Datasheet

I have tried to include pointers and tips wherever possible to allow you to reconcile older development
with that of the new. One of the greatest things about the open source community is the fact that it is an
open source — you have the source code. If you encounter a component that you need, but it is unavail-
able for the new Joomla system, given the proper motivation and time, you are not out of luck. You can
potentially upgrade it yourself. I’ll provide some tips and guidelines in the appropriate areas to help
Joomla 1.0 users or those moving from Mambo to ease the transition.
Summary
The Joomla system is a platform that can be mastered by many people with different needs, including
Web masters, Web designers, and Web developers. Whatever the reason for your adoption of Joomla,
this chapter has provided an overview how this book will help you do the following:
❑ Understand and communicate the value of using a CMS system like Joomla. The new Web 2.0
is a world of automated content management, dynamic interaction, and virtual communities.
Joomla is the CMS that makes the opportunities of the new technology available to everyone
from individuals to large organizations with an exceptional price tag — free.
❑ Improve your skills as a Joomla Web master for deploying and administering a Joomla site. Whether
you are an individual Web master with a hobbyist site or a person overseeing a multi-server Joomla
installation, the book will show you how to build a Web community, maintain the server, provide
security for the content and users, and perform SEO on the site.
❑ Refine the site look-and-feel if you are a Joomla Web designer. You will not only learn to create
and modify Joomla templates (for fun, for contract employment, or for one of the many com-
mercial template sites), but you will come to understand how to ensure that the site complies
with internationalization and accessibility guidelines.
❑ Create plug-ins, components, and modules if you are a Joomla Web developer. You will under-
stand the underlying framework structure so that you will even be able to modify Joomla itself.
Since almost every aspect of the system is controlled through either CSS or PHP files, almost
any desired alteration will be possible.
❑ Upgrade source code, templates, and other technology from earlier Joomla versions or current
Mambo installations.
Chapter 2 examines the finer points of installation and configuration of a Joomla site. While basic deploy-
ment of Joomla is pretty much a turnkey solution, refining the settings that allow for optimal performance
is both an art and a science. By studying the operational choices of the various servers, you can make your
Joomla site run like a well-oiled machine.
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Chapter 1: Introducing Joomla!
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