How Do You Install V8Js on CentOS 7?
If you’re a developer or system administrator working with CentOS 7 and looking to harness the power of modern JavaScript within your PHP applications, understanding how to install and configure V8Js is essential. V8Js is a powerful PHP extension that integrates Google’s V8 JavaScript engine directly into your PHP environment, enabling seamless execution of JavaScript code on the server side. This capability opens up exciting possibilities for enhancing performance, enabling complex scripting, and bridging the gap between PHP and JavaScript ecosystems.
Navigating the installation of V8Js on CentOS 7 can be a bit challenging due to dependencies and the need for compiling from source in some cases. However, with the right guidance and a clear step-by-step approach, you can set up a robust environment that leverages V8’s speed and efficiency. Whether you’re aiming to run JavaScript snippets, improve your application’s responsiveness, or experiment with server-side scripting, mastering this installation process is a valuable skill.
In the following sections, we will explore the essential prerequisites, installation procedures, and configuration tips to get V8Js up and running smoothly on your CentOS 7 system. This tutorial is designed to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to integrate V8Js into your projects, unlocking new dimensions of
Installing Dependencies for V8Js on CentOS 7
Before compiling and installing the V8 JavaScript engine and the V8Js PHP extension, it is crucial to set up the necessary dependencies on CentOS 7. These dependencies include development tools, libraries, and utilities that ensure smooth compilation and integration.
Begin by updating the system packages:
“`bash
sudo yum update -y
“`
Install the essential development tools and libraries:
- `gcc` and `gcc-c++`: Required for compiling C and C++ code.
- `make`: Utility to automate the build process.
- `autoconf` and `automake`: Tools for generating configuration scripts.
- `libicu-devel`: Provides ICU libraries for Unicode and globalization support.
- `python2`: Required for building the V8 engine (V8 build system depends on Python 2).
- `git`: To clone source repositories.
- `curl` and `tar`: For downloading and extracting source archives.
Use the following command to install these packages:
“`bash
sudo yum groupinstall “Development Tools” -y
sudo yum install gcc-c++ make autoconf automake libicu-devel python2 git curl tar -y
“`
Since CentOS 7 defaults to Python 2, this matches the requirement for the V8 build system. If Python 3 is the default, ensure `python2` is explicitly installed and accessible.
Building and Installing V8 Engine from Source
The V8 JavaScript engine is not available as a precompiled package in CentOS 7 repositories, requiring a manual build from source. The recommended method is to use Google’s depot_tools, which manage the fetching and building of V8 and its dependencies.
Steps for building V8:
- Clone depot_tools
Depot_tools is a set of scripts used to manage the Chromium and V8 source code.
“`bash
git clone https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/tools/depot_tools.git
export PATH=`pwd`/depot_tools:$PATH
“`
Add the export line to your `.bashrc` or `.bash_profile` for persistence.
- Fetch V8 source
Create a workspace directory and fetch V8 source code:
“`bash
mkdir ~/v8 && cd ~/v8
fetch v8
cd v8
“`
- Checkout a stable branch
It is recommended to checkout a stable release branch, for example:
“`bash
git checkout 10.9.194.5
“`
- Build V8
Configure build options using GN and build with Ninja:
“`bash
./build/install-build-deps.sh –no-syms –no-nacl
gn gen out.gn/x64.release –args=’is_debug= is_component_build= v8_monolithic=true target_cpu=”x64″‘
ninja -C out.gn/x64.release
“`
This process will take some time as it compiles V8 into a monolithic static library.
- Install V8
After the build completes, install V8 headers and libraries to standard locations:
“`bash
sudo cp -r include /usr/local/include/v8
sudo cp out.gn/x64.release/obj/libv8_monolith.a /usr/local/lib/
sudo ldconfig
“`
This will make V8 available system-wide for linking.
Compiling and Installing V8Js PHP Extension
With V8 built and installed, the next step is to compile the V8Js PHP extension that allows embedding V8 into PHP scripts.
Prerequisites:
- PHP development headers and tools (`php-devel`, `php-pear`).
- PECL package manager for installing extensions.
