Joomla 1.5 as a social media site platform

News Type: Opinion — Wed May 14, 2008 6:24 AM EDT

technology, open-source, joomla, joomla-1-5, social-site

Joomla 1.5 admin toolbar.

I did my major in information technology and I'm specialized in group technologies. I really enjoyed my studies with virtual communities, computer supported cooperative work, groupware application platform development and doing my master thesis about groupware support for operational management. However after graduating, I failed to get a job with group technologies and I ended up working with information management.

Still all the time there has been a desire to work with groupware and finally when no one would not hire me, I ended up setting my own groupware platform for online community. Recently there were few events, which triggered my motivation and because a long sick leave, I'm ten days alone at home with my PC, so suddenly there was time for me to try this out.

First I was going to try out Drupal, but one of my friends advice me to try out Joomla. Because I did not have previous experience with neither of the software, I decided to choose the Joomla. Before installing the software, I found out, that there are two versions available: Joomla 1.0 & Joomla 1.5. When trying out new software, you are likely to face some labor pains, but choosing the older version, may be a risk too, because it is more likely to face the end of life cycle earlier. I was going to ask for advice at Finnish Joomla community, but before making a question a person is supposed first to search the answer from the FAQ, Internet, the World and grand mother's closet, so I just made a decision to proceed with Joomla 1.5.

Install

I have a web host, which has cPanel & Fantastico de Luxe with Joomla 1.5 ready to install, so installing was done with few clicks. However there was a problem with inner linking, which was solved by changing the configuration from Joomla administrator interface.

I had no previous experience with Joomla, but the interface was intuitive and easy to learn. At this point Joomla 1.5 modules positions map was very useful. For community needs, a basic user registration and management is available with the basic installation.

Template

With installation there were few templates already. I did some programming as part of my studies so I'm a little familiar with php and css, but I sure cannot call myself as a programmer. So I ended up choosing the default template and I just changed the logo image. There are also several free templates available in Internet and if you have time or money, you can learn to make templates with tutorial or buy a template, which is customized to your needs.

Configuration

The basic configuration I made, was deciding and specifying the sections and categories for articles. I also specified the used modules, like most popular, newest articles and main menu. Configuration for modules is easy and is done by choosing and clicking the desired parameters.

Components, modules & plugins

Most likely the basic installation is not enough, but you'll have to build the desired functionality for your site. For example commenting on Joomla articles does not work before you install a extension for that. At Joomla web site, there are several different extensions available, so it is unlikely, that you'll have to code anything by yourself - at least in the beginning. Before installing the extensions, you should first find out the functionality of the extension, supported Joomla versions and licenses.

I was able to install few extensions without problem, like commenting (& word verification), social bookmarks and I even managed to build an integration to Facebook, thoug I'm not totally happy with that result. However there were few extensions, which I need, but the installation did not work for some reason.

Finally

So without previous experience with Joomla 1.5, I was able to build a simple web site and built some desired functionality if few days. My experiences with Joomla 1.5 are quite positive. Knowing something about programming is not necessary needed, but can be useful. Now you can go and see the result at Kirnu.

19 Votes
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5.2

{"commentId":1798832,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

You just have to be patient with extensions. I mean, that don't just go and install everything interesting you find, but think what you really need and then search for the most suitable one.

{"commentId":1798832,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

5 votes

#1 - Wed May 14, 2008 10:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":1799363,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

Thanks, Pasi.

I think extensions on most platforms requires patience, too.

{"commentId":1799363,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

3 votes

#1.1 - Wed May 14, 2008 12:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":1798884,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

I've never been a fan of Joomla, mainly because every single Joomla site I've sever seen looks exactly like every other Joomla site. On the other hand I've never seen two Drupal sites look the same.

I've never worked with Drupal, but I tried throwing may hand in at Joomla, and from a programmers angle, the entire Joomla structure seemed really adverse to changing the standard Joomla layout, so that could be one reason why.

{"commentId":1798884,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

8 votes

#2 - Wed May 14, 2008 10:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":1799106,"authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

Andy Min

I definitely agree there. I think Joomla has a great potential (I know many, including Mike Davidson, HATE Drupal), but they all look the same and that stupid favicon is always there.

{"commentId":1799106,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

7 votes

#2.1 - Wed May 14, 2008 11:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":1799699,"authorDomain":"damiankd"}

DamianKD

Changing the favicon is a simple thing. I've done many a Joomla site over the years, and with the exception of the first one, they've never looked like a Joomla site.

Adam -- J1.5 is much different than 1.0. I haven't built a site with it (I'm slowly working on one now using cmsmadesimple, but from what I've seen 1.5 should be a blast to work with.

Side note: Pasi, I'm not sure when you returned (blame it on the no-meta-on-the-front-page rule) but WELCOME BACK!

