Fixing MODX Revolution Parse Errors on Denwer

Older local environments such as Denwer were often used for MODX Revolution experiments, but they could break immediately with a parse error in core/config/config.inc.php. In most cases the cause was not the CMS itself but the local PHP version or environment mismatch.

Typical Symptom

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '{'
in .../core/config/config.inc.php on line ...

What to Check

• the PHP version bundled with Denwer
• whether short tags or legacy parser assumptions are involved
• file encoding after unpacking the distribution
• whether the local stack actually meets Revolution requirements

Why This Matters

Legacy local stacks can waste hours because they fail before the real application code even starts. If a Revolution install throws syntax errors in configuration files, verify the runtime first and the CMS second.

This is a good example of an Ecosystem article: the problem lives at the boundary between MODX, local tooling, and the PHP environment.

Source: original community announcement.