How to Fix the ‘PHP Version Does Not Satisfy That Requirement’ Error in Composer for Drupal Projects

For those building Drupal websites, Composer is essential. It helps manage and add new website pieces, like modules and themes. But if you’ve ever felt lost about how Composer works, think of it as a helpful grocery shopper. Not sure about the analogy? Check out this article: “Understanding Composer: A Simple Analogy of Grocery Shopping for Better Dependency Management”.

However, sometimes, when moving our work from our local environment to the server, we might encounter the ‘PHP Version Does Not Satisfy That Requirement’ error:

Installing dependencies from lock file (including require-dev)
Verifying lock file contents can be installed on current platform.
Your lock file does not contain a compatible set of packages. Please run composer update.

This error means the PHP version on your local setup is different from the one on the server, causing issues with your Drupal website.

Why Does the “‘PHP Version Does Not Satisfy That Requirement’ Error in Composer for Drupal” Happen?

When working on a Drupal project, if you run composer update locally, Composer sets up the composer.lock file based on the PHP version you’re using. When this lock file is used in an environment with a different PHP version, issues arise.

Solutions for Drupal Developers:

1. Synchronize PHP Versions: Aim to use the same PHP version across all environments — be it local, staging, or production. This alignment prevents discrepancies and ensures that Drupal modules and themes function consistently. Locally, when using ddev, adjusting the PHP version is straightforward. You can switch to PHP version 8.1 with the command:

ddev config --php-version 8.1

2. Use Composer’s Platform Config: If you can’t have the same PHP version across environments, you can configure Composer to mimic a particular PHP version. In your Drupal project’s composer.json, include:

"config": {
    "platform": {
        "php": "8.1.0"
    }
}

3. Now, Composer will resolve dependencies as if it’s running PHP 8.1, even if your local version is different.
4. Push Changes & Update Drupal: Commit and push the modified composer.json and composer.lock files. When you pull them on the server, run composer install to ensure Drupal gets the right set of dependencies.
5. Regularly Check PHP Compatibility of Drupal Modules: While core Drupal updates are generally well-tested, contributed modules can sometimes have compatibility issues. Regularly check the module’s Composer requirements and test updates locally before deploying.
6. Continuous Integration for Drupal: Tools like Acquia Pipelines or Drupal-focused CI solutions can help enforce PHP version consistency, ensuring your Drupal project remains error-free across deployments.

Conclusion:

Working with Drupal and Composer means being careful about matching PHP versions. By planning ahead, your website updates can go more smoothly, with fewer issues. It’s best to keep the PHP version the same everywhere for an easier time developing.

Happy Debugging!