When you ask John Dagelmore, he basically tells you about his extensions. 
Narcissistic? Selfish? No ! 

He's just proud of them, because they're his babies ! 

But he's also very proud of Joomla, which he considers to be the best CMS in existence,and as a good family man, he kindly explained to us the life of his extensions, which he grew up in a caring environment.

Hello John,
Joomla users are familiar with your extension, but don't really know much about you. Can you give us a quick introduction?

I first encountered Mambo in 2004 and was immediately captivated by how easy it was to build a website using this tool. In 2005, it evolved into Joomla 1.0, marking the beginning of my journey with the platform. Over the years, I developed numerous enterprise solutions for large companies until 2011, when I transitioned to creating custom extensions. By 2013, I decided to focus entirely on extension development and founded JExtensions Store. I began by writing a set of initial extensions that, over the years, have grown into well-known and widely recognized tools, such as JSitemap Pro.

When did you start developing? At the same period before or later?

Before transitioning to PHP and Joomla, I worked with various languages and platforms. As the web increasingly shifted towards PHP, I discovered Joomla and decided to fully dedicate myself to these technologies.

What led you to create your Joomla extension in particular?

I consistently analyzed the Joomla market to identify gaps and determine what the community most needed. For instance, in 2013, there was a demand for a professional SEO and sitemap extension, as the only available option at the time was the basic, free extension XMap. This approach guided the development of all my extensions, with a constant focus on delivering professional-grade software.

What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them?

The greatest challenge was developing the best software on the market within a timely manner, while also promoting it effectively and delivering top-quality support.

Did you start earning a living quickly or was it complicated?

After founding JExtensions Store with an initial set of extensions, I gradually began earning enough to make a living from it. I have always preferred offering a paid model with professional solutions, which enabled me to work full-time on Joomla extensions.

Is this still the case?

This is still the case, although it has become more challenging. To continue making a living from it, I had to develop and add significantly more extensions compared to the early days.

Are you in contact with other independent developers? How can this kind of collaboration work?

Yes, I occasionally collaborate with developers whose extensions are integrated with mine. These partnerships are crucial for building high-quality products that work seamlessly together.

What are the most common misconceptions about your extension ?

Honestly, I have rarely encountered major misconceptions, as we provide clear explanations about each extension's functionality, along with demo areas ,trials and thorough documentation. Occasionally, a user may expect something different after trying an extension, but such instances are rare.

What is the one thing people don't know about your extension?

I suppose they don’t realize how much love and passion I pour into each extension. Every one of them feels like my own baby!

What are the topics people always ask for support?

I have a wide range of extensions, each with its own common support topics. For example, GDPR focuses on implementing Google Consent Mode v2, while JSitemap is centered around using its tools, and so on. GPTranslate, my latest extension for making Joomla multilingual with the power of ChatGPT AI, primarily receives questions about indexing URLs in different languages. My primary challenge is to deliver robust, high-quality software that works seamlessly, minimizing issues and avoiding complex setups. Providing top-notch support has always been a key priority. Over the years, I've resolved thousands of issues and support tickets, resulting in over 1,700 five-star reviews on the Joomla Extension Directory (JED) across all my extensions. This achievement represents a significant and rewarding milestone in my journey.

Do you get a lot out of the Joomla community?

I want to thank the entire Joomla community for making it possible to build my business over the years and for continuing to support it today. I’ve grown alongside the Joomla community, and I’m truly grateful—thank you!

What is your involvement in the Joomla community?

I consistently follow Joomla's core development and frequently contribute to the project via GitHub to support the CMS's development and enhance its robustness.

What do you think of Joomla's ecosystem?

In my opinion, Joomla remains healthy and thriving worldwide. It’s the most advanced, robust, modern, and well-coded CMS, far superior to WordPress. I’ve even tried developing for WordPress, and I’m genuinely surprised by the low-quality code and architecture of the platform compared to Joomla.I believe Joomla needs a strong market strategy to surpass WordPress and help people recognize its value and quality. Now is the perfect time to make a move, especially after the WordPress vs. WP Engine controversy, with many users leaving WordPress and exploring other options. I’ve heard about the idea of a WordPress-to-Joomla migrator in Joomla 6, and I truly hope it’s implemented. Along with a solid marketing strategy, this could reverse the trend, regain Joomla's market share, and help it grow from 2% to 3%, 4%, 5%, and beyond.

How do you see your future with Joomla? Do you have any surprises up your sleeve?

Joomla will turn 20 in 2025, and I continue to see a bright future for the CMS—and for my extensions. I plan to keep developing and releasing new extensions in the coming years, with an average of about one extension per year. I’m excited to announce that I’m releasing a new game-changing extension, JPageBuilder, which aims to become the most complete and professional page builder for Joomla, much like JSitemap Pro has.

Anything else you’d like to say to our Joomler friends?

I believe it’s better to invest a small amount in professional extensions and support rather than relying on free, basic software. This has always been my approach—offering professional services at an affordable price that has allowed me to sustain my business. This is the message I want to share with the Joomla community.

John Dagelmore's Extensions page: https://storejextensions.org/joomla-extensions.html

JPageBuilder page ( available as soon as it will be released ) https://storejextensions.org/extensions/jpagebuilder-joomla-page-builder.html