PEAR is short for “PHP Extension and Application Repository” which provides a repository for PHP community extensions that will make your PHP installation more powerful and easy to develop web applications. The project was founded by Stig S. Bakken in 1999 to promote the re-use of code that performs common functions. The project seeks to provide a structured library of code, maintain a system for distributing code and for managing code packages, and promote a standard coding style.
The purpose of PEAR is to provide:
- A structured library of open-source code for PHP users
- A system for code distribution and package maintenance
- A standard style for code written in PHP, specified here
- The PHP Extension Community Library (PECL)
- A web site, mailing lists and download mirrors to support the PHP/PEAR community
Well actually PEAR is installed in default XAMPP, just in case you broke it and need to reinstall or need to update it, follow these instructions:
1. Edit your environment setting in Start > Control Panel > System > Environment and add PHP installation files at the last PATH variable. In my case my PHP installation is in C:xamppphp
2. Go to http://pear.php.net/go-pear and copy all the PHP code and save it as go-pear.php
3. Open your command line and type:
php /path/to/go-pear.php4. You will be asked some configuration questions. You can skip it if you want the defaults.
5. Wait until it is finished. Then you have an updated PEAR installation.