answer by Greg Beaver
  
   The package in question does have releases, but none that are stable.  
   There are two solutions.
  
   
- 
      Set preferred_state to alpha or beta and then install
      - 
      $ pear config-set preferred_state alpha
      - 
      $ pear install Packagename
      
- 
      Find out the stability or version number of the latest release and install it directly.
      - 
      $ pear install Packagename-alpha
      - 
      $ pear install Packagename-1.5.3