Development

Install PHP Oracle OCI Extension (11.2) on Mac OS X (10.8)

Gilles25 March 2013

Installation

This procedure is tested on Mac OS X 10.8 with Developpers tools installed (xCode).

WARNING: Some users in comment reported issue with more recent version of MacOS.

PHP 5.4 installed with Homebrew.

Preparation

Download the following files from Oracle website (yes, you need to create an account and accept terms):

Create and unzip all theses files into a the directory `/usr/local/instantclient/11.2.0.3/`.
This directory will looks like:

.   ├── BASIC_README   ├── SQLPLUS_README   ├── adrci   ├── genezi   ├── glogin.sql   ├── libclntsh.dylib.11.1   ├── libnnz11.dylib   ├── libocci.dylib.11.1   ├── libociei.dylib   ├── libocijdbc11.dylib   ├── libsqlplus.dylib   ├── libsqlplusic.dylib   ├── ojdbc5.jar   ├── ojdbc6.jar   ├── sdk   │   ├── SDK_README   │   ├── demo   │   ├── include   │   ├── ott   │   └── ottclasses.zip   ├── sqlplus   ├── uidrvci   └── xstreams.jar

Create symlinks

ln -s /usr/local/instantclient/11.2.0.3/sdk/include/*.h /usr/local/include/   ln -s /usr/local/instantclient/11.2.0.3/sqlplus /usr/local/bin/   ln -s /usr/local/instantclient/11.2.0.3/*.dylib /usr/local/lib/   ln -s /usr/local/instantclient/11.2.0.3/*.dylib.11.1 /usr/local/lib/   ln -s /usr/local/lib/libclntsh.dylib.11.1 /usr/local/lib/libclntsh.dylib

Test with sqlplus instantclient

I recommand to install Oracle Server with a VirtualBox VM preinstalled.

/usr/local/bin/sqlplus oracle/oracle@192.168.2.2

Install extension with pecl

pecl install oci8

If the script prompt you to provide the path to ORACLE_HOME directory, respond with:

instantclient,/usr/local/lib

And your are done, normally pecl will automatically load the extension in your `php.ini`. If not, add the following line to your `php.ini`:

extension=oci8.so

Restart your HTTP Server and test.

Enjoy (or try to…) !

Feel free to fork and adapt this gist !

Anthony28 September 2026

Smashing Conference Freiburg 2026

Back in Freiburg for Smashing Conference 2026: AI and design systems, deeply technical CSS and HTML, and more human talks about teams and mindset. Here's what we took away.

Akira22 July 2026

Making of : “La nuit des Losers”

lanuitdeslosers.ch, built fast: paper wireframes, a bold hand-drawn identity, then Claude Code to prototype and ship. A mouse-tracking hero animation, a bowling game made of sponsor logos, and a few bugs we’re keeping.