Are you looking for a way to smoothly migrate your WordPress content to a Joomla website? Rahul Singh is working on a tool that makes this possible. Rahul is one of the first students to join the Joomla Academy. Let’s find out what the Advanced Migration Tool will bring to Joomla!

My project: Advanced Migration Tool

As part of the Joomla Academy, I’m developing an Advanced Migration Tool that allows users to seamlessly migrate content and user data from other content management systems into Joomla, starting with WordPress. This tool is built as a Joomla component with a plugin-based architecture - meaning each CMS (like WordPress, Drupal, etc.) will have its own plugin that handles the specific data format and converts into a standardized, Joomla-compatible format.

The focus is not just on functionality, but also on delivering a smooth and reliable user experience and ensuring robust error handling.

Throughout this project, I’m continuously receiving valuable support from my mentorship team - Manu Beladevan, Brian Mitchell, Shirielle Williams, and Gary Barclay - who are consistently providing expert guidance on everything from architecture to code structure and design. Their ongoing insights are helping ensure that the tool is not only remaining technically solid but also staying aligned with Joomla’s vision and standards.

A much needed solution

This project addresses one of the biggest challenges people face when moving to Joomla: migration. 

Many potential Joomla users - from developers to agencies - already have websites built on other platforms like WordPress. Rebuilding everything manually is time-consuming and error-prone. The Advanced Migration Tool removes that barrier by offering a clean, extensible framework for importing content, users, and media from other systems - automatically.

For the Joomla ecosystem, this project:

• Eases adoption by making it simple to switch from other CMSs.
• Standardizes migration logic through a plugin system, so developers can easily add support for new CMSs.
• Encourages community growth, giving newcomers a way to bring their content into Joomla without starting from scratch.

In short, it’s a tool that empowers all Joomlers - beginners, developers, and power users - and makes Joomla a more accessible, competitive, and future-proof platform.

A little bit about myself

I'm Rahul Singh, a B.Tech graduate from National Institute of Technology(NIT) Raipur, India, class of 2025. I have a strong passion for technology and enjoy engaging in problem-solving as well as creating innovative projects. Residing in Jamshedpur, I have established a solid foundation in software development. Throughout my career, I have interned at several startups, where I played a role in developing scalable web applications and experimenting with real-time functionalities using WebSockets and WebRTC. I am always enthusiastic about learning and creating new things!

When I am not programming, you will likely find me investigating emerging technology trends, working on personal projects, or simply enjoying good music. I am eager to continue expanding the limits of what can be achieved with software and to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share my enthusiasm for developing meaningful solutions.

How I got involved in the Joomla Academy

I have always found the idea of CMS and no-code tools fascinating-platforms that enable individuals, even those from non-technical expertise, to create and manage their own websites through user-friendly interfaces.

In January 2023, during my time as a freelancer, I  realized that small businesses globally face challenges in affording software developers to develop and maintain their websites. This intrigued my interest in content management systems.

My first encounter with Joomla occurred while I was investigating about CMS for my project. Its strong and adaptable framework immediately captured my interest. I started to experiment with its codebase and was impressed by how it manages to combine the capability of creating powerful websites with ease of use.

Google Summer of Code...?

In early 2025, while searching for organizations to contribute under Google Summer of Code (GSoC), Joomla’s involvement particularly caught my eye, since I had used it before and was well-versed in it. This made an ideal opportunity for someone like me, eager to make a meaningful contribution to Open Source.

I submitted a detailed proposal for a Joomla project, focusing on building a migration tool to migrate from other content management systems into Joomla. Writing the proposal was intense: it required a deep understanding into Joomla’s codebase and hours of planning to align my ideas with their needs. Even though I was a bit nervous about the competitive nature of GSoC, the process of engaging with Joomla’s community on Mattermost helped me gain confidence and feel more engaged.

... Or the Joomla Academy?

As I closely followed Joomla’s community updates to stay informed, track the progress of my proposal, and explore additional ways to contribute, I stumbled upon the Joomla Academy. This new initiative was designed to empower students to engage with Joomla’s open-source ecosystem-similar to GSoC, but with a more customized, community-focused approach.

I think the Joomla Academy is a fantastic initiative. It creates opportunities for aspiring contributors to engage in open-source development in a more organized and supportive manner. By offering mentorship, practical experience, and real-world projects, it assists individuals-particularly students and newcomers like myself-in developing both technical skills and community involvement. This is a significant advancement toward fostering long-term contributors to Joomla.

I felt a sense of joy. It appeared to be a progression from my GSoC experience. I submitted my application immediately and was enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to Joomla!

What I love most about working on the Advanced Migration Tool is that it brings real utility to Joomla users while pushing me to learn advanced extension development. It’s a project that’s not just technically interesting but also meaningful for the future of Joomla adoption.

Thank you Sponsors and Mentors!

The Joomla Academy wouldn't exist without sponsors. Together, they raised over $17,000 to support student stipends, resources, and programme operations.

Platinum sponsors: JAB eV and reDim - thank you so much!

Gold sponsors: djumla – David Jardin and tec-promotion – Stefan Wendhausen, along with Yootheme.

Please take a moment to check our full list of Amazing Sponsors. 

We'd also like to thank our mentors: a heartfelt thank you for your donating your time, sharing your knowledge and guiding and supporting our students.