I had numerous requests for info and questions relating to JSON extension in CentOS. To enable these functions in RedHat and CentOs 5, the process is really simple and fast.
NOTE: As of PHP 5.2, json extension is now standard. If you’re running PHP 5.2 or later, or like to upgrade instead, you can skip this!
- Ensure you have the necessary dependecies (php, php-pear, php-devel, gcc, make):
- $ sudo yum install gcc make
- $ sudo yum install php php-pear php-devel
- Use PECL (P HP E xtension C ommunity L ibrary) to download the json package:
- $ sudo pecl download json
- Use PEAR (P HP E xtension and A pplication R epository) to extract and install the extension:
- $ sudo pear install json-1.2.1.tgz
- Create a file in
/etc/php.d
called “json.ini”, and add the following lines:- ; php-json extension
- extension=json.so
- Restart apache (gracefully if you’re running a live site:
- $ sudo service httpd restart (apachectl graceful)
- Check for availability by creating an info.php file in the web root with the following line:
- <?php phpinfo(); ?>
- Load info.php in your browser and check for JSON. You now should be all set, but if it doesn’t appear, verify all of the above steps very carefully.