How can I use a function that's in a file on another server?

[royalty066]

I am trying to use php's "include" to include a script that's on a separate server.

For example purposes the file's name is "library.fn.php" located at www.example.com/functions/
library.fn.php has the function userName().

I need to call the function that's in "library.fn.php" from www.newexample.com.
In my index.php for newexample.com I have:

<?php 
include 'www.example.com/functions/library.fn.php';
userName();
?>

When I run www.newexample.com I receive the error stating userName() is undefined.

To make sure the code indeed included library.fn.php I added an echo statement to library.fn.php and the echo statement printed fine when you refresh www.newexample.com. However, the functions are still undefined.

How can I use a function that's in a file on another server?

I tried:
fopen("http://www.example.com/functions/library.fn.php/", "r");
readfile('http://www.example.com/functions/library.fn.php/');
file_get_contents('http://www.example.com/functions/library.fn.php/');

BTW my "URL fopen wrappers" are set to "On" in my php.ini file

[crmalibu]

The documentation for include() address this.

If you rename the remote file to .txt instead of .php, it will work. But... don't do this. Using include on a url is a serious wtf. You're relying on a slow, low reliability network connection for your code to work. It's also dangerous.

[premiumscripts]

That's very insecure. What you are looking for is to make this into a web service.

Simply change the function on the other website to return the result from the function, not the function code. Then you can just use file_get_contents or whatever to get the result.

[Cups]

If the script from the other server belongs to you then why are you doing it this way?

Couldn't you simply WGET or cURL the file over to this server nightly?

Permitting your server to even include stuff from other places opens a big security hole.

[royalty066]

If you rename the remote file to .txt instead of .php, it will work.

Thanks, that worked perfectly.


I do own the site with the function library but the current site and future sites that I'm building aren't for me. The library functions are all part of a Content Management System that I built. I'm simply charging for the use of the service.

I figured if I externally included the function.library on the sites that I build, if a client decides they don't want the CMS anymore they can simply stop paying and on my site that host the function.lib I could remove the functions until they wished to continue service.

It's a way for me to control who's paying for what.

Would any of you recommend a better way for me to achieve my goal with out having to externally "include" a file from my server?

If I gave all the functions for the CMS to my clients, how would I stop them from using the service if they aren't paying, meanwhile the library rest on their server already?

[tomeng]

What about using RPC? Would give you the opportunity to authorize the calling system, and of course prevent downloading of the files..

[royalty066]

I'm not familiar with RPC.

[Jake Arkinstall]

So, if your site crashes then ALL of your clients loose their sites.

Maybe you need to rethink that?

[royalty066]

You're definitely right about that one, which is why I'm looking for an alternative.