Extension Manager Stable Release & Install Flarum Via ZIP File

SychO

🧩 Extension Manager

Dear Flarum Users,

We are pleased to announce the stable release of the Extension Manager extension (previously named Package Manager), a solution born from our experimentation to simplify the installation and updating process of Flarum extensions directly within the admin panel.

Initially introduced in beta versions for Flarum 1.0, the Extension Manager has performed better than expected despite encountered issues. We're now delighted to unveil its stable version, refined with fixes for numerous issues and the addition of new features.

screenshot of the extension manager extension interface

📥 Installation

If you already have flarum/package-manager installed.Make sure to remove it first using the command line:

composer remove flarum/package-manager

Then you can simply install the extension manager by running:

composer require flarum/extension-manager:*

📦️ Introducing Installation Via Package

Overcoming the reliance on SSH access for software and extension management has been a persistent challenge for many users. While the Extension Manager resolves these challenges for extensions, the initial software installation still necessitates command-line use.

To address this further, we're introducing installation via packages bundled with the Extension Manager for each major Flarum version. This offers an alternative installation method for users uncomfortable with CLI commands. By selecting the appropriate PHP version package, users can directly install Flarum without using composer.

You can find these installable packages in our documentation.

It is important to note that while this aims to reduce the necessity of using the command line interface as much as possible, you may still need to run some commands in case of troubleshooting or potential crashes.

ernestdefoe

SychO Overcoming the reliance on SSH access for software and extension management has been a persistent challenge for many users. While the Extension Manager resolves these challenges for extensions, the initial software installation still necessitates command-line use.

I’m curious why not just include this in the zip file for those on shared hosting that don’t have access to ssh access especially since it seems like Composer is compiled with php on most hosting control panels now a days. Then it would make things easier.

GreXXL

dad72 I am unsure about your error. Maybe some restrictions on your php installation or memory being exhausted? Can you share your complete php flarum info output with us?

dad72 Also, I cannot enable background queue operations. The checkbox is not clickable. Am I missing something?

You will need to have something like https://discuss.flarum.org/d/28151-database-queue-the-simplest-queue-even-for-shared-hosting or Redis running to be able to activate this option - as described in the info text.

ernestdefoe I’m curious why not just include this in the zip file for those on shared hosting that don’t have access to ssh access especially since it seems like Composer is compiled with php on most hosting control panels now a days. Then it would make things easier.

The next paragraph of the quoted text explains that this is just what we did:

SychO To address this further, we're introducing installation via packages bundled with the Extension Manager for each major Flarum version. This offers an alternative installation method for users uncomfortable with CLI commands. By selecting the appropriate PHP version package, users can directly install Flarum without using composer.

You can find these installable packages in our documentation.

tolgaaaltas

You can install via Extension Manager. (SychO )

tolgaaaltas

chrisc297 The last time I used flarum, I had to install plugins with composer. Is this still the case or has it advanced more since then with a browser installer?

This one changed with Extension Manager (SychO).

chrisc297 What are the key benefits of choosing flarum over something more established as phpbb?

Pros:

Faster loading times
Mobile friendly UX
Easy to use for users
Modern UI
Shows discussions instead the categories (so you don't need to install a plugin like latest post or what's new)

Cons:

Ecosystem

peopleinside

Hi, thank you for this update!
I removed the flarum/package-manager and installed successfully this new manager but, if I press the button to check updates I get the error: Failed to execute. Check the composer logs in storage/logs/composer

I see the following logs:

[2024-01-12 16:05:20] composer.ERROR: outdated --format

In Factory.php line 319:
composer.json" does not match the expected JSON schema:          
   - repositories : NULL value found, but an object or an array is required

I never had this error using the beta package manager, just this stable version of extension manager.
Waiting your feedback on how to solve this. Thanks 😊

SychO

peopleinside Looking into it!

SychO

peopleinside Should be fixed in v1.0.1 but make sure to remove the repositories key from composer.json (if it is null)

peopleinside

Seems works, of cure I need remove the string null in the composer.json and was able to update. Now the check update button works, thanks!

Subarist

v.1..0.1 got this when check for updates.

In addition, when turn on the background queue, all buttons on the control page will become unclickable.

