PHP syntax highlighting (2025 edition), as an apache fastcgi handler?

[beporter]

tldr;

I'd like to add an `.htaccess` rule to rewrite `*.phps` URLs to their actual `.php` source document, but instruct FastCGI to syntax highlight and render the source file as HTML instead of interpreting it.

Some due diligence:

• I searched the forums for:
  • "phps" (Old thread from 2009 about bypassing apache/suPHP configs and highlighting via `RewriteRule /highlight.php?file=$1`.)
  • "fastcgi" (Nothing obviously php/fastcgi/htaccess related.)
  • "fcgi" (Nothing obviously php/fastcgi/htaccess related.)
  • "handler" (There's an old thread about telling apache to process `.pro` files as PHP.)
  • "htaccess" (Nothing obviously php/fastcgi/htaccess related.)
  • etc.
• I searched the wiki.
• I've done loads of Google searches similar to the above, and read dozens of StackOverflow QAs.
• I've browsed the Plesk docs, but they don't get to the level of config file detail.
  • I've tried adding a `SetHandler fcgid-script` (among many others) in my `.htaccess`.
• I've experimented with a bunch of stuff in my Heliohost Marty space.

General info:

• Morty username: beporter
• Site: https://gravatar.redirect.channel 
• PHP file URL: https://gravatar.redirect.channel/gravatarizer.php (On its own, configured to bounce invalid requests back to the homepage.) 
• Desired .phps URL: https://gravatar.redirect.channel/gravatarizer.phps (should render html version of the source code for the `.php` version of the same filename.)
  • I tried symlinking this in git, but:
    1. the Plesk logs say I can't use `<Directory>` which means I can't use `Options FollowSymlinks` either.
    2. According to the Plesk file browser, git doesn't push the symlink over SFTP, at least not with the Github Action I've been using.
• Example non-functional `.htaccess` rules:

 

# Allow PHP source code to render as text for inspection

AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
# RewriteRule ^(.+\.php)s$ $1 [H=application/x-httpd-php-source]
# --or--
# RewriteRule ^(.+\.php)s$ $1 [H=php-script]

# Allow examining .phps files.
# <FilesMatch "\.phps$">
#   SetHandler application/x-httpd-php-source
# </FilesMatch>

If this were `mod_php` in Apache, I suspect that first commented-out RewriteRule would have been sufficient. But since PHP files are passed through to FasgCGI, it seems like that Apache handler isn't recognized or responding.

What I can't find is documentation on how Heliohost has named its PHP handlers. I found a support page about using the plesk cli tool, but obviously I can't run that myself.

It's totally fine if this is outside the realm of possibility, but since this whole single-page-site is meant to be a learning experience, it'd be nice to get this working in the`.htaccess`, if possible.

Thanks for your time!

[beporter]

Addition bookmarks so I can close the tabs:

• https://www.feistyduck.com/library/apache-security/online/apachesc-CHP-3.html
• https://serverfault.com/questions/1044315/syntax-of-apache-sethandler-directive-when-configuring-php-fpm