Installing Eventum on Mac OS X

Last weekend while attempting to install Eventum, a MySQL/PhP based issues tracking system, on my Mac, I ran into a common problem. I say common because of the number of questions I found on the web relating to it. In order to successfully install the software, you have to modify your php.ini file and set allow_call_time_pass_reference = On...which turns out is not an easy task.

First, it's not easy to find the php.ini file. The Finder app will not find it. The best way to locate the file is to create a one line php file on your webserver that contains a php.phpinfo() ? statement. Chances are you did this as part of your php installation anyway, particularly if you used Entropy PhP for the Mac. Running this php app will reveal the location of your php.ini file. On my system, php.ini is located at /usr/local/php5/lib/php.ini (the location on your system may vary).

The next issue becomes, how to get to /usr/local/php5/lib. The easiest way to do this (and maybe the only way) is by pulling up the Terminal application found in your Utilities folder. This app takes you into the Unix shell. Note: Before you do this, make sure that a) you are signed in as the Administrator, b) you are comfortable working in Unix. To get to the directory in Unix, you type cd /usr/local/php5/lib. Once you're there you'll quickly realize that you the php.ini file is read only. In fact, the entire directory is read only. To modify the file, you'll need to back up one level to the /usr/local/php5/ directory and do a chmod 755 lib to allow the files to be modified. Next, go back to the lib directory and vi the php.ini file. Now you're ready to successfully install Eventum.

Good luck, and let me know if you have a better solution.