POST https://flarum.subarist.net/api/extension-manager/check-for-updates

Error: Call to undefined function Composer\Util\putenv() in /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/composer/composer/src/Composer/Util/Platform.php:78
Stack trace:
#0 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/flarum/extension-manager/src/ExtensionManagerServiceProvider.php(44): Composer\Util\Platform::putEnv()
#1 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(873): Flarum\ExtensionManager\ExtensionManagerServiceProvider->Flarum\ExtensionManager\{closure}()
#2 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(758): Illuminate\Container\Container->build()
#3 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(694): Illuminate\Container\Container->resolve()
#4 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(1027): Illuminate\Container\Container->make()
#5 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(947): Illuminate\Container\Container->resolveClass()
#6 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(908): Illuminate\Container\Container->resolveDependencies()
#7 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(758): Illuminate\Container\Container->build()
#8 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/container/Container.php(694): Illuminate\Container\Container->resolve()
#9 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/flarum/core/src/Bus/Dispatcher.php(21): Illuminate\Container\Container->make()
#10 /www/wwwroot/flarum/vendor/illuminate/bus/Dispatcher.php(118): Flarum\Bus\Dispatcher->getCommandHandler()

Flarum core: 1.8.5
PHP version: 8.3.0
MySQL version: 8.0.35
Loaded extensions: Core, date, libxml, openssl, pcre, sqlite3, zlib, bcmath, ctype, curl, dom, filter, ftp, gd, gettext, hash, iconv, intl, json, mbstring, SPL, session, pcntl, standard, mysqlnd, PDO, pdo_mysql, pdo_sqlite, Phar, posix, random, Reflection, mysqli, shmop, SimpleXML, soap, sockets, sodium, sysvsem, tokenizer, xml, xmlreader, xmlwriter, zip, fileinfo, swoole, redis, memcached, imagick, exif, Zend OPcache
+-------------------------------------------+---------+--------+
| Flarum Extensions                         |         |        |
+-------------------------------------------+---------+--------+
| ID                                        | Version | Commit |
+-------------------------------------------+---------+--------+
| flarum-markdown                           | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-flags                              | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-suspend                            | v1.8.1  |        |
| v17development-seo                        | v1.8.0  |        |
| askvortsov-rich-text                      | v2.1.7  |        |
| flarum-sticky                             | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-tags                               | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-lock                               | v1.8.0  |        |
| fof-formatting                            | 1.0.3   |        |
| afrux-forum-widgets-core                  | v0.1.7  |        |
| fof-oauth                                 | 1.6.6   |        |
| flarum-nicknames                          | v1.8.0  |        |
| fof-pages                                 | 1.0.8   |        |
| flarum-approval                           | v1.8.1  |        |
| fof-user-directory                        | 1.3.3   |        |
| clarkwinkelmann-advanced-search-highlight | 1.0.2   |        |
| v17development-blog                       | v0.7.7  |        |
| sycho-advanced-extension-categories       | v0.1.3  |        |
| zequeen-acgembed-remastered               | v1.1.2  |        |
| the-turk-stickiest                        | 3.0.1   |        |
| the-turk-flamoji                          | 1.0.4   |        |
| sycho-profile-cover                       | v1.3.5  |        |
| sycho-lite-youtube                        | v0.1.1  |        |
| rob006-last-post-avatar                   | 1.2.4   |        |
| pipecraft-id-slug                         | v1.1.0  |        |
| nearata-tags-color-generator              | v2.3.0  |        |
| malago-fancybox                           | 0.3.0   |        |
| justoverclock-hashtag                     | 1.0.1   |        |
| justoverclock-custom-html-widget          | 0.1.4   |        |
| justoverclock-country-flags               | 1.0.0   |        |
| justoverclock-contactme                   | 0.2.3   |        |
| ianm-oauth-line                           | 0.1.4   |        |
| ianm-html-head                            | 1.2.3   |        |
| hamcq-pangujs                             | 1.0.3   |        |
| glowingblue-redis-setup                   | 1.2.1   |        |
| gbcl-userip                               | 1.0.4   |        |
| fof-username-request                      | 1.2.4   |        |
| fof-user-bio                              | 1.3.1   |        |
| fof-upload                                | 1.5.4   |        |
| fof-socialprofile                         | 1.1.6   |        |
| fof-sitemap                               | 2.2.1   |        |
| fof-share-social                          | 1.1.3   |        |
| fof-profile-image-crop                    | 1.1.6   |        |
| fof-pretty-mail                           | 1.1.2   |        |
| fof-nightmode                             | 1.5.3   |        |
| fof-merge-discussions                     | 1.4.1   |        |
| fof-links                                 | 1.2.1   |        |
| fof-filter                                | 1.1.3   |        |
| fof-drafts                                | 1.2.10  |        |
| fof-default-user-preferences              | 1.2.1   |        |
| fof-best-answer                           | 1.4.1   |        |
| fof-anti-spam                             | 1.1.2   |        |
| fof-analytics                             | 1.1.0   |        |
| flarumtr-mobile-search                    | v1.2    |        |
| flarum-subscriptions                      | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-statistics                         | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-pusher                             | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-mentions                           | v1.8.3  |        |
| flarum-likes                              | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-lang-english                       | v1.8.0  |        |
| flarum-lang-chinese-traditional           | v1.19.0 |        |
| flarum-lang-chinese-simplified            | v1.3.0  |        |
| flarum-extension-manager                  | v1.0.1  |        |
| flarum-bbcode                             | v1.8.0  |        |
| davwheat-ads                              | 1.2.0   |        |
| datlechin-silent-edit                     | v0.1.0  |        |
| datlechin-scroll-buttons                  | v1.1.0  |        |
| datlechin-posted-on                       | v0.2.1  |        |
| datlechin-link-preview                    | v1.4.0  |        |
| datlechin-chatgpt                         | v0.4.0  |        |
| clarkwinkelmann-scout                     | 0.3.5   |        |
| clarkwinkelmann-first-post-approval       | 1.0.1   |        |
| clarkwinkelmann-author-change             | 1.0.3   |        |
| cccyun-clogin-oauth                       | v1.0.2  |        |
| blomstra-turnstile                        | 0.1.4   |        |
| blomstra-spam-prevention                  | 1.5.0   |        |
| blomstra-fontawesome                      | 0.1.5   |        |
| askvortsov-pwa                            | v3.3.3  |        |
| askvortsov-markdown-tables                | v1.2.1  |        |
| askvortsov-article-series                 | v0.2.0  |        |
| afrux-online-users-widget                 | v0.1.6  |        |
| afrux-forum-stats-widget                  | v0.1.1  |        |
| afrux-asirem                              | v0.1.8  |        |
| acpl-mobile-tab                           | 1.4.1   |        |
+-------------------------------------------+---------+--------+
Base URL: https://
Installation path: /www/wwwroot/flarum
Queue driver: redis
Session driver: redis (Code override. Configured to file)
Scheduler status: 啟用
Mail driver: smtp
Debug mode: ON

