PEAR Manual
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# CVS installer

This passage will describe how to install the latest development version of a PEAR package from CVS.

It is NOT recommended to run a package from CVS in working environments! Because CVS versions are not regular releases, this means:

- You could get no kind of help from the maintainer or anybody other.

- Versions in CVS may break the upgrade mechanism of the PEAR Installer.

You should use a package from CVS only, if:

- The maintainer recommended it for you.

- You want to help in development of a package.

- You really need a special patch or function, which is not currently released.

If you still want to install a package from CVS, you have to do the same steps like a package maintainer creating a new release of a package. If you have problems following the next steps, take a look into the Developers Section of the manual.

1. Get the package files from CVS like described in http://www.php.net/anoncvs.php

   The name of the module to checkout is `pear/<packagename>`, i.e. cvs -d :pserver:cvsread@cvs.php.net:/repository checkout pear/HTTP_Client.

2. Check the `package.xml` file, especially the fileset entries. They must match the existing files and directory structure. If they differ, contact the maintainer and ask for an update of `package.xml`.

3. Create a valid package using the PEAR Installer pear package <path to package.xml>

4. If you have already the package installed: remove it to avoid versions problems: pear uninstall <package>

5. Install your package archive: pear install <package-file>

   Now, you have an CVS version installed!

You should upgrade to a official release of the package as early as possible. Before you install the official release, uninstall the CVS version to avoid version problems.

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