Dependency Checks

Before doing a major or minor release build, it’s a good idea to check and update versions of external utilities that the project uses. It’s not necessary to be on the latest version, but you want to ensure that any security patches have been installed.

Last minute changes are risky! Try to do any changes a few weeks before the build so you have time to test.

Also, make time to run a Lighthouse check before the release to be sure no Javascript libraries with known vulnerabilities are in use.

The following should be checked:

Complete Projects

Project File Project URL
PHPMailer includes/classes/vendors/PHPMailer https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer
Mobile Detect includes/classes/Mobile_Detect.php https://github.com/serbanghita/Mobile-Detect/
jQuery includes/templates/responsive_classic/jscript/jquery.min.js
includes/templates/template_default/jscript/jquery.min.js
admin/includes/javascript/jquery.min.js
https://jquery.com/
jQuery UI admin/includes/javascript/jquery-ui.min.js https://jqueryui.com/
Font Awesome admin/includes/css/font-awesome.min.css https://fontawesome.com/
Bootstrap admin/includes/css/bootstrap.min.css https://getbootstrap.com/
YAML zc_install/includes/vendors/yaml https://yaml.org/
Laravel laravel/vendor/* https://laravel.com/

References within Files

Embedded references to external files that may require updating:

  • jQuery library: https://jquery.com/

    • zc_install/includes/template/common/html_header.php
    • includes/templates/responsive_classic/common/html_header.php
    • includes/templates/template_default/common/html_header.php
    • admin/includes/javascript_loader.php
    • admin/includes/ckeditor.php
  • jQuery flot library: https://github.com/flot/flot

    • admin/banner_manager.php
    • admin/banner_statistics.php
  • jQuery mmenu: https://plugins.jquery.com/mmenu/

    • includes/templates/responsive_classic/common/html_header.php
    • includes/templates/responsive_classic/templates/tpl_modules_mobile_menu.php

Note that the license for mmenu changed in their v5.6.0 to CC-BY-NC-4.0, which is not compatible with Zen Cart’s GPLv2 license. So we cannot distribute mmenu 5.6.0 or newer with Zen Cart. Bugfixes must be applied directly to current distro files instead.

Note that the following error-condition template files do not share common header components from the default template because they are intended to be as “standalone” as possible, in case other template-system files are damaged:

  • includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_zc_phpupgrade_default.php
  • includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_zc_install_suggested_default.php

CAUTION: Be mindful that upgrading Bootstrap between Bootstrap’s “major” releases is usually a very cumbersome task because they change class-names and utility markup, which affects every page where Bootstrap markup is used (ie: every Admin page). But upgrading minor updates is mostly a drop-in-replacement of JS/CSS files.

  • Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
    • includes/templates/responsive_classic/common/html_header.php
    • admin/includes/admin_html_head.php
    • admin/includes/stylesheet.css

CAUTION: Be mindful that upgrading FontAwesome between its “major” releases is usually a very cumbersome task because icon naming strategies may be different, which affects every page where FA icons are used (ie: numerous Admin pages, and Catalog templates). But upgrading minor updates is mostly a drop-in-replacement of some CSS files.




Still have questions? Use the Search box in the upper right, or try the full list of FAQs. If you can't find it there, head over to the Zen Cart support forum and ask there in the appropriate subforum. In your post, please include your Zen Cart and PHP versions, and a link to your site.

Is there an error or omission on this page? Please post to General Questions on the support forum. Or, if you'd like to open a pull request, just review the guidelines and get started. You can even PR right here.
Last modified September 1, 2024 by Scott Wilson (86c8cd5).