SychO

Subarist it looks like your web host might have intentionally disabled the putenv function?

Subarist

SychO
I noticed the hint about the putenv , but it was running fine for me on package-manager rc3, surprisingly.
Yes, I upgraded to PHP 8.3 earlier, and it automatically disabled putenv again by default.
Now it's cool. Thanks!

hrvoje_hr

Congratulations to the team on this great milestone 👏👏

ernestdefoe

Loving the update to this. Working so much better for me. How would we set this up to use premium extensions from Extiverse?

GreXXL

ernestdefoe How would we set this up to use premium extensions from Extiverse?

Setup a new Repository:
Name: extiverse
Type: composer
URL: https://extiverse.com/composer/

Don't forget to save.

Add a new Token:
Type: HTTP Bearer
Host: extiverse.com
Token: <Generate on extiverse.com>

Again, don't forget to save.

It's also in the docs - just for completeness: https://docs.flarum.org/extensions#adding-a-composer-repository

Litalino

This utility is better than the package-manager version.. Works a lot better for me.

@SychO After installing another extension: in vendor folder/packagename/js/src it doesn't download locally.... I have to upload the src folder manually.. Help me

clarkwinkelmann

Litalino if you are referring to the fact Composer only downloads the compiled javascript of extension and not its source, this is expected behaviour. Most extensions have marked the JS source files to be ignored in the distribution file (in their .gitattributes files), meaning GitHub doesn't include it in the ZIP/TAR archive, meaning Composer never downloads it.

This should be identical no matter if you use the Extension Manager or Composer over the command line.

If you want the full source version of an extension, either manually clone it to a workbench folder using git, or change your Composer configuration to prefer source download (requires git to be installed on the system) over dist download. I'm not sure whether additional configuration is needed to make the Extension Manager pick up this setting, but if you set it in the composer.json I expect it will.