{"commentId":1799699,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"damiankd"}

4 votes

#2.2 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799751,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

I don't remember which version I was working with.

Personally, I'd rather build a CMS from the ground up. I have such specific visions for the sites that I create that I end up just getting frustrated with out-of-the-box CMSes because it ends up being easier to do what I want from scratch than trying to twist the CMS into doing what I want it to.

{"commentId":1799751,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

4 votes

#2.3 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799799,"authorDomain":"damiankd"}

DamianKD

Personally, I'd rather build a CMS from the ground up. I have such specific visions for the sites that I create that I end up just getting frustrated with out-of-the-box CMSes because it ends up being easier to do what I want from scratch than trying to twist the CMS into doing what I want it to.

I can see that, depending on its application. What with rapid application development frameworks, and plug & play GUI editors like TinyMCE or FCK -- building a CMS from the ground up isn't as hard as it used to be. I probably wouldn't want to do that with client work unless it were absolutely necessary, though - or if I had the opportunity to reuse/resell my CMS in the future.

{"commentId":1799799,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"damiankd"}

3 votes

#2.4 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799801,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

I just replaced the favicon at templates/images folder with FTP. I cannot see Joomla setting up restrictions to templates. Here are few examples: Joomla templates.

Damian, thanks. I got my rights over a month ago, but I made a decision to participate again, when I saw so many Viners kind of wanting that.

{"commentId":1799801,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

3 votes

#2.5 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799832,"authorDomain":"youssef51"}

Youssef51

Personally, I'd rather build a CMS from the ground up.

Sounds to me like a really bad idea unless you have lots and lots of time on your hands.

building a CMS from the ground up isn't as hard as it used to be.

Really, why bother. Why reinvent the wheel?

{"commentId":1799832,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"youssef51"}

4 votes

#2.6 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799858,"authorDomain":"damiankd"}

DamianKD

Really, why bother. Why reinvent the wheel?

Like I said, it really depends on the application. With things like ruby, django, cakephp, etc - database connections, input validation, etc are a snap. You could make a very quick and dirty CMS in a day or two.

I'm with you though, Youssef51. Sure, it's possible to do, but why bother under normal circumstances.

{"commentId":1799858,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"damiankd"}

4 votes

#2.7 - Wed May 14, 2008 2:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":1800348,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

Really, why bother. Why reinvent the wheel?

Because most of the time it ends up being easier to develop exactly what you need from the ground floor than try to take an out-of-the-box CMS and wrangle it into what you want it to do.

It's not like I'm creating a full featured CMS each and every time, just the exact part I need.

{"commentId":1800348,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

3 votes

#2.8 - Wed May 14, 2008 4:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":1801192,"authorDomain":"rhodezone"}

rhodezone

It's not like I'm creating a full featured CMS each and every time, just the exact part I need.

That's the way that Joomla's going anyway: parsing out the framework from the CMS. Like Mambo and the nukes before that, backwards compatibility for existing users is simply at loggerheads with new features, and coming fresh into an app project with heavy business logic, it's just easier to scaffold a Django, Symphony or Cake install.

from a programmers angle, the entire Joomla structure seemed really adverse to changing the standard Joomla layout

That was certainly the case for 1.0. 1.5 allows for template overrides of components and modules without too much effort. It's the other nine yards of active records, associative data, simplistic access controls and the like that leave a lot to be desired.

{"commentId":1801192,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"rhodezone"}

4 votes

#2.9 - Wed May 14, 2008 8:11 PM EDT

{"commentId":1801713,"authorDomain":"bondibox"}

bondibox

Not so sure about Joomla 1.5, but I've wrestled with a couple of Mambo sites and my experience was not enjoyable. With Drupal I've never had to read a user manual, it's pretty easy to figure out, but with the mambo/joomla cms I've spent hours reading how to post an entry, assign it a category, and have that category appear on the front page. Maybe it's really easy, but it sure as hell isn't intuitive.

As for rolling your own CMS, that's what I've decided to do, with Rails. Mostly because my websites will have customized user models and targeted mailing lists. The guts of the CMS takes about 30 minutes to pump out. Unless you're hungry for modules / plugins, I don't see a need to go with an official CMS.

{"commentId":1801713,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"bondibox"}

3 votes

#2.10 - Wed May 14, 2008 11:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799030,"authorDomain":"KellyBurris"}

Kelly Burris

The writing is on the wall. Google is throwing money at Drupal. I would be very interested to know what the foundation for this site is.

Kelly Burris

{"commentId":1799030,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"KellyBurris"}

3 votes

#3 - Wed May 14, 2008 11:02 AM EDT

{"commentId":1799505,"authorDomain":"youssef51"}

Youssef51

I did three forums in Joomla about a year and a half ago.

