PHP - How to install php-curl without downgrading PHP version

Question

I'm trying to install the php5-curl package, but I'm getting the dependency error:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 php5-curl : Depends: phpapi-20090626
             Depends: php5-common (= 5.3.10-1ubuntu3.11) but 5.5.5+dfsg-1+debphp.org~precise+2 is to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

I have found this guide here on Askubuntu, but I'm afraid that will downgrade my php installation to an older version, which I don't want.

This is the PHP version I have installed:

tomica@as5830tg-elementary:~/Documents/apktool$ php --version
PHP 5.5.5-1+debphp.org~precise+2 (cli) (built: Oct 28 2013 12:57:03) 
Copyright (c) 1997-2013 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.5.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2013 Zend Technologies
    with Zend OPcache v7.0.3-dev, Copyright (c) 1999-2013, by Zend Technologies

Is there any way for me to keep the PHP 5.5.5-1 and still install php-curl?

Answer 1

I have been using ppa:ondrej/php5 for PHP. This PPA includes php5-curl and FYI:

$ php --version

PHP 5.5.12-2+deb.sury.org~precise+1 (cli)

In case you aren't aware, adding the PPA will update all PHP packages installed on your system to the latest in the PPA, assuming the PPA has a more recent version. Best performed on a test machine.

If you are like me, you research who the owners and contributors of PPAs are. The owner and, so far, sole contributor to this PPA has a very high karma on Launchpad, regularly updates the PPAs he manages, and googling his email address reveals he is very active on a number of FOSS projects. As of the time of this answer, I consider the PPA reliable.