How to Install PHPUNIT on Fedora

PHPUnit is the standard testing framework for PHP applications, providing developers with tools to write and automate unit tests. Whether you are building Laravel applications, WordPress plugins, Symfony bundles, or custom PHP projects, PHPUnit helps ensure your code behaves correctly before deployment. This guide covers installing PHPUnit on Fedora Linux, with multiple versions available to match your PHP environment and project requirements.

PHPUnit Version and PHP Requirements

Before installing PHPUnit, understanding the version compatibility matrix helps you choose the right release. Each PHPUnit major version requires a specific minimum PHP version, and newer PHPUnit releases drop support for older PHP versions. Fedora 43 ships with PHP 8.4 by default, which supports all currently maintained PHPUnit versions.

PHPUnit Version	PHP Requirement	Support Status	Package Name
PHPUnit 12	PHP 8.3+	Active (bug fixes until Feb 2027)	phpunit12
PHPUnit 11	PHP 8.2+	Active (bug fixes until Feb 2026)	phpunit11
PHPUnit 10	PHP 8.1+	Life Support (PHP compatibility only)	phpunit10
PHPUnit 9	PHP 7.3+	End of Life	phpunit9
PHPUnit 8	PHP 7.2+	End of Life	phpunit8

For detailed version support timelines, see the official PHPUnit supported versions page. New projects should use PHPUnit 12 or 11 for active bug fixes; legacy projects may require older versions for compatibility with existing test suites.

Choose Your PHPUnit Installation Method

Fedora provides PHPUnit packages through multiple channels. The default repositories include all major versions, while the Remi repository offers slightly newer patch releases for users who need the absolute latest fixes.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
DNF (Fedora Repos)	Fedora Updates	Distribution default	Automatic via DNF upgrades	Most users who want stable, tested packages
Remi Repository	Remi RPM	Latest patch releases	Automatic via DNF upgrades	Users needing the newest bug fixes immediately

For most users, the Fedora repository method is recommended because it requires no additional setup and provides well-tested packages that integrate cleanly with the distribution. The Remi repository offers marginally newer patch versions (for example, 10.5.60 vs 10.5.59) but requires adding a third-party source.

Install PHPUnit from Fedora Repositories

This method uses packages from Fedora’s official repositories, which are maintained by the Fedora PHP SIG (Special Interest Group) and receive updates through standard system upgrades.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing new packages, refresh your system to ensure all repositories are synchronized and existing packages are current:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Step 2: Install PHPUnit

Next, install your preferred PHPUnit version using DNF. Each major version has a dedicated package with a version-numbered command:

PHPUnit 12 (recommended for new projects):

sudo dnf install phpunit12

For PHP 8.2+ projects, use version 11:

sudo dnf install phpunit11

For PHP 8.1+ projects, use version 10:

sudo dnf install phpunit10

You can install multiple PHPUnit versions simultaneously. Each version installs a separate binary (phpunit12, phpunit11, phpunit10, etc.), allowing you to run different versions for different projects. A phpunit symlink points to the newest installed version.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Finally, confirm PHPUnit installed correctly by checking the version. The output confirms the tool is accessible and shows the PHP runtime it will use:

phpunit12 --version

Expected output:

PHPUnit 12.5.4 by Sebastian Bergmann and contributors.

You can also verify which binary the phpunit symlink points to:

ls -la /usr/bin/phpunit

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Dec 15 00:00 /usr/bin/phpunit -> phpunit12

Install PHPUnit from Remi Repository

The Remi repository, maintained by Remi Collet (a Fedora PHP packager), provides the latest PHPUnit patch releases. This method is useful if you need specific bug fixes that have not yet propagated to Fedora’s official repositories.

Step 1: Add the Remi Repository

If you have not already configured the Remi repository, add it using this command. The $(rpm -E %fedora) expression automatically detects your Fedora version:

sudo dnf install https://rpms.remirepo.net/fedora/remi-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).rpm -y

For complete Remi repository setup including GPG key verification, PHP version module management, and troubleshooting common configuration issues, see our Remi RPM repository guide for Fedora.

Step 2: Install PHPUnit from Remi

Once Remi is configured, install PHPUnit with the --enablerepo=remi flag to pull packages from the Remi repository:

sudo dnf --enablerepo=remi install phpunit12

Replace phpunit12 with phpunit11, phpunit10, phpunit9, or phpunit8 depending on your requirements.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Confirm the Remi version installed correctly:

phpunit12 --version

PHPUnit 12.5.4 by Sebastian Bergmann and contributors.

