Install oAuth PECL error: Cannot install, php_dir for channel “pecl.php.net” is not writeable by the current user

Question

I'm trying to instal oAuth on OS X, but I am getting this error in the Terminal:

Cannot install, php_dir for channel "pecl.php.net" is not writeable by the current user

How do I allow it to be writable?

Answer 1

First find out where the php_dir is. You can do this by using the 'config-get' command:

pecl config-get php_dir

After this you can either:

• Change the ownership of that folder (and any needed child folders)

  sudo chown <username> <php_dir>

or

• Set the php_dir to a different folder

  pecl config-set php_dir /path/to/new/dir

Answer 2

The easiest way is probably to append sudo to the front of your install command.

See http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l/blcmdl8_sudo.htm to read more about the handy "super user" command.