PHP Major-Version Upgrade Program Playbook

Upgrade PHP across major versions as a program. Assess compatibility, apply automated refactors, raise static-analysis levels and typing, then roll out in stages with canary deployment.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Phases

Total Duration

18 weeks

Roles

Major PHP versions tighten type handling, remove deprecated functions, and bring real performance gains. This program upgrades PHP applications across versions using automated refactoring tools and rising static-analysis levels to make the move safe and to leave the codebase stronger than it started.

Phase-by-Phase

Compatibility Assessment. Scan for deprecated syntax and removed functions, audit Composer dependencies for version constraints, and baseline test coverage. The report turns vague upgrade anxiety into a concrete task list.

Automated Rectoring. Apply automated refactoring rule sets to mechanically modernize syntax, fix changes in type juggling and comparison semantics, and update Composer packages. Pre-commit hooks and CI keep the codebase consistent as changes land.

Static Analysis and Typing. Raise the static-analysis level incrementally, adding property, parameter, and return types. Adopt new language features like enums, readonly properties, and match expressions where they clarify the code. Security scanning runs in CI throughout.

Staged Rollout. Validate on staging, canary in production while watching the four golden signals, then decommission the old runtime. Blue-green deployment provides a clean rollback path.

Team and Roles

An architect sets static-analysis targets and typing standards. Backend engineers run the refactoring and resolve dependency conflicts. QA owns coverage and regression. DevOps manages CI gates and the staged rollout.

Risks and Mitigations

Changes in type juggling and comparison semantics cause subtle bugs; targeted tests and static analysis catch them. Dependency incompatibility is identified in the assessment and resolved before code changes pile up. Silent regressions are guarded by the coverage baseline. Coordinate so all engineers work against the same upgrade branch.

Success Criteria

Success is a higher static-analysis level, maintained or improved coverage, steady deployment frequency, and strong MTTR through rollout. The old PHP runtime should be fully retired.

Tooling

Use automated refactoring tooling, a static analyzer in CI, pre-commit hooks, and canary deployment. Laravel or the existing framework hosts the app, with MySQL and Redis as data and cache backends, packaged in Docker.

See a real scan run

A replay of the actual CLI running against our test repositories — live progress, real findings, a genuine DriftScore. Nothing executes in your browser.

Replay

demo@vibgrate — bash

❯ npx @vibgrate/cli scan

╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮

│ Vibgrate Drift Report │

╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯

── node-turborepo (node) .

Runtime: >=18.0.0 (6 majors behind)

Frameworks:

Turbo: 1.13.4 → 2.10.12 (1 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Dependencies:

1 current 1 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown

── @repo/admin (node) apps/admin

Frameworks:

TanStack Query: 5.102.5 → 5.102.5 (current)

React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 behind)

Dependencies:

3 current 9 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown

── @repo/api (node) apps/api

Frameworks:

Express: 4.22.2 → 5.2.1 (1 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)

Dependencies:

7 current 5 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown

── @repo/web (node) apps/web

Frameworks:

Next.js: 14.2.35 → 16.3.3 (2 behind)

React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Dependencies:

2 current 6 1-behind 3 2+ behind 5 unknown

── @repo/config (node) packages/config

Frameworks:

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Dependencies:

2 current 2 1-behind 5 2+ behind 0 unknown

── @repo/database (node) packages/database

Frameworks:

Prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Dependencies:

1 current 0 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown

── @repo/types (node) packages/types

Frameworks:

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Dependencies:

0 current 0 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown

── @repo/ui (node) packages/ui

Frameworks:

React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)

Dependencies:

1 current 4 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown

── @repo/utils (node) packages/utils

Frameworks:

TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)

Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)

Dependencies:

0 current 1 1-behind 2 2+ behind 1 unknown

Tech Stack

Frontend: React, React DOM

Meta-frameworks: Next.js

Bundlers: tsx, Turbo, Vite

CSS / UI: Autoprefixer, PostCSS, Tailwind CSS

Backend: Express

ORM / Database: Prisma, Prisma Client

Testing: Vitest

Lint & Format: ESLint, ESLint Prettier, ESLint React, Prettier, typescript-eslint

Services & Integrations

Auth: JWT 9.0.3

Databases: Prisma 5.22.0

TypeScript

v5.3.3 · strict ✔ · MIXED · target: ES2022

Build & Deploy

Package Managers: pnpm

Monorepo: npm-workspaces, pnpm-workspaces, turbo

Product Purpose Signals

Frameworks: react, nextjs

Evidence: 177

Top Signals:

- [heading] Dashboard (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)

- [title] Revenue Overview (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)

- [copy] workspace:* (packages/ui/package.json)

- [copy] ./dist (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)

- [copy] ./src/index.ts (packages/ui/package.json)

- [copy] @repo/config/tsconfig-base.json (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)

- [copy] @repo/ui (packages/ui/package.json)

- [copy] #3b82f6 (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)

Unknowns:

- No pricing or billing evidence found.

