EasyBitcoin-PHP Enhanced - Updated Version with Bug Fixes

Fellow Bitcoin developers,

I've created an enhanced version of the popular EasyBitcoin-PHP library that addresses several critical issues while maintaining full backward compatibility. The original library by aceat64 has been a cornerstone for PHP Bitcoin development, but it has some known issues with modern PHP versions and Bitcoin Core.

What's New:

✅ Fixed the infamous "line 187 error" - Better null response handling
✅ Enhanced JSON parsing - Proper error checking for malformed responses
✅ Improved cURL configuration - Better timeout and connection handling
✅ Modern PHP compatibility - Works with PHP 7.4+ and PHP 8.x
✅ Better SSL support - Enhanced HTTPS connections
✅ Comprehensive error reporting - More detailed error messages

Key Improvements:

1. JSON Response Handling
The original library could fail when json_decode() returned null. The enhanced version includes proper JSON error checking:

Code:

if (json_last_error() !== JSON_ERROR_NONE) {
    $this->error = 'JSON decode error: ' . json_last_error_msg();
    return false;
}

2. Enhanced cURL Configuration
Added timeout controls, better user agent, and improved SSL handling:

Code:

CURLOPT_TIMEOUT => 30,
CURLOPT_CONNECTTIMEOUT => 10,
CURLOPT_USERAGENT => 'EasyBitcoin-PHP Enhanced/1.1'

3. Robust Error Handling
Better detection and reporting of various error conditions including HTTP errors, connection failures, and RPC errors.

4. Maintained Compatibility
The API remains identical to the original - just replace your easybitcoin.php file and you're good to go!

Usage (Same as Original):

Code:

require_once('easybitcoin_enhanced.php');
$bitcoin = new Bitcoin('username','password');
$info = $bitcoin->getinfo();
if($info === false) {
    echo "Error: " . $bitcoin->error;
} else {
    print_r($info);
}

Why This Matters:

Many developers still rely on the original EasyBitcoin-PHP for production applications. While newer libraries exist (like denpa/php-bitcoinrpc), they require Composer and additional dependencies. This enhanced version provides a drop-in replacement that:

- Fixes critical bugs without changing the API
- Requires no additional dependencies
- Works with modern Bitcoin Core versions
- Maintains the simplicity that made the original popular

Credits:
This work is based on the original EasyBitcoin-PHP by aceat64. All credit for the original design and concept goes to the original author. This enhancement aims to keep the library alive and functional for the community.

Download:
https://github.com/byshigenobu/EasyBitcoin-PHP-Enhanced

Testing:
Tested with:
- PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2
- Bitcoin Core 22.1, 24.2, 25.2 and 27.2
- Various altcoins (Litecoin & Dogecoin)

Feel free to test and provide feedback. Let's keep this useful library maintained for the community!

Future Plans:
- Add batch request support
- Include more comprehensive examples
- Add unit tests

Happy coding!