cPanel Home Loaders
Written 10 Nov 2008
Last time, we discussed the interfaces in cPanel to manage Programming Language modules, such as PEAR packages. We were left with this problem:
Once the particular module is installed to the user’s home directory, it is available for use in his application. However, the application must be modified, or the environment configured, to inform the application of the location of these modules.
With cPanel 11, there is an easy way to do this using what are known as Home Loader modules. These modules allow a user to use modules in /home/user/lang without modifying existing applications to add the appropriate path information. The Home Loader modules perform this dynamically, adding the /home/user/lang path in the appropriate manner.
For example, the PHP Home Loader modifies the include_path to include ~/php
There is a Home Loader module for each of PHP, Perl and Ruby. To enable or disable the Home Loader module for a particular language, login to WHM as root and Click the Module Installers link in the Software section. Click the Manage link for the appropriate language. Please note, for PHP, one must select PHP Extensions and Applications Package as the PHP Pecl management interface does not contain the Home Loader functionality.
Once in the Manage interface for the appropriate language, one can view the Status of the Home Loader module, as well as change the Status. A status of disabled signifies the module is not installed A status of enabled signifies the module is installed. To change the status, click the button labeled ‘Enable’ or ‘Disable.’ Source for the modules exist in /usr/local/cpanel/src/user${lang} where ${lang} is replaced by the language name. For example, the source for the PHP Home Loader module is in /usr/local/cpanel/src/userphp
These modules are not enabled by default.