Nodeloc

Great job. 🥰

Litalino

clarkwinkelmann
Now I understand.. thank you

Nodeloc

After I use this extension update my all extensions. When I post I got a meilisearch error.

In Container.php line 1104:
                                                                                                           
  Unresolvable dependency resolving [Parameter #0 [ <required> string $url ]] in class Meilisearch\Client

I use composer update clarkwinkelmann/flarum-ext-scout to solved : this issue.

GreXXL

Nodeloc this has no relation to the extension manager see this post and the following two: https://discuss.flarum.org/d/30874-scout-search/68

Lunaci

I get this error when trying to update the plugin.

[2024-01-13 21:22:24] composer.ERROR: require 'fof/anti-spam:*' -W
/var/www/composer.json has been updated
Running composer update fof/anti-spam --with-all-dependencies
Loading composer repositories with package information
Updating dependencies
Lock file operations: 1 install, 3 updates, 2 removals
  - Removing fof/spamblock (1.1.2)
  - Removing fof/stopforumspam (1.2.4)
  - Upgrading flarum/core (v1.8.4 => v1.8.5)
  - Locking fof/anti-spam (1.1.2)
  - Upgrading laminas/laminas-httphandlerrunner (2.9.0 => 2.10.0)
  - Upgrading symfony/string (v6.4.0 => v6.4.2)
Writing lock file
Installing dependencies from lock file (including require-dev)
Package operations: 1 install, 4 updates, 2 removals
  - Downloading symfony/string (v6.4.2)
  - Downloading laminas/laminas-httphandlerrunner (2.10.0)
  - Downloading flarum/core (v1.8.5)
  - Downloading fof/anti-spam (1.1.2)
 0/4 [>---------------------------]   0%
 1/4 [=======>--------------------]  25%
 3/4 [=====================>------]  75%
 4/4 [============================] 100%
  - Removing fof/stopforumspam (1.2.4)
  - Removing fof/spamblock (1.1.2)
  - Upgrading symfony/string (v6.4.0 => v6.4.2): Extracting archive
  - Upgrading laminas/laminas-httphandlerrunner (2.9.0 => 2.10.0): Extracting archive
  - Upgrading flarum/core (v1.8.4 => v1.8.5): Extracting archive
  - Installing fof/anti-spam (1.1.2): Extracting archive
  - Upgrading fof/upload (1.5.3 => 1.5.4): Extracting archive
    Uninstall of fof/stopforumspam failed
    Uninstall of fof/spamblock failed
    Update of symfony/string failed
    Update of laminas/laminas-httphandlerrunner failed
    Update of fof/upload failed
 0/2 [>---------------------------]   0%
 1/2 [==============>-------------]  50%    Update of flarum/core failed

 2/2 [============================] 100%
In Filesystem.php line 288:
                                                               
  Could not delete /var/www/vendor/fof/stopforumspam/LICENSE:  
                                                               

require [--dev] [--dry-run] [--prefer-source] [--prefer-dist] [--prefer-install PREFER-INSTALL] [--fixed] [--no-suggest] [--no-progress] [--no-update] [--no-install] [--no-audit] [--audit-format AUDIT-FORMAT] [--update-no-dev] [-w|--update-with-dependencies] [-W|--update-with-all-dependencies] [--with-dependencies] [--with-all-dependencies] [--ignore-platform-req IGNORE-PLATFORM-REQ] [--ignore-platform-reqs] [--prefer-stable] [--prefer-lowest] [--sort-packages] [-o|--optimize-autoloader] [-a|--classmap-authoritative] [--apcu-autoloader] [--apcu-autoloader-prefix APCU-AUTOLOADER-PREFIX] [--] [<packages>...]

GreXXL

Lunaci can you verify that the folder ownership (https://docs.flarum.org/install#folder-ownership) is set correct?

fakruzaruret

@GreXXL It is shown empty in my website, what is the problem?

GreXXL

fakruzaruret do you have any error in the browser console or in the logfile? You can follow our troubleshooting guide to locate the necessary information.

Darkle

fakruzaruret Disable Flamoji, clear cache and restore your web server. It is probably the culprit.

tolgaaaltas

Darkle Well, that's interesting. I just install the Flarum (with no public zip) and extension manager just looks like fakruzaruret 's screenshot.