L5.1 PHP 5.5.9 requirement

I think it was mentioned in that last Laravel podcast.

PHP 5.4 will go totally end of life in September, before the release of Laravel 5.2. Makes sense to require PHP 5.5 now for added security support and modern features, especially given LTS release.

https://github.com/laravel/framework/commit/8349040e7381d083868fa40bd7dcaf301f0347e3

@frezno I don't think it is about specific features, more to do with what @JohnRivs said :)

Good host servers should not offer only a PHP version outdated.

@JohnRivs @mstnorris
for sure, it does make sense to go up to a more current version of PHP.
i was just wondering whether there's something specific at L5.1 which wouldn't work anymore using PHP < 5.5.9

@bestmomo you're absolutely right, but sometimes one has no choice and is bound on the hoster
or you have a system that doesn't offer a specific version yet or it's unstable. Wasn't Ubuntu not such a candidate with PHP 5.3 or 5.4 ? Can't remember...

Who the hell doesn't have 5.5 these days. New Ubuntu/Debian distros have >= 5.5 default now?

Using Laravel on PHP 5.3/5.4 is like trying to put a V8 engine in a pushchair.

Yeah Ubuntu 14.04 LTS was PHP 5.5.9, with the most recent 15.04 using PHP 5.6.4

Debain 8 is using PHP 5.6.7

Time to use a different host if you are stuck on outdated software.

@bashy that'd be one awesome pushchair. I don't think those little wheels would be able to take it though.

+1 for a V8 engine in a pushchair.

;) haha, thought people would like that

I can't find where it's checking the php version. I am on Windows and while I work on Homestead, I do have the latest XAMPP installed which has PHP 5.6.8.

I probably have earlier php versions somewhere on my laptop but I can't figure out how to point the validation to the correct php src.

Any suggestions?