finally got a working solution for this problem of uwamp and running an up to date version of php and getting curl working.
I have sat here for a couple of days trying to work why you couldn't get a later version of php 7.0.3 without breaking uwamp and curl. So I learnt how to integrate and test php apache as standalones and then working on updating uwamp. Lots of head scratching of working out how uwamp uses its on the fly configuration setup.
I will list all the steps to update your version of uwamp (to apache 4.2 and php 7.4.4 as of Mar 2020)
- Download uwamp (portable or installer)
- Download c++ runtime https://aka.ms/vs/16/release/VC_redist.x86.exe (taken from the windows php page)
- Install the runtime above
- Install uwamp to a directory (in this example will just use c:\ making it install to c:\uwamp after expanding)
Before running uwamp
Goto to apache lounge website and download the latest 32 build of apache (4.2)
https://www.apachelounge.com/download/VS16/binaries/httpd-2.4.41-win32-VS16.zip
Expand this archive, it should create a folder called apache2.4
- Step in to this directory and copy all the files and paste them here in your uwamp folder (c:\uwamp\bin\apache). This should overwrite all the apache files and add the latest apachephp dll
TIP. Just make sure you havent expanded the apache2.4 zip in the uwamp apache folder, easy to tell as you will see a apache24 appear
Goto to php.net and download the latest THREAD SAFE version of php (7.4.4)
https://windows.php.net/downloads/releases/php-7.4.4-Win32-vc15-x86.zip
Extract the php zip this folder in to the c:\uwamp\bin\php in to a new folder with name of php-7.4.4 (so the files should be in c:\uwamp\bin\php\php-7.4.4)
There you are, you have completed your manual upgrade of uwamp , run uwamp and if no errors appear with in the GUI, everything should be working. Test by opening a browser and use http://localhost/uwamp/phpinfo or http://127.0.0.1/uwamp/phpinfo or click the "phpinfo button" in the uwamp GUI
This way seems to allowed an upgrade of uwamp (except sql) but resolve a common problem of php and curl not working / breaking.
This works for x86 version installed on a 32/64 bit system.
Still trying to work out the kinks for uwamp to be running 64 bit apache and php but should be possible.