TYPO3 Rector Upgrade Patterns

Source: https://github.com/dirnbauer/webconsulting-skills

Compatibility: TYPO3 v14.x
This skill covers patterns for writing code that works on TYPO3 v14.

TYPO3 API First: Always use TYPO3's built-in APIs, core features, and established conventions before creating custom implementations. Do not reinvent what TYPO3 already provides. Always verify that the APIs and methods you use exist and are not deprecated in TYPO3 v14 by checking the official TYPO3 documentation.

1. Introduction to TYPO3 Rector

Rector is an automated refactoring tool that helps migrate TYPO3 PHP code between major versions. It applies predefined rules to update deprecated code patterns. For non-PHP migrations (FlexForms, TypoScript, Fluid, YAML), use Fractor -- see the typo3-fractor skill.

Installation

composer require --dev ssch/typo3-rector
# or with DDEV:
ddev composer require --dev ssch/typo3-rector

Important: Rector loads your project's autoloader. For TYPO3 v14 projects, Rector
must run on PHP 8.2+ because TYPO3 v14 packages use readonly classes and other
PHP 8.2 syntax — and webconsulting projects target PHP 8.4+, so run Rector on the same
PHP version the project requires. If your local PHP is older, always use DDEV or a
container: ddev exec vendor/bin/rector process --dry-run

Always run Rector, never skip it. Manual replacements (e.g. strpos -> strstartswith)
miss edge cases that Rector rules handle correctly. Rector also catches deprecated TYPO3
namespace changes and method signature updates that are hard to find manually.

Basic configuration (TYPO3 v14 target)

Create rector.php in your project root:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use Rector\Config\RectorConfig;
use Rector\Set\ValueObject\LevelSetList;
use Rector\ValueObject\PhpVersion;
use Ssch\TYPO3Rector\Set\Typo3LevelSetList;

return RectorConfig::configure()
    ->withPaths([
        __DIR__ . '/packages',
        __DIR__ . '/public/typo3conf/ext',
    ])
    ->withSkip([
        __DIR__ . '/public/typo3conf/ext/*/Resources/',
        __DIR__ . '/public/typo3conf/ext/*/Tests/',
    ])
    ->withPhpVersion(PhpVersion::PHP_84)
    ->withSets([
        LevelSetList::UP_TO_PHP_84,
        Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14,
    ])
    ->withImportNames();

Incremental upgrades: On a very old codebase you may run UPTOTYPO313 in a dedicated step first, then UPTOTYPO314. Published extensions should declare typo3/cms-core: ^14.3 once you ship for v14 — 14.0 through 14.2 no longer receive security updates.

Current state (typo3-rector v3.14, mid-2026)

typo3-rector 3.14 runs on Rector 2.5 and is maintained by Simon Schaufelberger, partly funded through TYPO3 community budgets. Run composer update ssch/typo3-rector before each migration pass so the newest v14 rules apply. Notable in 3.14:

• Migrates TYPO3-bundled Fluid class names to standalone Fluid, which TYPO3 v14 uses
• Migrates makeCategorizable() registrations
• Extends $GLOBALS['TSFE']->fe_user migration coverage
• Hardens the HashService and MailMessage::send() migrations

2. Running Rector

Dry Run (Preview Changes)

# Show what would be changed
ddev exec vendor/bin/rector process --dry-run

# For specific extension
ddev exec vendor/bin/rector process packages/my_extension --dry-run

Apply Changes

# Apply all changes
ddev exec vendor/bin/rector process

# Apply to specific path
ddev exec vendor/bin/rector process packages/my_extension

Clear Cache After

ddev typo3 cache:flush
ddev composer dump-autoload

3. Version constraints and extra Rector sets

Version constraints

For extensions targeting TYPO3 v14:

<?php
// ext_emconf.php
$EM_CONF[$_EXTKEY] = [
    'title' => 'My Extension',
    'version' => '2.0.0',
    'state' => 'stable',
    'constraints' => [
        'depends' => [
            'typo3' => '14.3.0-14.99.99',
            'php' => '8.4.0-8.5.99',
        ],
        'conflicts' => [],
        'suggests' => [],
    ],
];

// composer.json
{
    "require": {
        "php": "^8.4",
        "typo3/cms-core": "^14.3"
    }
}

Optional: TYPO3 v14 rule set only

Add explicit v14 rules (in addition to or instead of the level set, depending on your Rector version):

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use Rector\Config\RectorConfig;
use Ssch\TYPO3Rector\Set\Typo3SetList;

return RectorConfig::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/packages'])
    ->withSets([
        Typo3SetList::TYPO3_14,
    ]);

