Datasheet

❑ Maintain security on your system by securing your site and defending against attacks from
hackers.
❑ Discover the techniques used by professional Joomla sites to establish a Web presence and
maintain a proactive site.
❑ Tune the Joomla system for maximum performance. Everything from optimal design to server
tuning will be covered.
❑ Load-balancing and load-testing your Joomla site and performing multi-site management.
❑ Determine if Joomla fits your needs, or whether you need to invest in a high-end CMS.
There are many other aspects of administration that will be covered in the book under the specific tech-
nology area where they apply (such as using LDAP for authentication). At a minimum, be sure to skim
the material that may not seem to directly apply to your role or capabilities.
Web Designers
Web designers have a more specific role than Web masters. The Web master will often choose the direction
and functionality that the site will have to offer. A Web designer is then selected by an individual, com-
pany, or organization to render the site as a Web presence that meets specified needs. In Joomla, designers
have found an excellent platform for client work, as well as the prospect of independent income in the
Joomla template market. The number of commercial template vendors is large, and the field seems to be
quite lucrative.
Most of the commercial template sites use a subscription model, whereby customers pay a monthly or
yearly fee to have unlimited access to all of the templates on the site. This model is a boon for Web design-
ers because each site needs to continually update its stock with new templates. To keep existing customers,
there is regular work for numerous Web designers. If you’re a Web designer, you’ll find plenty of useful
information in this book to keep you on the bleeding edge of your profession.
New designers should find a robust introduction to template planning and construction. Because
effective template design requires a combination of PHP code, images, and CSS, it takes a fair amount
of forethought and guidance to properly design a template. You will find descriptions of all parts of
the process.
Even if you’ve never written any code in your life, the coding guide included in this book will help you to
construct a template with a plug-and-play style. As long as you read and understand the general function
of the code presented, you’ll be able to plug it into the right place.
Advanced designers will be able to hone their skills by following the real-world advice, as well as adding
advanced functionality such as Ajax capabilities to Joomla pages. Further, the search engine optimization
techniques and the internationalization sections will put you at the top of your field.
On the design side, you’ll learn the following:
❑ How to modify the code and style sheets of existing templates.
❑ The process of creating a new template from scratch so that you can see precisely the minimum
that is needed and how more advanced templates avoid limitations.
❑ A procedure for authoring new modules that can be plugged into any template.
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Chapter 1: Introducing Joomla!
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