I then used the following steps to compile PHP:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/php5.3 --with-apxs2=/usr/bin/apxs2
make
make test
make install

The configure arguments are to get the resulting code put into /usr/local/php5.3/ and to specify where to find apxs2 itself. Strictly speaking the “make test” step is optional, however as this is a development version of php I consider it polite to run this automated test and then press the button to submit the results at the end, it runs quickly and if it helps the QA people, then great.

It was at this point that I realised that I had overwritten a pre-existing file, critically it was /usr/lib/apache/modules/libphp5.so, the shared object file for my existing PHP installation! I fiddled with the PHP configuration at length but could not figure out how to get PHP to spit a differently named or located file out of the other end of the process.

This evening I mentioned my problem in the #phpc channel on freenode (warning, its not a help channel, don’t go there and ask questions, you won’t get a warm welcome) and after some prodding from the guys there I worked around my problem by skipping the make install step – its this step which uses apxs to move the file and causes my problem. The makefile shows the list of install targets, and I needed to exclude install-sapi. My steps now look like this:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local/php5.3 --with-apxs2=/usr/bin/apxs2
make
make test
make install-cli install-build install-headers install-programs install-pear
cp libs/libphp5.so /usr/lib/apache2/modules/libphp5-dev.so

The new make install line just installs the bits I’ll want, it seems that any combination of these can be used, depending on which bits of the language will be needed. The final line copies the apache module into the correct location for my system (Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon).

Non-technical Postscript

I just wanted to add a note here to say that I would probably never have got to the bottom of this problem if I hadn’t been collectively rescued from it by some of the seriously leading lights in the PHP community – people who shouldn’t really know my name never mind stop to help me with a fairly basic problem. So thanks and hugs to Derick, Johannes, Davey and Ben. Thanks guys – for solving my problem *and* reminding me why the PHP Community is a cool place to be!

Well, I’ve got the prize in question, Scalable Internet Architectures by Theo Schlossnagle, which actually looks really good. Its a book that has come at a good time for me – I’m at a point where I can write a website in my sleep, but understand where the weak points are that might cause it to crumble under load is a whole new chapter.

Also included in the package were a set of trading cards from Zend Con ’07 (here’s the flickr set), with Cal’s one autographed! Finally, and possibly most excitingly, I got an elePHPant! Here he is meeting tux:

Have a look at the other photos tagged with elephpant on flickr too!

Actually I wonder if Cal knows what he is taking on here, he’s going to have his hands full trying to keep these four ladies under control :) He’s also running a competition – an elephpant for the best question asked in the IRC channel while the ‘cast is happening … I really want one of these critters so if you have any question suggestions then please pop them in the comments for me.

Its at 6PM CT which I think its midnight here in GMT (or UTC). You can listen live by dialling a toll-free number, only available from within the US however Skype’s documentation seems to think I can call a US toll-free number over skype from here in the UK so this will hopefully prove to allow access for anyone outside the US who would like to listen. Very importantly there will also be a real-time interaction with the #phpwomen channel on irc.freenode.net so drop in if you’d like to. If you’re new to IRC then find instructions on the IRC primer I wrote for PHPWomen. Hope to see some new faces joining us on this one!

There is even a a photo of me – thanks Sebastian :)

I’m hoping to learn some new things from the various talks during the 2-day conference, and to come back itching to try out new stuff! I’ll be meeting lots of new people as well, some of whom I’m “met” online already, and some of whom are completely new. Other than that I’m really not sure what to expect at all.

If you’re going to IPC, then pop over and say hi, I’m the tall, loud one in a phpwomen t-shirt :)

The group has brought me friendship, direction, and moral support in quantities I never dreamed existed. Long may it continue :)