- No integrations/connectors evidence found.

- No route structure evidence found.

Security Posture

Lockfile ✖ · .env ✔ · node_modules ✔

Platform

Native modules: turbo

Code Quality

Files: 36 · Functions: 183 · Avg complexity: 2.62 · Avg length: 21.13 lines

Max nesting: 2 · Circular deps: 0 · Dead code: 0%

God files: apps/admin/src/pages/Products (448 lines)

Database Schema

postgresql · 8 models · 1 enum

Models: Address, CartItem, Category, Order, OrderItem (+3 more)

Findings (16 errors, 11 warnings)

✖ Node.js runtime ">=18.0.0" reached end-of-life on 2025-04-30 (latest: 24.0.0).

vibgrate/runtime-eol in .

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in .

✖ 60% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in node-turborepo.

vibgrate/dependency-rot in .

✖ @types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in .

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin

✖ Vite is 3 major versions behind (current: 5.4.21, latest: 8.2.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin

✖ vite is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^5.0.12, latest: 8.2.2).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/admin

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api

✖ Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api

✖ @types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api

✖ vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api

⚠ Next.js is 2 major versions behind (current: 14.2.35, latest: 16.3.3).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web

✖ @types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/web

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/config

✖ 56% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/config.

vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/config

✖ eslint-plugin-react-hooks is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^4.6.0, latest: 7.1.1).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/config

⚠ Prisma is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.22.0, latest: 7.10.0).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database

✖ 75% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/database.

vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/database

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/types

✖ 100% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/types.

vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/types

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/ui

⚠ TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils

✖ Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).

vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils

✖ 67% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/utils.

vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/utils

✖ vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).

vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/utils

╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮

│ Top Priority Actions │

╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯

1. Upgrade EOL runtime in node-turborepo

End-of-life runtimes no longer receive security patches and block ecosystem upgrades.

./.

>=18.0.0 → 24.0.0 (6 majors behind)

Impact: −10 drift points (runtime & EOL)

2. Fix security posture: no lockfile found

Without a lockfile, installs are non-deterministic. Run the install command to generate one and commit it.

Missing: package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, or yarn.lock

3. Upgrade Vite 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 in @repo/admin (+2 more)

3 major versions behind. Major framework drift increases breaking change risk and blocks access to security fixes and performance improvements.

./apps/admin

Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 majors behind)

./apps/api

Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)

./packages/utils

Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)

Impact: −5–15 drift points

4. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/types (100% severely outdated)

1 of 1 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.

./packages/types

typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)

Impact: −5–10 drift points

5. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/database (75% severely outdated)

3 of 4 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.

./packages/database

@prisma/client: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)

prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)

typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)

Impact: −5–10 drift points

╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮

│ Architecture Layers │

╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯

Archetype: nextjs (80% confidence)

Files classified: 24 (11 unclassified)

Folders classified: 8

apps/admin/src presentation 100% 4 files

apps/admin/src/pages presentation 100% 2 files

apps/api/src/middleware middleware 100% 2 files

apps/api/src/routes routing 100% 2 files

apps/web/src/app presentation 100% 4 files

apps/web/src/app/products presentation 100% 2 files

apps/web/src/app/products/[id] presentation 100% 1 file

packages/ui/src presentation 100% 6 files

Unclassified source (sample): 11

presentation 15 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high

routing 4 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high

middleware 2 files drift ███████▍░░░░░░░░░░░░ 37 risk moderate

config 2 files drift ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 0 risk none

shared 1 file drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high

╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮

│ DriftScore Summary │

╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯

DriftScore: 66/100

Risk Level: HIGH

Projects: 9

Classified: 8 nano · 1 micro · 0 small · 0 standard

Billable: 0.42 · 9 detected → 0.42 billable projects (micro-project pricing)

0.1 micro · 0.32 nano

These fractions add up across repositories, then round down to whole billable projects.

Score Breakdown

Runtime: ████████████████████ 100

Frameworks: █████████▏░░░░░░░░░░ 46

Dependencies: ██████▏░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 31

EOL Risk: ████████████████████ 100

Scanned at 2026-08-26T09:08:28.481Z · 7.1s · 286 files scanned · 56 workspace files · 27 dirs

❯

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Explore the Vibgrate CLI

PHP Major-Version Upgrade Program Playbook

Phase-by-Phase

Team and Roles

Risks and Mitigations

Success Criteria

Tooling

Category

Tags

See a real scan run