Joomla! Community Magazine™

The latest version of Joomla brings a number of interesting improvements and features for users and developers. Here's an overview of the main new features in Joomla 5.1!

I discovered Joomla in 2008 when a web developer recommended I use it to replace a static HTML website I'd built for my not-for-profit dog training club. "Joomla's super easy to use," he enthused, adding, "after the initial 'WHAT THE!?' shock."

As Joomla enthusiasts, we focus on the design, the user experience and the functionalities offered by our favourite cms, so as to build the perfect site for our visitors, but we also have to think about the administration interface, AKA The Backend.

I became aware of the changes in extension development in Joomla when I started looking at migrating websites from Joomla 3 to Joomla 4. A sticking point for me was that some extensions hadn't been made Joomla 4 compatible. Some took a long time to be updated and some didn’t ever work in Joomla 4. It was a big jump and reading this book I can now see much more of what that was about. 

Using the ModalSelect Form field type in Joomla 5 to simplify finding the right product, from thousands, by filtering in a modal window using category, manufacturer and search when developing an extension.

When you start creating your website, you may want to search for a template that fits the design you have in mind. Instead of looking at extensive templates, page builders or frameworks with endless possibilities, you could also try Joomla’s core template, Cassiopeia. It looks simple, but it’s so powerful once you know how to use it. In this article, we cover the basic settings and options of Joomla’s built-in powerhouse.

Not only the sites you produce with Joomla – but also the Backend where you and your customers develop and maintain the site can and should be yours. With a few hacks, you can make it even more yours.

For quite some time now, the utilization of conditional fields in Joomla was primarily a task for developers involved in form creation. However, with the advent of Joomla 4.3, there is now the capability to display custom fields conditionally, enhancing the user experience. We’ll explain how it works first, and after that, we’ll show you how you can use conditional fields in your Joomla content.

My goal, Using Joomla 5, was to create one website with 4 distinct branded areas while utilising the same core styles and settings.

The advent of Joomla 5 heralds a new era for web developers and site managers, as it promises a suite of enhancements, optimisations, and fixes that streamline website creation and management. As we delve into the new features and improvements, it's pivotal to appreciate the developmental strides and transformations from Joomla 4 to Joomla 5.

These are more than just code!