PHP versions and Joomla 3.x

[steveday35]

Hi

Currently running J!3.9.25
Was on PHP 7.something (can't remember) and all was good.
Host removed all 7's and I was forced to take 8.1 (only 8.1 / 8.2 / 8.3 are now available)

I'm now getting a lot of issues with various components including J! Update, seeing various forms of the following error:
Warning
Extension Install: Missing field in database: Joomla\CMS\Table\Extension element.

Above error was from J! Install when trying to update an existing component.
From what I can make out various things don't see to be 8.1 compatible, including I suspect J!3.9.25

1) What 3.x version of J! do I need to be ok with PHP8.1
2) But... I don't think I'll be able to update to a later J! now I've moved to 8.1?... is that correct?

What's the best (and simplest) way of moving forward from here?

Thanks in advance

[steveday35]

OK, I've managed to get my hoster to put me back onto PHP 8.0 which did seem to clear a few issues - but it's costing me a monthly fee as it's outdated now.

So the questions are the same really, if I move my J! forward from 3.9.25 to say 3.10 (the final) will I be able to update my PHP to 8.0+?
Will Joomla even upgrade properly using PHP8.0?

I know I'm dodging the v4 and v5 bullet but I need to get the site working better before thinking about that.

Thanks

[toivo]

Joomla 3.x, especially older versions like Joomla 3.9, will have issues in PHP 8.1. The recommended version of PHP for Joomla 3.x is PHP 8.0. However, Joomla 3.9.25 was released only four months after PHP 8.0 three years ago and therefore some third party extensions will display errors or deprecated messages.

Keep using PHP 8.0 until the site is updated to Joomla 4.4.3. Check all third party components for compatibility first, not only from JED but also from the developers' websites. Remember to run a full backup using for example Akeeba Backup before each update.

Ref. Requirements for Unsupported Software - Requirements for Joomla! 3.x

[Webdongle]

I have one J3 live site running on 8.1.27 and another on 8.2.16 but on wamp localhost it needs a lot lower php. Your best option imho is to update your Joomla.

[Per Yngve Berg]

Update to 3.10.12 as a start.

[steveday35]

Thanks all

Good to know I'm mostly ok with 8.0 for now - yes there is an extension that plays up but it's now discontinued from 4.x so I will loose that moving forward anyway.

My plan is to start pushing forward following whatever J! suggests next... but oddly it suggests I'm up to date...!!??
That's via Joomla->Components->Joomla! Update - is there a reason for this? It says I'm on Joomla Live and I have the latest installed at 3.9.25... I've updated via this option before...

Is there another way to upgrade to 3.10? Is there a specific upgrade path of versions I need to be aware of or can I just go straight to 3.10?

Thanks

[Per Yngve Berg]

In Joomla Updates Sites, check that the Joomla Core is not disabled.

[Webdongle]

Download https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla ... format=zip
Use Joomla's Update component ... upload and update.