Phive
Phive is a command-line tool for managing PHP project dependencies, specifically designed for installing and versioning PHP Archive (PHAR) files. It provides a secure, reliable way to fetch PHARs from trusted sources like GitHub releases or direct URLs, with built-in verification using GPG signatures or SHA-256 checksums. It serves as a lightweight alternative to Composer for tools and utilities that are distributed as PHARs, such as PHPUnit, PHPStan, or Psalm.
Developers should use Phive when they need to manage PHAR-based tools in PHP projects without relying on Composer or system-wide installations, ensuring version consistency and security across development environments. It is particularly useful in CI/CD pipelines, Docker containers, or team settings where reproducible tool versions are critical, such as for testing, linting, or code analysis tools. Phive simplifies dependency management for standalone PHP executables, reducing conflicts and enhancing project portability.