Optional: Switch PHP Versions with Remi Modules

Fedora 43 ships with PHP 8.4, which supports all PHPUnit versions. However, if your project requires a specific PHP version, Remi provides modular PHP streams. First, list available PHP versions:

dnf module list php

Name Stream   Profiles                   Summary               
php  remi-7.4 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.0 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.1 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.2 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.3 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.4 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language
php  remi-8.5 common [d], devel, minimal PHP scripting language

To enable a specific PHP version (for example, PHP 8.3 for PHPUnit 12 compatibility testing):

sudo dnf module reset php
sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.3

Most users do not need to switch PHP versions. Only use this if your project specifically requires a different PHP release than the system default. For PHP installation details, see our PHP on Fedora guide.

Create and Run a Test Case

With PHPUnit installed, you can create a simple test case to verify everything works correctly. This example demonstrates the basic testing workflow.

Create the Test File

Create a new PHP file with a test class. The class must extend PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase and contain methods prefixed with test:

nano ~/ExampleTest.php

Add the following test case:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;

final class ExampleTest extends TestCase
{
    public function testAddition(): void
    {
        $this->assertSame(2, 1 + 1);
    }
    
    public function testStringContains(): void
    {
        $this->assertStringContainsString('Hello', 'Hello World');
    }
}

Save the file by pressing Ctrl+O, then Enter, then exit with Ctrl+X.

Run the Tests

Execute the test file with PHPUnit. The framework automatically discovers test methods and reports results:

phpunit ~/ExampleTest.php

Expected output showing both tests passed:

PHPUnit 12.5.4 by Sebastian Bergmann and contributors.

Runtime:       PHP 8.4.16

..                                                                  2 / 2 (100%)

Time: 00:00.002, Memory: 8.00 MB

OK (2 tests, 2 assertions)

The dots (..) represent successful tests. For a more detailed view, use the --testdox flag:

phpunit --testdox ~/ExampleTest.php

PHPUnit 12.5.4 by Sebastian Bergmann and contributors.

Runtime:       PHP 8.4.16

..                                                                  2 / 2 (100%)

Time: 00:00.002, Memory: 8.00 MB

Example
 ✔ Addition
 ✔ String contains

OK (2 tests, 2 assertions)

Remove PHPUnit

If you no longer need PHPUnit, remove it along with any unused dependencies. DNF automatically cleans up packages that were installed solely as dependencies.

To remove a specific PHPUnit version:

sudo dnf remove phpunit12

Alternatively, to remove all installed PHPUnit versions at once:

sudo dnf remove phpunit*

Optional: Remove the Remi Repository

If you added the Remi repository solely for PHPUnit and no longer need it, you can remove it from your system:

The Remi repository provides many PHP-related packages beyond PHPUnit, including newer PHP versions, Redis, and other extensions. Only remove it if you are certain no other installed packages depend on this repository. Removing Remi while other packages still require it may cause update conflicts or leave orphaned packages.

sudo dnf remove remi-release

After removal, verify PHPUnit is no longer installed:

phpunit --version

bash: phpunit: command not found

Troubleshooting

Class Not Found Errors

If PHPUnit reports that it cannot find test classes, the error typically looks like this:

PHPUnit 12.5.4 by Sebastian Bergmann and contributors.

No tests executed!

This usually means your test file does not follow PHPUnit’s naming conventions. Ensure your test classes end with Test (for example, ExampleTest), and test methods must begin with test (for example, testAddition). Additionally, confirm the file is readable and the class name matches the filename.

PHP Version Mismatch

If PHPUnit fails to run with errors about unsupported PHP versions, you may see output similar to:

This version of PHPUnit requires PHP >= 8.3.
You are using PHP 8.1.27.

To check your current PHP version:

php --version

PHP 8.4.16 (cli) (built: Dec 16 2025 16:03:34) (NTS gcc x86_64)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Built by Fedora Project
Zend Engine v4.4.16, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies

Compare the output with the version matrix at the beginning of this guide. If your PHP version is too old for your chosen PHPUnit release, either upgrade PHP using Remi modules or install an older PHPUnit version that matches your PHP release.

Command Not Found

If running phpunit returns “command not found” after installation, first verify the package is actually installed:

rpm -q phpunit12

Expected output if installed correctly:

phpunit12-12.5.4-1.fc43.noarch

If the package is installed but the command remains unavailable, check that /usr/bin is in your PATH:

echo $PATH | grep -o '/usr/bin'

This should output /usr/bin. If missing, add it to your shell profile or start a new terminal session.

Conclusion

PHPUnit is now configured on your Fedora system with access to versions 8 through 12. You can run tests against existing projects, develop new test suites with the --testdox flag for readable output, or switch between versions depending on project requirements. For comprehensive testing documentation including mocks, data providers, and code coverage, see the official PHPUnit documentation.