How to execute PHP code from the command line?

Question

I would like to execute a single php statement like if(function_exists(\"my_func\")) echo \'function exists\'; directly with the command line without having to

Answer 1

If you're using Laravel, you can use php artisan tinker to get an amazing interactive shell to interact with your Laravel app. However, Tinker works with "Psysh" under the hood which is a popular PHP REPL and you can use it even if you're not using Laravel(bare PHP):

// Bare PHP:
>>> preg_match("/hell/", "hello");
=> 1

// Laravel Stuff:
>>> Str::slug("How to get the job done?!!?!", "_");
=> "how_to_get_the_job_done"

One great feature I really like about Psysh is that it provides a quick way for directly looking up the PHP docs from the command line. To get it to work, you only have to take the following simple steps:

apt install php-sqlite3

and then get the required PHP docs database and move it to the proper location:

wget http://psysh.org/manual/en/php_manual.sqlite
mkdir -p /usr/local/share/psysh/ && mv php_manual.sqlite /usr/local/share/psysh/

now for instance: