[5.2] Fix namespace map creation on PHP 8.4

[SniperSister]

Summary of Changes

The creation of the namespace map file fails on PHP 8.4 as the content is implicitly provided to File::write as reference, causing this message:

Joomla\Filesystem \File: write: Argument #2 ($buffer) could not be passed by reference

Testing Instructions

• Enable PHP 8.4
• Remove the namespace map file autoload_psr4.php in the cache folder
• Refresh the backend

Actual result BEFORE applying this Pull Request

• Error message shown

Expected result AFTER applying this Pull Request

• File created

Link to documentations

Please select:

• Documentation link for docs.joomla.org:

• No documentation changes for docs.joomla.org needed

• Pull Request link for manual.joomla.org:

• No documentation changes for manual.joomla.org needed

[richard67]

I have tested this item ✅ successfully on 7d5943a

Hint for other testers: It needs to set PHP error_reporting to maximum and to enable "Debug System" (or have display_errors = On in PHP settings) for reproducing the error.

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[WM-Loose]

I have tested this item succesfully.

Tested with php8.4. After implementing the changes specified in the patch, the error no longer exists.
Thanks to SniperSister.

Regrards,
Dirk

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[richard67]

@WM-Loose It seems you have not selected the test result before submitting, so you have submitted "Not tested".

[WM-Loose]

Yes, I forgot to click.
Sorry, but I don't do that very often.

[richard67]

@WM-Loose Ok, I will mark the test result for you.

[richard67]

RTC

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[Hackwar]

Thank you for your contribution! 😀

[wilsonge]

If this blocks the creation of the file totally then this needs backporting to the 4.x branch

[tooliedotter]

When will this fix be available in Joomla public distributions? I have a server with PHP 8.4 and a mixture of Joomla 4 and Joomla 5 websites whose extensions I cannot update at all. Some are flat-out broken where the Admin side works but the front-end does not.

Thoughts?

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[ghost]

When will this fix be available in Joomla public distributions?

@tooliedotter

Milestone is 5.2.4 (Github)

Click on 5.2.4 shows planned Release date 18 February 2025

[SniperSister]

@wilsonge done, see #44811

[tooliedotter]

Here's hoping you finish sooner. I'm going to have to recreate my 10 Joomla 4 sites in Joomla 5 and hobble along with my Joomla 5 sites until then. I tell you this in case for any reason the Joomla developers forget that what you do impacts people's businesses big-time. Thank you.

[laoneo]

In emergency you can always apply the code change manually, especially this one as it is small.

[Hackwar]

The date is fixed. We will not release earlier than that. If you need this fix now, you have to apply it manually.

[tooliedotter]

I am open to applying it manually. I do not dabble in the Joomla GitHub project; if there's a specific file to download and replace, I'd appreciate it if you'd point that out to me. Thank you.

[richard67]

@tooliedotter You can go to "Changed files" in this pull request and see there is only one file and then download that file.

For your convenience: libraries/namespacemap.php

[tooliedotter]

@richard67 you are a gentleman and I thank you very much. I've got the file; the question is, will it only work on Joomla 5 or can I apply this to my broken Joomla 4 sites?

[richard67]

@tooliedotter For Joomla 4 you have to use the file from the PR #44811 for Joomla 4: libraries/namespacemap.php

But you should not apply the files on any Joomla 4 and 5 version, it should be the latest version, i.e. 4.4.10 for the J4 file and 5.2.3 for the J5 file.

[richard67]

P.S.: It also can be that the 2 files are identical, I haven't checked that. But better play safe and use the right one.