PHP: rfc:end_pear_endorsement

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== PHP RFC: End PEAR Project Endorsement======

  * Version: 0.1
  * Date: 2026-06-24
  * Author: Nick Sdot, php@nicksdot.dev
  * Status: Draft
  * Implementation: https://github.com/NickSdot/pear; https://nicksdot.github.io/pear
  * Discussion thread: TBD

===== Introduction =====

PEAR was historically promoted as a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. That historical relationship has become a liability for the PHP project. The current situation has several critical issues:

  * The PHP project has no access to the PEAR infrastructure and website, despite it being hosted under the official ''php.net'' domain.
  * The PHP project cannot guarantee the integrity and security of the content served from ''pear.php.net''.
  * The PEAR web repository was recently archived. Leaving an unmaintained site on a ''php.net'' subdomain creates security risks.
  * The current website is effectively unmaintained and has many functional issues, including broken links, missing package pages with still-existing bug trackers, broken documentation downloads, non-functional search, and visible spam (e.g. casino links).
  * A large portion of the PEAR ecosystem is effectively inactive: 534/603 of packages are marked unmaintained, 63/69 of the remaining packages have not been updated for extended periods (PEAR metadata on 2026-06-22).
  * PHP source distributions still contain PEAR, which suggests maintenance that no longer reflects reality.
  * PEAR mailing lists on news-web.php.net are effectively abandoned, leaving users without meaningful project response.

Attempts to find solutions with PEAR maintainers, directly and through official channels, did not lead to results. All this combined is a bad look, and a reputational risk for the PHP project. There were similar RFCs [4][5] in the past (last in 2025), but never brought to a vote. This RFC takes the concerns from earlier discussion into account: PHP internals cannot vote to stop independent maintainers from maintaining PEAR elsewhere. PHP internals can, however, decide what PHP bundles, what PHP domains serve, and what official websites endorse.

===== Proposal =====

This RFC proposes to end the PHP project's explicit endorsement for the independent PEAR project, to unbundle PEAR from PHP sources, and for the time being **provide a static PEAR archive to keep legacy CLI clients working**. It is proposed to take the following four actions.

==== 1. Provide Archive ====

All relevant, public pages of the current PEAR website will be served as a static archive. The infrastructure team will decide technical details. The archive includes **package details, downloads, manuals, and public bug reports**. PEAR CLI endpoints will keep working to not break the PEAR CLI for legacy users.

The archive preview can be found under https://nicksdot.github.io/pear.

==== 2. Unbundle PEAR ====

PHP source will no longer install or bundle the PEAR installer. This proposal aligns with the pre-existing PR [1] by Jakub, which intends to remove PEAR (and related integration). This RFC formalises that direction.

==== 3. Update Communication ====

References to PEAR will be removed from official PHP websites. Composer should be mentioned as the community package manager -- this recommendation does not make Composer a PHP project and does not change Composer governance.

==== 4. Archive Mailing Lists ====

The PEAR mailing lists under news-web.php.net will be moved to the “Inactive Lists” section, where they will be accessible like other inactive non-PEAR and PEAR lists.

===== Non-goals =====

The goal is not to take over the governance of the independent PEAR package ecosystem. If an independent PEAR team wants to continue PEAR as an active project, they remain free to do so under domains they control.

===== BC & RFC Impact =====

Users will no longer receive PEAR bundled with PHP itself, but can install it manually.
Users of the 6 packages that are still publishing on PEAR must switch to their Composer-installable versions.

===== Proposed PHP Version(s) =====

8.7 for the ''php-src'' unbundling.

===== Future Scope =====

Members of the infrastructure team pointed out that providing the browsable archive should be temporary so as not to abruptly break legacy projects. At some point in the future the archive should be removed to avoid wasting project resources.

===== Voting =====

Requires 2/3 Yes.

<doodle
    title="Stop endorsing independent PEAR project?"
    voteType="single"
    closed="true"
    closeon="2027-01-01T15:30:00Z"
>
   * Yes
   * No
   * Abstain
</doodle>

===== References =====

  * [1] https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/20124
  * [2] https://github.com/pear/pearweb
  * [3] https://packagist.org/packages/pear/
  * [4] https://wiki.php.net/rfc/deprecate-pear-include-composer (2016)
  * [5] https://wiki.php.net/rfc/deprecate_pear_recommend_composer (2025)

===== Changelog =====

  * 2026-06-24: Initial.
Page Tools
