Plugin Initialization fails in PHP 4 (WP 3.0-Beta 2) - initializes fine under PHP 5 or PHP 4 (WP 2.9.2)

[bennebw]

Was testing PhotoSmash plugin under WP 3.0 Beta 2 and found that it does not install (will attach the init file if possible) under PHP4. The plugin install file creates database tables and sets ReWrite up.

The fact that it installs fine with PHP 4 and WP 2.9.2 or with PHP 5 and WP 3.0 Beta-2 would indicate that WP 3.0 is breaking PHP 4 compatibility somewhere as the only thing that has changed in my test is the WP version.

I am using a 1and1.com shared Linux host. The PHP 4 version is PHP 4.4.9 (I think).

The result of Activating the plugin under PHP 4 and WP 3.0 Beta 2 is that it produces a Error 500 Server error. The plugin does activate, but no database tables are created. Please see attached file for the details

[bennebw]

PhotoSmash Initialization filed

[westi]

What error message do you see in the error log?

[ryan]

WP 3.0 has stricter checks for plugins that create warnings when they activate. It could be the plugin has the same problems in WP 2.9.2 but slips through 2.9.2's weaker checks.

[ryan]

Undefined variable:  wpdb in /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/trunk/wp-content/plugins/photosmash-galleries/bwb-photosmash.php on line 46

Undefined $wpdb occurs all over the place.

[ryan]

Plugins can't assume they are running from global scope. That plugin needs to declare $wpdb as global.

[ryan]

If that's the plugin you mean, I'm not sure how it would install under any recent version of WP. I think you haven't been able to assume activating within global scope for awhile.

[bennebw]

Replying to ryan:

Plugins can't assume they are running from global scope. That plugin needs to declare $wpdb as global.

Just for kicks, I tried to Install NextGen Gallery under PHP 4, WP 3.0 Beta-2. Same problem. I'll be honest, that makes me feel a wee bit better that it's not limited to my plugin, because I spent several hours trying to debug it last night, but couldn't figure it out without know what might have changed in WP 3 that might be causing the issue.

$wpdb is declared global on line 22. As I mentioned, it loads fine in PHP 5 under WP 3.0, but PHP 4 is having real problems.

Here's the code that gets processed in PhotoSmash up to the point the $wpdb is declared global:

Starting in the main plugin file, the add_action to trigger the initialization class:

Call the INIT function whenever the Plugin is activated
add_action('activate_photosmash-galleries/bwb-photosmash.php',
array(&$bwbPS, 'init'));

Now the function that gets run in the $bwbPS object to load the Initialization class:

Called when plugin is activated

function init(){

require_once(WP_PLUGIN_DIR . "/photosmash-galleries/admin/bwbps-init.php");
$bwbpsinit = new BWBPS_Init();

}

Now the start of the Initialization Class:

Code for initializing BWB-PhotoSmash plugin when it is activated in Wordpress Plugins admin page
class BWBPS_Init{

var $adminOptionsName = "BWBPhotosmashAdminOptions";

Constructor
function BWBPS_Init(){

Create the PhotoSmash Tables if not exists

$psOptions = get_option($this->adminOptionsName);

$label = $psOptionstag_label? ? esc_attr($psOptionstag_label?) : "Photo tags";

$slug = $psOptionstag_slug? ? $psOptionstag_slug? : "photo-tag";

register_taxonomy( 'photosmash', 'post', array( 'hierarchical' => false, 'label' => ($label, 'series'), 'query_var' => 'bwbps_wp_tag', 'rewrite' => array( 'slug' => $slug ) ) );

global $wp_rewrite;

$wp_rewrite->flush_rules();

global $wpdb;

require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php');

[bennebw]

Sorry the code is all screwed up I posted above. I haven't participated in this process before, so please excuse any faux pas'.

[nacin]

Can you try again using the latest nightly?

[bennebw]

Replying to nacin:

Can you try again using the latest nightly?

I uploaded the Nightly Build (all except wp-content and wp-config.php). It upgraded the database to the new build.

I tried installing PhotoSmash Galleries and NextGen Gallery on PHP 4 and received the "Error 500 - Internal Server..." error message again.

Both plugins installed fine under PHP 5.

Looks like it's still broken...if I did everything correctly.

[markjaquith]

I am able to activate both PhotoSmash and NextGEN Gallery on WP 3.0-RC1 while running PHP 4. No problems.

[markjaquith]

It seems to be a problem with 1and1. Lots of reports that many plugins fail to activate on 1and1 with PHP4, or that WordPress auto update fails to work. Suggested solution is to switch to PHP5 or find a new host.

e.g. ​http://www.gp2b.com/error-500-–-internal-server-error-in-wordpress-with-11/

[bennebw]

Replying to markjaquith:

It seems to be a problem with 1and1. Lots of reports that many plugins fail to activate on 1and1 with PHP4, or that WordPress auto update fails to work. Suggested solution is to switch to PHP5 or find a new host.

e.g. ​http://www.gp2b.com/error-500-–-internal-server-error-in-wordpress-with-11/

Ryan appears to have had problems installing under PHP 4 using MAMP (not 1and1). That would suggest that 2 out of 3 setups had problems under PHP 4. Perhaps the decision to ignore this is a subtle shove in the back of the PHP4 laggards? No arguments from me as long as this is the intent.

The gp2b.com article referenced above calls out plugins that are PHP 5 only, which neither NextGen nor PhotoSmash stipulate as a requirement.

[nacin]

bennebw: ryan was seeing something different, see also #13585. He was able to activate the plugin (with the less-strict checks in place). It's specifically a 1and1 issue best we can tell otherwise.

[bennebw]

Replying to nacin:

bennebw: ryan was seeing something different, see also #13585. He was able to activate the plugin (with the less-strict checks in place). It's specifically a 1and1 issue best we can tell otherwise.

Thanks for the clarification.

[bennebw]

Confirming the consensus, NextGen and PhotoSmash both install fine under PHP 4 on my MediaTemple account. Appears to be specific to 1and1.