I ended up hacking the php code several times because there was stuff I didn't like. I also rewrote a template that was a little like what I wanted to be kinda like what I wanted when it came to the sites' appearance.

They actually worked quite well. By the way, none of them have the default Joomla favicon. They have my favicon. Problem is, I don't remember how I did it.

Please see http://tinyurl.com/49sja2

That said I am going to look at Drupal as the project site for a new project that's starting up in 2 weeks.

{"commentId":1799505,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"youssef51"}

3 votes

#4 - Wed May 14, 2008 12:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799681,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

Are you from Karlsborg?

{"commentId":1799681,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799700,"authorDomain":"youssef51"}

Youssef51

Nope.

I'm from New York.

{"commentId":1799700,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"youssef51"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Wed May 14, 2008 1:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":1800287,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

newsguru

Welcome back old friend. Coincidentally, and friend and I have been recently comparing Joomla and Drupal. Great article.

{"commentId":1800287,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"newsguru"}

3 votes

#5 - Wed May 14, 2008 3:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":1800373,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

Thanks.

I also tested Drupal for a little, but not that much that I could compare. I kind of had a vision about what I wanted, and Drupal was not exactly that. This was Cash's opinion:

If you are a good programmer, Drupal is quite robust (or if you have good programmers) but if you are not, you should consider Joomla also. Drupal is very powerful for a large site but tough to figure out.

And because I'm not a programmer and my budget was 100€, which I need for the web host, my choice was easy.

{"commentId":1800373,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

4 votes

#5.1 - Wed May 14, 2008 4:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":1800405,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

Here's what I've done, if you find it helpful: Kirnu documentation

{"commentId":1800405,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

4 votes

#5.2 - Wed May 14, 2008 4:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1802019,"authorDomain":"scientificblog"}

Cash

It still holds true. If you're a three person site, go with something like Wordpress MU. If you just want a simple CMS, go with Joomla. If you want a real site, though, and a lot of people using it, you go with Drupal. Yes, yes, I know Mike D. hates it. Scientific American doesn't hate it, Scientific Blogging doesn't hate it, NowPublic doesn't hate it. Most people who actually use it don't hate it so one person with VC money who had the time and cabbage to hire 5 people and build one from the ground up is not a flaw with Drupal - most users aren't building sites to be NV.

Drupal's nuances are tough for even good PHP people (thus, it might be better to do as Hob says and write your own rather than figure it out) but you can have a huge site with thousands of people writing in a week.

{"commentId":1802019,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"scientificblog"}

5 votes

#5.3 - Thu May 15, 2008 2:39 AM EDT

{"commentId":3554503,"authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

Pete ZaHutt

is there a Joomla module or extension that adds Newsvine/Digg-like abilities to Joomla?

{"commentId":3554503,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

2 votes

#6 - Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":3555495,"authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

Andy Min

Don't think so. My friend looked for something for a while, never found it. Closest was Drigg, a Drupal module.

{"commentId":3555495,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"onlineapps"}

2 votes

#6.1 - Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":3576554,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

Pete, can you be more specific, what kind of abilities do you mean?

{"commentId":3576554,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

2 votes

#6.2 - Sun Oct 19, 2008 1:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":3580915,"authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

Pete ZaHutt

I'm looking for an extension that will allow users to enter a headline, deck, tags, etc, just like Newsvive/Digg where the posts can be voted on and commented on. Also, does anyone have any reccomendations for forum software or a bridge?

{"commentId":3580915,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

2 votes

#7 - Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":3591786,"authorDomain":"Pasi"}

Pasi

You can give author rights to users, so they can write articles with editor to different categories

Articles can be voted and for example I have yvComment v.1.16.0 at my site Kirnu
so visitors can comment on them too.

{"commentId":3591786,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"Pasi"}

2 votes

#7.1 - Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":3591878,"authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

Pete ZaHutt

thanks!

{"commentId":3591878,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

1 vote

#7.2 - Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":6761228,"authorDomain":"videovic1954"}

videovic1954

When discussing Joomla sites, you have to seperate the visual design and the platform itself.

If you want a template different from templates you can get free or purchase at a reasonable price, you can spend 300 - 500 for a grapgic designer and then a php guy to slice it up and turn it into a template. Most joomla users use the free same old same old template.

there are a dozen template producers that consistantly turn out amazing (different) looking templates.

Vic Garbutt

{"commentId":6761228,"threadId":"264204","contentId":"1487370","authorDomain":"videovic1954"}

1 vote

#8 - Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:39 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"264204","isPrivate":false}

PASI

Backyard

Joomla 1.5 as a social media site platform

Install

Template

Configuration

Components, modules & plugins

Finally

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