4. Key Migration Patterns (TYPO3 v14)

Fluid ViewFactory (Replaces StandaloneView)

The ViewFactory approach works on TYPO3 v14:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Extension\Service;

use Psr\Http\Message\ServerRequestInterface;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\View\ViewFactoryData;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\View\ViewFactoryInterface;

final class RenderingService
{
    public function __construct(
        private readonly ViewFactoryInterface $viewFactory,
    ) {}

    public function render(ServerRequestInterface $request): string
    {
        $viewFactoryData = new ViewFactoryData(
            templateRootPaths: ['EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Templates'],
            partialRootPaths: ['EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Partials'],
            layoutRootPaths: ['EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Layouts'],
            request: $request,
        );
        
        $view = $this->viewFactory->create($viewFactoryData);
        $view->assign('data', ['key' => 'value']);
        $view->assignMultiple([
            'items' => [],
            'settings' => [],
        ]);
        
        return $view->render('MyTemplate');
    }
}

Extbase controller response (TYPO3 v14)

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Extension\Controller;

use Psr\Http\Message\ResponseInterface;
use TYPO3\CMS\Extbase\Mvc\Controller\ActionController;

final class ItemController extends ActionController
{
    // ✅ Correct: Return ResponseInterface (required in TYPO3 v14)
    public function listAction(): ResponseInterface
    {
        $items = $this->itemRepository->findAll();
        $this->view->assign('items', $items);
        return $this->htmlResponse();
    }

    // ✅ Correct: JSON response
    public function apiAction(): ResponseInterface
    {
        $data = ['success' => true];
        return $this->jsonResponse(json_encode($data));
    }

    // ✅ Correct: Redirect
    public function createAction(Item $item): ResponseInterface
    {
        $this->itemRepository->add($item);
        return $this->redirect('list');
    }
}

PSR-14 Events (Preferred over Hooks)

PSR-14 events work on TYPO3 v14. Use them instead of legacy hooks:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Extension\EventListener;

use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Attribute\AsEventListener;
use TYPO3\CMS\Frontend\Event\ModifyPageLinkConfigurationEvent;

#[AsEventListener(identifier: 'vendor-extension/modify-pagelink')]
final class ModifyPageLinkListener
{
    public function __invoke(ModifyPageLinkConfigurationEvent $event): void
    {
        $configuration = $event->getConfiguration();
        // Modify link configuration
        $event->setConfiguration($configuration);
    }
}

Backend Module Registration (TYPO3 v14)

<?php
// Configuration/Backend/Modules.php
return [
    'web_myextension_mymodule' => [
        'parent' => 'content',
        'position' => ['after' => 'records'],
        'access' => 'user,group',
        'iconIdentifier' => 'myextension-module',
        'path' => '/module/content/myextension',
        'labels' => 'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_mod.xlf',
        'extensionName' => 'MyExtension',
        'controllerActions' => [
            \Vendor\MyExtension\Controller\ModuleController::class => [
                'index',
                'edit',
            ],
        ],
    ],
];

Service Configuration (Services.yaml)

# Configuration/Services.yaml
services:
  _defaults:
    autowire: true
    autoconfigure: true
    public: false

  Vendor\MyExtension\:
    resource: '../Classes/*'
    exclude:
      - '../Classes/Domain/Model/*'

5. TCA Best Practices (TYPO3 v14)

Static TCA Only

In v14, $GLOBALS['TCA'] becomes read-only after loading. Always use static TCA files:

<?php
// Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php
defined('TYPO3') or die();

// ✅ Correct: Static TCA configuration
\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility::addTcaSelectItem(
    'tt_content',
    'CType',
    [
        'label' => 'LLL:EXT:my_extension/Resources/Private/Language/locallang.xlf:mytype.title',
        'value' => 'myextension_mytype',
        'icon' => 'content-text',
        'group' => 'default',
    ]
);

$GLOBALS['TCA']['tt_content']['types']['myextension_mytype'] = [
    'showitem' => '
        --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:general,
            --palette--;;general,
            header;LLL:EXT:frontend/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_ttc.xlf:header_formlabel,
            bodytext,
        --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:access,
            --palette--;;hidden,
            --palette--;;access,
    ',
    'columnsOverrides' => [
        'bodytext' => [
            'config' => [
                'enableRichtext' => true,
            ],
        ],
    ],
];

Detailed Reference

Read [the full guide](references/full-guide.md) when the task needs detailed examples, long templates, troubleshooting matrices, appendices, or sections not included above. Keep this file unloaded for narrow tasks so the skill follows progressive disclosure.