helper to load the right PHP version as specified in the .php-version file with phpbrew

.phpbrew-php-version-helper.sh

# This helper will switch the PHP version using phpbrew provided that there is a .php-version present
# Call this helper by calling it with the source command: source FILENAME
# NOTE: You do need to install the proper version yourself in order for this to work (phpbrew install VERSION)
if [ -f .php-version ]
then
  VERSION=$(<.php-version)
  printf "Loading PHP v$VERSION\n"
  phpbrew use $VERSION
else
  printf "A .php-version containing the version is needed\n\n"
  printf "You could create a .php-version file by running the following command:\n"
  printf "  echo 5.5.12 > .php-version\n\n"
  printf "Do replace 5.5.12 for the version you really need ;)\n"
fi

• Save this file as .env into the your project's root directory
• Create a .php-version file containing the PHP version you want (it is up to you to install the needed PHP versions with phpbrew)

Now you can switch to the proper PHP version by just running source .env from the project's root directory in the command prompt. Yes, you will need to do this every time you open a new terminal session, but source .env still beats typing phpbrew use VERSION.

Pros:

• get going with less keystrokes (source .env vs. phpbew use VERSION)
• don't worry about the version you need to load as .php-version gives you a reason not to 😉

Cons:

• you need a .env file in the root of every project for which you want to use phpbrew in combination with the .php-version file (you could save the .env file as ~/.phpbrew/phpversion-helper and symlink it from every project directory using ln -s ~/.phpbrew/phpversion-helper .env