Why are there no longer Windows binaries for PECL extensions like pecl_http?

Question

I'm working on a PHP project running on Windows and it would be so very handy to be able to use pecl_http rather than working with cURL and re-inventing the wheel in order to do all the cool stuff the pecl extension does like parsing headers and so forth.

Everywhere I read (including the PHP site) is that the Windows binary for pecl_http is no longer packaged with any PHP installation. I can't find any explanation as to why not anywhere. Also, http://pecl4win.php.net/ has been down for ages and I can only assume that the pecl4win project is dead.

Does anyone know the story about what happened and if there are any nice alternatives to pecl_http that I can run in a WIMP environment?

Answer 1

Try this:

First, download the PECL module from the php website : PECL 5.2.2 Win32 binaries.
Then unzipp it and copy the file php_http.dll in your PHP extension folder.
Now edit your php.ini file (c:\WINDOWS\php.ini) and activate the module :
extension=php_http.dll
Restart apache and check the installation using phpinfo.

**EDIT: ** Link: PECL 5.2.6 Windows Binaries

Source

Answer 2

I'm not sure if this is a fresh update to the page or if I missed it the first time. But under the current Windows Binaries there is a note which reads:

Note: The PECL package will not be released for this version. The 5.2.6 PECL package does however work with this release

(From: http://www.php.net/downloads.php)

For some reason I only noticed the first part, to the point where I'm almost SURE the second sentence wasn't there when I checked the first time :). Not to worry, effectively this means I can use the PECL package from the 5.2.6 release of PHP. (http://museum.php.net/php5/pecl-5.2.6-Win32.zip)

Thanks guys for your answers, it was a great help.

Cheers Iain

Answer 3

Perhaps one of the PEAR modules can help you? PEAR modules are implemented in PHP, so will work on any PHP install anywhere (theoretically).

Installation instructions for Pyrus (PHP 5.3+) or plain old PEAR.

Answer 4

I don't know why Windows binaries were not available for a while, but now they are back.

This is the link for the PECL extensions Windows binaries (including pecl_http):
http://windows.php.net/downloads/pecl/releases/

Answer 5

I found the php_http.dll on this site as well, http://downloads.php.net/pierre/ for a WAMP installation but the apache server kept throwing an exception loading the dll. But I got the apache server to start fine by loading the dll from the above link.

sfr-fresh.com/windows/www/pecl-5.2.6-Win32.zip