PrestaShow System requirements (PHP, ionCube)

30 June 2020, the minimum system requirements for all modules available in the prestashow.pl store will change. Please read the post below to prepare your store and server for the better.

System requirements

• PHP version 7.1 - 8.4 inclusive
• Installed and enabled ionCube extension

Additionally, selected modules from our store have extra requirements, listed below:

• PrestaShop Importer module only: PHP libxml version > 2.9.3
• PrestaShop Facebook Integrator module only: PHP 7.2 or higher
• PrestaShop VAT Validator module only: PHP SOAP

Why these requirements?

Based on observations of our customers’ stores, a dozen or so percent of PrestaShop stores still use PHP version 5.6, or even lower. Using such old PHP versions is unsafe. At the same time, store owners lose a huge range of possibilities related to the availability, speed, and security of a store running on outdated PHP versions. These losses result directly from performance, security, and compatibility gaps.

At PrestaShow, we keep up with the times. We strive to take advantage of the latest technologies, which is why our modules are compatible with PHP from 7.1 to 8.x.

More information about PHP version security can be found on the official website: https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php.

To increase security, we also decided to implement ionCube. This PHP extension, among other things, protects our module files against malicious code that can be added, for example, by viruses. In certain situations, ionCube speeds up operations related to data processing, which makes our modules run faster. IonCube is available on most hosting platforms; its installation is simple and it does not conflict with any store components.

IonCube protects only the PHP files of our modules. All other elements of the module related to customization and appearance remain unchanged and available to store users and administrators. You will still be able to modify the appearance of content, tpl files, and hooks displayed by the modules

Does my store meet the requirements?

Checking whether your store meets the new system requirements is simple and will take a few minutes. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Connect via FTP to the server where your store is running. You can use, for example, the free WinSCP program (we recommend it because it allows you to encrypt passwords saved in it).
2. Go to the main PrestaShop directory — where you can find, among others, the controllers, classes, and override directories.
3. Create a new file named prestashow-test.php with the following content:

echo ((version_compare(phpversion(), '7.1.0', '>=')) 
  ? 'Very good, you have the required PHP version. ' : 'Unfortunately, your PHP version is below 7.1.0. ') 
  . ((function_exists('ioncube_file_is_encoded')) 
  ? 'Very good, you have ionCube installed. ' : 'Unfortunately, ionCube is missing. ');

4. Open this file in your web browser at the address (replace the domain with yours):
http://example.com/prestashow-test.php and read the information it displays.
5. Delete the prestashow-test.php file

How to prepare your server?

PHP: Don’t be afraid to upgrade your PHP version. It may seem complicated, but once implemented it will bring many benefits. The PHP version can most often be changed from your hosting control panel. If your hosting provider does not offer this option, you will need to do it manually. We will not provide instructions here for installing a newer PHP version on a server, as this operation depends on many factors and is best entrusted to a developer or server administrator. Remember to test your store after upgrading PHP.

IonCube: Installing ionCube is even simpler and you can do it entirely on your own. Many servers allow you to enable ionCube in the hosting settings. If you have a server that you manage yourself, here you can find information on how to install and activate the ionCube extension: https://www.ioncube.com/loaders.php


If you have questions about updating PHP and installing ionCube, use the HelpDesk. We’ll help :-)

Best regards,
PrestaShow Team