wp-php53.php')). However, you could also choose to do it this way.

<?php
require dirname(__FILE__).'/wp-php53.php';

if(wp_php53())
	require dirname(__FILE__).'/my-plugin-code.php';
else wp_php53_notice();

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Dashboard Notice that Calls your Software by Name

<?php
if(require(dirname(__FILE__).'/wp-php53.php')) // TRUE if running PHP v5.3+.
	require dirname(__FILE__).'/my-plugin-code.php'; // OK to load your plugin.
else wp_php53_notice('My Plugin'); // Dashboard notice mentions your software specifically.

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Using a Custom Dashboard Notice

<?php
if(require(dirname(__FILE__).'/wp-php53.php')) // TRUE if running PHP v5.3+.
	require dirname(__FILE__).'/my-plugin-code.php'; // OK to load your plugin.
else wp_php53_custom_notice('My Plugin requires PHP v5.3+'); // Custom Dashboard notice.

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What if Multiple Themes/Plugins Use wp_php53() Functions?

This is fine. The wp-php53.php file uses function_exists() as a wrapper; which allows it to be included any number of times, and by any number of plugins; and also from any number of locations. No worries :-)

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Can this Just Go at the Top of My Existing Theme/Plugin File?

No, there are two important things to remember.

1. Don't forget to bundle a copy of wp-php53.php with your theme/plugin.
2. Don't leave your existing code in the same file. Use this in a stub file that checks for PHP v5.3+ first, BEFORE loading your code which depends on PHP v5.3+. Why? If you put a PHP v5.3+ check at the top of an existing PHP file, and that PHP file contains code which is only valid in PHP v5.3+, it may still trigger a syntax error. For this reason, you should move your code into a separate file and create a stub file that checks for the existence of PHP v5.3+ first.

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This project is now on Floobits too! Watch us code in real-time :-)

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Copyright: © 2014 WebSharks, Inc. (coded in the USA) Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License.