Explain `composer require` prefer-* options

composer-require.md

How Composer options control package selection

https://getcomposer.org/doc/04-schema.md

Stability

⚠️ Stability is not equal to version!

Possible values: dev, alpha, beta, RC, stable.

Defaults to stable.

• Selected version must be stable: tagged with number-only tags.
  • Issue composer config minimum-stability stable
  • Add "minimum-stability": "stable" to composer.json
• Selected version's stability can be lower, e.g. dev
  • Issue composer config minimum-stability dev
  • Add "minimum-stability": "dev" to composer.json

💡 Less stable versions are usually newer than stable ones.

Select a more stable version even when a less stable version is newer.

• Issue composer config prefer-stable true
• Add "prefer-stable": true to composer.json

Test compatibility with older versions

Version constrains allow a range of versions to be installed.

Select lowest versions possible: composer update --prefer-lowest

Preferred source for package download

Possible values: source, dist, auto.

Defaults to dist.

• Use ZIP archive to download a package when available: Issue composer install --prefer-dist
• Use git to download a package when available: Issue composer install --prefer-source

This can also be configured.