Split up check_setup.php into two files. The new file check_essentials.php takes care of stuff like the PHP version and is executed before the config files are included which are needed by check_setup. This patch addresses issue #773

check_essentials.php

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<?php
+
+// PHP 5.3 minimum
+if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.3.3', '<')) {
+    die('This software require PHP 5.3.3 minimum');
+}
+
+// Short tags must be enabled for PHP < 5.4
+if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.4.0', '<')) {
+
+    if (! ini_get('short_open_tag')) {
+        die('This software require to have short tags enabled, check your php.ini => "short_open_tag = On"');
+    }
+}

check_setup.php

@@ -1,25 +1,12 @@
 <?php
 
-// PHP 5.3 minimum
-if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.3.3', '<')) {
-    die('This software require PHP 5.3.3 minimum');
-}
-
-// Short tags must be enabled for PHP < 5.4
-if (version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '5.4.0', '<')) {
-
-    if (! ini_get('short_open_tag')) {
-        die('This software require to have short tags enabled, check your php.ini => "short_open_tag = On"');
-    }
-}
-
 // Check if /cache is writeable
 if (! is_writable('cache')) {
     die('The directory "cache" must be writeable by your web server user');
 }
 
 // Check if /db is writeable
-if (! is_writable('db')) {
+if (! is_writable('db') && STORAGE === 'sqlite') {
     die('The directory "db" must be writeable by your web server user');
 }
 

index.php

@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@
  */
 
 define ('POCHE', '1.7.1');
-require 'check_setup.php';
+require 'check_essentials.php';
 require_once 'inc/poche/global.inc.php';
+require 'check_setup.php';
 
 # Set error reporting level
 if (defined('ERROR_REPORTING')) {