software upgrades suck
The PHP programming language is constantly being improved, with new features added, some old features changed or removed.
I've developed LOTS of PHP code, various libraries for various things over the years.
Last time I upgraded their PHP support it was from 7.4 to 8.1, and I did so because PHP 7.4 no longer was receiving security updates.
Well after December this year, php 8.1 will stop receiving security updates. So I've gotta make sure all of my software is php 8.4 compatible.
I could go to 8.2 but then I'd be going through this rigamaroll again next year. If I go straight to 8.4, then I've got until Dec 2028.
It's manageable, but it's a pain in the ass too. There's likely not many backward-incompatible breaking changes from 8.1 to 8.4 (there were quite a few from 7.4 to 8.1), but it's still annoying.
Gotta install 8.4, and at least run tests. And then what if there are backward-breaking changes for 8.4 and now someone on 8.2 can't use my library?
Nobody uses my libraries anyway, pretty sure, but STILL.
It's annoying.
Some of the changes are genuinely good changes, though. Many are not impactful to me. Some are ... good but things I don't care to learn. Idk, I know how to code what I know how to code and it's been working for me for a long time.
But ALSO, I have a library that parses PHP code and ... well that'll break with new versions and it's a bit of a chore to update it.