Update php config from a php script

Question

I'm extending an application that stores configuration data in a php file. The file looks like this:

defined('DB_NAME') or define('DB_NAME', '');
defined('DB_USERNAME') or define('DB_USERNAME', '');
defined('DB_PASSWORD') or define('DB_PASSWORD', '');

Say, I want to make the parameter DB_NAME configurable from within the php application itself, thus avoiding manual changes in config.php. I thought of reading the file, searching for the string 'DB_NAME', do some string manipulation, and write the content back. However, this does not seem very elegant. Is there any other way?

I'm no expert, but what stops you from receiving the variable from a POST and then setting it with define() ? — Lucas Bustamante
– Lucas Bustamante, Commented Jan 14, 2017 at 13:30

Álvaro González · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-14 14:17:31Z

1

I suggest you avoid PHP source code and switch to any standard data format where you already have encoders and decoders. There's a lot to choose from:

XML
JSON
INI
YAML
SQL and no-SQL databases...

answered Jan 14, 2017 at 14:17

Álvaro González

147k45 gold badges282 silver badges378 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Andy Over a year ago

This is definitely how I will do it in my own projects in the future!

Tudor Ilisoi · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-14 15:26:52Z

0

One way to do it:

Copy the entire config in a config.tpl, to be used as a template
alter it to contain unique placeholders like this: defined('DB_NAME') or define('DB_NAME', '%DB_NAME%');
write a class of function which replaces placeholders with values in the template and writes to disk as config.php

The only thing to take care of is unique placeholders

answered Jan 14, 2017 at 15:26

Tudor Ilisoi

2,96426 silver badges26 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Update php config from a php script

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related