After upgrading PHP to version 7, why can't I use the mongodb driver?

Question

Well here's an odd situation I've found. I've been using PHP and MongoDB together on a project, and updated the associated software. After the upgrade, I did make sure to update the new conf files and all is well --- except when I try to use the MongoClient class, I get the following fatal error:

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'MongoClient' not found in /srv/http/test.php

So my first instinct was to check my /etc/php/php.ini to make sure that mongodb.so was correctly included. I found it after the other extension lines:

extension=mcrypt.so
extension=zip.so
extension=mongodb.so ; <--- here it is

With that checked, I loaded up a quick phpinfo() script to check that I was using the right php.ini file, and confirmed that I am. And not only that, the mongodb driver also appears to be loaded correctly!

Loaded Configuration File      /etc/php/php.ini
. . .
mongodb support                enabled
mongodb                        version      1.1.1
mongodb                        stability    stable
libmongoc                      version      1.3.1-dev
libbson                        version      1.3.0

So I restarted httpd and tried again. No dice, still can't find the MongoClient class. So I tried to install it from pecl instead of my distribution's package manager, and the situation is the same as described above.

---

So here's a quick rundown of the situation:

• Linux kernel 4.3.3
• PHP Version 7.0.1
• php-mongodb version 1.1.1
  • Yes, 1.1.1 supports php7.
• Seems properly configured, and mongodb is enabled and shown in phpinfo().
• Tried installing the mongodb driver through pecl and my distro's package manager.

Other info that may be useful:

• MongoDB Version 3.2.0
• mongod is running
• Also tried rebooting, no change.

Answer 1

Well I found the answer.

The class has been changed. It's no longer \MongoClient, and is now \MongoDB\Driver\Manager

All that I need is a refactor. The new driver is designed to be a lower-level driver for high-level functionality to be filled with userspace libraries, so anyone else upgrading to php7, make sure you check that you'll be comfortable with the new driver, or that the userspace libraries exist when you do it. Hopefully this question/answer helps others in the future.

Commenter ianaz below has posted this good userspace library for MongoDB: http://mongodb.github.io/mongo-php-library/