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Choosing Great Joomla Extensions
The document outlines steps for choosing quality Joomla extensions: know your needs, locate extensions on sites like the Joomla Extension Directory, and evaluate extensions based on factors like features, security, support, code quality, updates, and licensing before making a selection. It recommends researching these factors on sources like the extension and developer websites, Joomla forums, and user communities.
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Choosing Great Joomla Extensions
- 1. Choosing Great ExtensionsJoomlaDay New England 2010Andy Tarr, Tarr Consulting
- 2. No magic bulletCommonsense researchJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions2
- 3. Know Your NeedsLocateExtensionsEvaluate for Quality & FitnessJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions3
- 4. Know Your NeedsJune5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions4
- 5. Locate ExtensionsJune 5,2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions5
- 6. http://extensions.joomla.orgJune 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions6
- 7. Other UsersJune 5,2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions7
- 8. http://community.joomla.org/showcaseJune 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions8
- 9. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions9
- 10. Evaluate Quality &FitnessWhat questions do we have?Where do we find the answers?June 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions10
- 11. QuestionsFeatures & functionalitySecuritySupportQualityof codeUpdatesLicense & costJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions11
- 12. Features & FunctionalityJune5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions12
- 13. SecurityJune5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions13
- 14. Developer & CommunitySupportJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions14
- 15. Qualityof CodeJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions15
- 16. UpdatesJune 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions16
- 17. License License & CostJune5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions17
- 18. AnswersJoomla.orgExtension/Developer’s websiteFrom theDeveloperJUG groups & mailing listsGoogleThe extension itselfJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions18
- 19. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions19
- 20. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions20http://extensions.joomla.org
- 21. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions21http://docs.joomla.org/Vulnerable_Extensions_List
- 22. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions22http://forum.joomla.org
- 23. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions23Extension/Developer’s website
- 24. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions24Developer & Community Support
- 25. User Group &Mailing ListsJune 5, 2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions25
- 26. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions26
- 27. June 5, 2010JDay NE: Choosing Great Extensions27The Extension Itself
- 28. Final questions?June 5,2010J Day NE: Choosing Great Extensions28
Editor's Notes
- #5 What are your business needs?Do you have any technical constraints?Example: JQuery/MootoolsWhat’s your budget? Any license restrictions, preferences?
- #7 The most common place is the JED, otherwise known as the Joomla Extension Directory.Why extensions are not on the JEDThey don't have a GPL license. For the past year only extensions that are licensed under GPL are allowed.Known security issuesIf the editors of the JED find out that there is a security issue with an extension, they will remove it. Example: FireboardThey won't run on 1.5.1.0 extensions were removed last summer
- #8 Example: joomlauggoogle group
- #13 Which Joomla release is it forDoes it have the features & functionality that we need
- #14 What was the last release date? Is it within the last year?Is it a “stable” release? Alpha, beta & RC (release candidates) still have bugs to be worked outAre there any know security issues?
- #15 Does the developer support the extensionIs there community support
- #16 Which release - caveat about 1.5 legacyDo you have to change permissions for it to install or use itIf you have to change folders/files to 777, that’s a security issueIdeally your site should work with folders at 755 and files at 655 (check this)If you have problems with standard programs at that level you might need to activate the FTP layer. Only activate the FTP layer if necessary. This overcomes issues of "ownership" in some host settings without needing to set permissions at 777.If the extension won't work with the ftp layer, then in those host settings you would have to set files/folders at 777 which is a security issue.So sometimes an extension can be run safely on one site and can't be run safely in another because of lack of support for this featureDoes it kill kittens?ok to "override", not ok to change or hackIs it encrypted?Being encrypted doesn't make an extension insecure, but it does limit your ability (or anyone else's) to evaluate the code for security. If you have to have IonCube and Zend Optimizer on your server for the extension to run, then that's a sign that it's encrypted. Is it written in "MVC" structure?This is a modern programming technique that is used by Joomla. If an extension is written to take advantage of Joomla, it will be written this way. This is part of what allows for template overrides to work, for example. It also means that the extension is more likely to be written in a way that will allow it to work with future releases without major modifications.Ability to work with templates. Is there an index.html file in every folder?JEXEC or dieall the php files should have a JEXEC or die line at the top. It's usually just after the header comments.
- #17 How long has it been around and when was it last updated
- #18 What is the license?Is it free?If not free, do you buy the extension or a subscriptionTerms of use
- #28 MVC StructureTypical component MVC structure: (move some of this to how do we find it?)com_cowscontrollersmodelsviewscowtmplcategorytmplTypical module MVC structuremod_cowstmplFolder structure is more of an indication than a hard and fast rule because it's more complex than what I'm showing.Index.html in each folderJEXEC or die