Coding in PHP 7.4 and deploying to 7.1 via Rector and GitHub Actions

Developers often face challenges using the latest PHP features due to constraints like older server versions or legacy code requirements, but transpilers offer a solution by transforming modern PHP code to run on older versions. This article explores the practical application of Rector, a PHP reconstructor tool, to develop a WordPress plugin using PHP 7.4 while making it compatible with PHP 7.1 and earlier versions through GitHub Actions. The process involves addressing the limitations of Rector's downgrade rules, which currently support conversions only down to PHP 7.1 due to the absence of rules for older versions like PHP 5.6. The author explains the decision to target PHP 7.1 based on the compatibility of third-party dependencies and the effort required for further downgrading. The article also details the steps for testing and deploying the transpiled code using continuous integration practices, ensuring compatibility with older PHP versions without sacrificing the use of modern features in development.