Joomla! 3 extension development tips and resources
Looking for an overview of Joomla! 3 extension developer information? Look no further! Just like the last time we needed to convert our Joomla! extensions to the latest Joomla! version, I have been collecting links and information about Joomla! 3 for our developers. Below, find our list of Joomla! 3 resources, covering the framework and interface (twitter bootstrap) changes in Joomla! 3.
The information can be used to convert Joomla! 1.5 and/or Joomla! 2.5 extensions to work under Joomla! 2.5 and 3. The Joomla! 2.5 extension development resources are actually a well visited article on our website, so I hope this version might be of use to all of you too!
Joomla! 3 extensions
Off course, in my opinion our extensions are good examples of how a Joomla! 3 extensions should look (user interface) and function.
ccNewsletter
The most user friendly Joomla! newsletter extension for sending a newsletter to one or multiple groups of subscribers. With newsletter statistics and automated batch sending
cciDEAL
Add iDEAL to Virtuemart, RSForm Pro, Joomla! articles and other extensions with cciDEAL. Supports popular banks and PSP’s like Mollie and Rabo OmniKassa
ccInvoices
An easy to use invoicing extension for Joomla! websites. Create and send invoices in Joomla! and receive payments with Paypal, iDEAL and other payment methods
General development information
Joomla! Developer Network
http://developer.joomla.org/
Joomla! Development Strategy
http://developer.joomla.org/strategy.html
Joomla! Development Status
http://developer.joomla.org/development-status.html
Joomla! 3 introduction
http://joomla.org/3/
Joomla! 3 release FAQ
http://docs.joomla.org/Joomla_3.0_FAQ
Alpha 1 announcement
http://developer.joomla.org/news/503-joomla-3-0-alpha-1-released.html
Alpha 2 announcement and overview of new features
http://community.joomla.org/blogs/community/1671-joomla-30-alpha-2-notes.html
Practical guide to upgrade Joomla! 2.5 to 3.0 (site builders)
Kyle’s (3.0 project manager) keynote about Joomla! 3
Questions & Answers
Framework
Examples
The best extension examples are probably in Joomla! itself. Just install the latest version and have a look at com_content and com_weblinks.
A new MVC method was introduced in Joomla! Platform 12.1, but you do not have to use it! The Joomla! CMS will keep using the legacy MVC method for some time, and the new MVC in Joomla! Platform will not be used. Make sure you do not rewrite your extensions for it! You will have to rename controllers to the legacy classes (old MVC). Example: class ccInvoicesController extends JControllerLegacy. Other examples can be found in core components like com_content.
Joomla! Developer Documentation
http://docs.joomla.org/Developers
http://forum.joomla.org/viewforum.php?f=727
TechJoomla blog about changes in 3.0
Component generator for Joomla! 3
http://www.notwebdesign.com/joomla-component-creator/
Joomla! Platform 12.1
http://api.joomla.org/
Joomla! 3.1
New feature: tags
Joomla! 3.1 tags preview
How to implement tags in your extension
Tag – you’re it on Joomla.org
Joomla! 3.1 Tag Field – developer information
Interface
Twitter Bootstrap
http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/
http://jui.kyleledbetter.com/
General introduction to Joomla! 3 UX project
Joomla! 3 interface presentation (slides and video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXEx5wMF4fo
http://www.slideshare.net/pixelpraise/bootstrapping-joomla-30
Bootstrap in Joomla! 3 interface basics
http://www.slideshare.net/andytarr/bootstrap-for-extension-developers-jwc-2012
A bootstrap jhtml library for 3.0
http://hwdmediashare.co.uk/blog/228-bootstrap-jhtml-library-joomla-3-0