The php world invented the phar format [1] to deal with the single file tool/app distribution issue. In fact, composer uses dependencies managed by itself in t

The php world invented the phar format [1] to deal with the single file tool/app distribution issue. In fact, composer uses dependencies managed by itself in their sources. Then it gets packaged and distributed as a single file that includes all dependencies (composer.phar). That single file can be run by php as if it was any regular php file (including executing it directly and letting your system detect the required interpreter through the shebang). https://www.php.net/manual/en/intro.phar.php https://www.php.net/manual/en/intro.phar.php