PHP 8: Deprecation notices

[archetyped]

PHP 8 has changed how certain things are handled (function references, keywords, etc.). While functionality of such code has not changed, PHP 8 considers its usage to be deprecated (i.e. slated for removal in a future version of PHP).

As a result, while SLB is fully functional when running PHP 8, PHP may provide a deprecation notice for some parts of its code depending on a site's error reporting level.

By default, WordPress does not display PHP notices. If you are seeing undesired PHP notices (e.g. on a live site), disabling WordPress' debug output is recommended by removing the following from the site's wp-config.php:

// Enable WP_DEBUG mode
define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

See WordPress' debugging documentation for more details, including alternative debugging settings (such as logging debug messages for review rather than outputting them to the browser).

---

Work on updating code deprecated in PHP 8 is underway. Reporting specific deprecation notices is not necessary.

[ethanclevenger91]

1046 would be an easy merge toward fixing some of these

[ethanclevenger91]

@archetyped we haven't seen a plugin update overall since November '22, to say nothing of this issue with a PR ready to go. Should we expect further updates to this plugin?

[pedjas]

Notice: PHP Deprecated: Use of "parent" in callables is deprecated in /home/webiste/public_html/wp-content/plugins/simple-lightbox/includes/class.options.php on line 501 is easy to fix

Replace $ret = call_user_func_array( array( 'parent', 'add' ), $args ); with $ret = call_user_func_array( array( parent::class, 'add' ), $args );

I do not understand why it is not yet fixed in offical code.

Is simple-lightbox abandoned?

[Beee4life]

trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated
wp-content/plugins/simple-lightbox/includes/class.utilities.php:545

I think this can be fixed by changing the following in /includes/class.utilities.php:545.

The notice is gone and everything still seems to be working.

Fom

$obj = trim( $obj, $sep );
//  Strip base object
if ( 0 === strpos( $obj, $base . $sep ) ) {
    $obj = substr( $obj, strlen( $base . $sep ) );
}

To

if ( null !== $obj ) {
    $obj = trim( $obj, $sep );
    //  Strip base object
    if ( 0 === strpos( $obj, $base . $sep ) ) {
        $obj = substr( $obj, strlen( $base . $sep ) );
    }
}

[Beee4life]

I found another.

Deprecated:  Using ${var} in strings is deprecated, use {$var} instead in /var/www/html/web/app/plugins/simple-lightbox/includes/class.field_type.php on line 435

Just change

$target_property = $this->util->apply_filters_ref_array( "process_placeholder_${tag}", [ '', $this, &$instance, $layout, $data ], false );

To

$target_property = $this->util->apply_filters_ref_array( "process_placeholder_{$tag}", [ '', $this, &$instance, $layout, $data ], false );

[EarthmanWeb]

Also been receiving this error for a long time, in wp-admin, filling up my logs...

trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated

wp-content/plugins/simple-lightbox/includes/class.utilities.php:545

I have no idea why it is calling this function on every admin page with null as $obj - but anyway....

The function is: validate_client_object - so it should actually validate the object (well, string actually) is actually an string before doing anything else, yes?

The conditional check detailed above would work - can you please add this?

if ( null !== $obj ) {
    $obj = trim( $obj, $sep );
    //  Strip base object
    if ( 0 === strpos( $obj, $base . $sep ) ) {
        $obj = substr( $obj, strlen( $base . $sep ) );
    }
}

Great plugin otherwise, thanks!

[EarthmanWeb]

"Work on updating code deprecated in PHP 8 is underway. Reporting specific deprecation notices is not necessary."

• @archetyped - Nov. 2, 2023 ???

Please, it's literally a couple lines of code. Asking your loyal plugin users to disable wp_debug is not a tenable solution.

[Beee4life]

I have no idea why it is calling this function on every admin page with null as $obj - but anyway....

I think because it's triggered by add_admin_page.