[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #51043: PHP: bump minimum version requirements

[WordPress Trac]

#51043: PHP: bump minimum version requirements
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 Reporter:  jrf             |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  task (blessed)  |      Status:  reopened
 Priority:  normal          |   Milestone:
Component:  General         |     Version:
 Severity:  normal          |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  has-patch       |     Focuses:
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Changes (by snoringdragon):

 * status:  closed => reopened
 * resolution:  wontfix =>


Comment:

 Replying to [comment:27 jrf]:
 > > it's a good reminder that we can debate ideas and direction vigorously
 while not making it about the person, we should always search for deeper
 understanding, and we can disagree and commit and still work together the
 next day.
 >
 > Hear, hear!
 >
 > For those interested, the proposal Matt and me discussed is now public
 for everyone to peruse and comment on:
 > https://make.wordpress.org/core/2020/08/24/proposal-dropping-support-
 for-old-php-versions-via-a-fixed-schedule/

 Hi, sorry for bothering you but can you tell me what was the result of
 that proposal?

 It’s been around 4 years since wordpress last increased its minimum PHP
 requirement.
 Make post => https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/12/08/updating-the-
 minimum-php-version/
 At that time, only 85% websites were using PHP version 5.6 or higher but
 wordpress still decided to increase its minimum PHP requirement to 5.6 for
 security and performance reasons.
 But now, as per wordpress statistics, only 5.8% wordpress installations
 are currently running on PHP version 5.6.
 I think we are now ready to further increase minimum PHP requirement to
 7.0.
 With proper coordination with hosting companies and encouraging the sites
 to increase PHP version to 7.0 by showing message in WordPress 6.1, we
 will be able to further decrease that 5.8% statistics.
 We can target wordpress version 6.2 for this change but we should make a
 proposal on make blog and try to include message that wordpress version
 6.1 will be last version to support PHP version 5.6.
 This change will allow wordpress to enhance the security while at the same
 time get rid some bloat from core, improving the performance. I think this
 will also pave the way for some good new feature
 such as https://github.com/WordPress/performance/issues/427.
 Thanks for your time.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/51043#comment:31>
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