Composer is a tool for dependency management in PHP. It allows you to declare the libraries your project depends on and it will manage (install/update) them for you.
Composer requires PHP 5.3.2+ to run. A few sensitive PHP settings and compile flags are also required, but when using the installer you will be warned about any incompatibilities.
Criteria is a framework-agnostic PHP package that simplifies the use of the criteria pattern for filtering, sorting, and paginating data. It helps separate query logic from repositories, making the codebase easier to maintain and extend over time. By using Criteria, developers can handle complex querying needs without spreading filter logic across different parts of the application.
PHP 8.5 lands with a pack of features that smooth out daily development, remove long-standing friction points, and make functional patterns far easier to write. It feels like a release focused on practical wins: cleaner code, stronger introspection tools, safer configuration defaults, and more helpful debugging. Let's walk through the most interesting additions.
