logo

Joomla! 3 extension development tips and resources

How to update/upgrade Joomla! 1.5

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. 

 

Joomla! newsletter componentccNewsletter

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

Read more   

iDEAL for Joomla! extensionscciDEAL

Add iDEAL to Virtuemart, RSForm Pro, Joomla! articles and other extensions with cciDEAL. Supports popular banks and PSP’s like Mollie and Rabo OmniKassa

Read more   

Billing extension for Joomla!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

Read more   

 

 

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

Joomla! CMS Development

Joomla! General Development

 

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.

 
 
Single package installation
One package for installation in Joomla! 2.5 and 3 (tip by Nicholas)
“Create two XML manifest, One with a root of <install>, one with a root of <extension>. Even though Joomla! 2.5 supports the <extension> root, if you use it it throws a warning styled as an error message, confusing the users. Using a second manifest whose name starts with ccext_ and its root element is <install> solves this issue.”
 
The new MVC
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.
 
 
List of all Joomla! plugin events in Joomla! 3
 
 
 
 
Joomla! 3 extension development series (JCM)
 
 

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

Joomla! 3 user interface changes

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