Install these packages:
“`bash
sudo yum install php-devel php-pear -y
“`
Compile V8Js from PECL source:
- Download V8Js source
Get the latest stable version compatible with your PHP and V8 versions:
“`bash
pecl download v8js
tar -xzf v8js-*.tgz
cd v8js-*
“`
- Prepare build environment
Set environment variables to point to the V8 installation:
“`bash
export V8_INCLUDE_DIR=/usr/local/include/v8
export V8_LIB_DIR=/usr/local/lib
“`
- Build the extension
Use `phpize` and `configure` to prepare and compile:
“`bash
phpize
./configure –with-v8js=/usr/local
make
sudo make install
“`
- Enable the extension
Add the extension to PHP configuration:
“`bash
echo “extension=v8js.so” | sudo tee /etc/php.d/v8js.ini
“`
Restart your web server or PHP-FPM service to apply changes:
“`bash
sudo systemctl restart httpd
or for PHP-FPM
sudo systemctl restart php-fpm
“`
Configuration and Verification
After installation, verify that V8Js is properly installed and configured.
Checking the extension:
Run the following PHP command to confirm the extension is loaded and V8 is accessible:
“`bash
php -r “var_dump(class_exists(‘V8Js’));”
“`
Expected output:
“`php
bool(true)
“`
Test V8Js execution:
Create a simple PHP script `test_v8js.php`:
“`php
executeString(‘1 + 2’);
“`
Run it via CLI:
“`bash
php test_v8js.php
“`
Output should be:
“`
3
“`
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
| Issue | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Missing development headers | Errors during `phpize` or `configure` | Ensure `php-devel` and `php-pear` are installed. |
| V8 build fails due to Python version | V8 build requires Python 2, not Python 3 | Install `python2` and ensure it is default for |
Prerequisites and Environment Preparation
Before installing V8Js on CentOS 7, ensure that your system meets the necessary prerequisites. V8Js requires the V8 JavaScript engine and PHP development tools. Additionally, you need development tools and libraries to compile source code.
- Operating System: CentOS 7 (64-bit recommended)
- PHP version: PHP 7.x or later preferred for compatibility with V8Js
- Development Tools: GCC, make, autoconf, automake, and pkg-config
- Libraries: V8 engine libraries, PHP development headers, and dependencies
Start by updating your system packages to the latest versions:
sudo yum update -yInstall essential build tools and libraries:
sudo yum groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
sudo yum install epel-release -y
sudo yum install gcc-c++ make autoconf automake libtool pkgconfig php-devel php-pear -y
Installing the V8 JavaScript Engine on CentOS 7
The V8 JavaScript engine is not available in the default CentOS repositories, so you will need to build it from source or use a compatible binary distribution. Building from source ensures you have the latest stable version.
Follow these steps to install V8:
- Install dependencies for building V8:
sudo yum install python3 git curl -y
- Install depot_tools: Google’s depot_tools is required to fetch and build V8.
git clone https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/tools/depot_tools.git
export PATH=$PATH:$(pwd)/depot_tools
Add the depot_tools path permanently to your shell profile:
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:'$(pwd)'/depot_tools' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
- Fetch the V8 source code:
mkdir ~/v8 && cd ~/v8
fetch v8
cd v8
- Checkout a stable V8 version (e.g., 10.8):
git checkout 10.8
- Build and install V8:
tools/dev/v8gen.py x64.release
ninja -C out.gn/x64.release
sudo cp -r include/* /usr/include/
sudo cp out.gn/x64.release/libv8*.so /usr/lib64/
sudo ldconfig
This process compiles V8 and installs its headers and shared libraries system-wide.
Installing the V8Js PHP Extension
After installing V8, the next step is to install the V8Js PHP extension. This extension acts as a bridge between PHP and the V8 engine, enabling JavaScript execution within PHP scripts.
- Ensure the V8 shared libraries are accessible to PHP.
- Use PECL to install the V8Js extension or compile it from source.
Install V8Js via PECL:
sudo pecl install v8js
If PECL installation fails due to missing headers or library paths, compile from source:
git clone https://github.com/phpv8/v8js.git
cd v8js
phpize
./configure --with-v8js=/usr
make
sudo make install
Add the extension to your PHP configuration file php.ini:
echo "extension=v8js.so" | sudo tee /etc/php.d/v8js.ini
Restart your web server or PHP-FPM to apply changes:
sudo systemctl restart httpd
or if using PHP-FPM
sudo systemctl restart php-fpm
Verifying the V8Js Installation and Basic Usage
To confirm that V8Js is installed and functioning correctly, create a simple PHP script to execute JavaScript code:
<?php
$v8 = new V8Js();
try {
echo $v8->executeString('var greeting = "Hello, V8Js!"; greeting;');
} catch (V8JsException $e) {
echo 'JavaScript execution failed: ', $e->getMessage();
}
?>
Run the script from the command line:
php test_v8js.php
You should see the output:
Hello, V8Js!
If you encounter errors related to missing shared libraries, verify that /usr/lib64 contains libv8.so and run:
sudo ldconfig