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Joomla! 2.5 Released with Extra Features and Easy Updates
Joomla, one of the world’s most popular open source content management systems (CMS) used for everything from websites to blogs to Intranets, today announces the immediate availability of Joomla 2.5. Along with new features such as advanced search and automatic notification of Joomla core and extension updates, the Joomla CMS for the first time includes multi-database support with the addition of Microsoft SQL Server. Previous versions of Joomla were compatible exclusively with MySQL databases.
“Multi-database support is a huge step forward for Joomla, which is already powering more than 1.6 million websites worldwide. It ensures companies and organization, both large and small, will save even more money and time by adopting Joomla,” said Ryan Ozimek, president of Open Source Matters, a non-profit created to provide organization, legal and financial support to the Joomla project. “No longer will Joomla developers be tied down to a particular database or have to spend more money and time integrating other software to get Joomla to communicate with their database. This enhances Joomla’s scalability immensely.”
Other key features in Joomla 2.5 includes:
- Automatic notification when a Joomla or extension update is available. When logged into the control panel, site administrators will instantly have access to new notification buttons that allows them to see and act on the latest updates. In addition to updates for the Joomla CMS, a second button offers third party extension notification updates.
- A better natural language search engine to the Joomla core. Complete with auto-completion and stemming (for example if you type “running” in a search field you also see run), it is faster and more versatile than the standard search.
“We literally received thousands of pieces of input at ideas.joomla.org into what functionality should be added to Joomla 2.5, and overwhelmingly enhanced notifications and more elegant search topped the list,” said Mark Dexter of the Joomla Production Leadership Team. “In fact, the automatic notification for core and extension updates received the most votes for a feature that people wanted in 2.5. But we didn’t stop with just those two. Joomla 2.5 is a major overhaul with more than 24 new features that we have highlighted at joom.la/25features.”
Joomla 2.5 adheres to Joomla’s newly-adopted six-month release cycle that began with the previous Joomla CMS release of Joomla 1.7 in July, 2011. Downloading the latest version of Joomla is the best way to ensure organizational and personal security needs are being met since it will have the most recent updates to protect against the latest security threats.
Joomla 2.5 is truly a collaborative community-driven software project developed with the feedback gathered from more than 2.5 million Joomla forum posts, 540,000 Joomla forum members and data from more than 8,800 Joomla extensions. To download Joomla 2.5, go to http://www.joomla.org/download.html.
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Joomla 2.5.0 Released
The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Joomla 2.5.0. This is a security release. Version 2.5.0 is is the next update from version 1.7. (Note that we have skipped from version 1.7.x to 2.5.x.)
Version 2.5.0 is the second release made within the new six-month release cycle that started with the delivery of Joomla 1.6 in January 2011. Version 2.5 is also a long-term-support (LTS) release that will be supported for at least 18 months.
The Production Leadership Team's goal is to continue to provide regular, frequent updates to the Joomla community. Learn more about Joomla! developement at the Developer Site.
Version 1.7 will reach end of life one month from today, on 24 February 2012. All users of version 1.7 should update to version 2.5.0 before that time. The update process is very simple, and complete instructions are available here. Note that there are now easier and better ways of updating than FTPing the files.
Download
Note: Please read the update instructions before updating.
Instructions
Want to test drive Joomla? Try the online demo or the Joomla JumpBox. Documentation is available for beginners.
Please note that you should always backup your site before upgrading.
Release Notes
Check the Joomla 2.5.0 Post-Release FAQs to see if there are important items and helpful hints discovered after the release.
Statistics for the 2.5.0 release period (14 November 2011 to 24 January 2012)
- Joomla 2.5.0 contains:
- 26 new features added
- 4 security issues fixed
- 356 tracker issues fixed
Joomla 2.5.0 uses version 11.4 of the Joomlal Platform.
New Features Added
In addition to the new Joomla Platform, the following new features have been added, with links to the Feature tracker issue.
- Add ablility to turn off the email to user when an Admin creates a user (Andrea Tarr)
- Improvements for batch processing (Michael Babker)
- Menu item parameter "Note" (Marcell van Geest)
- No "new user notification" email sent to admin (Kenny Wickstrom)
- Implementing default text per language in syndicate module (Jean-Marie Simonet)
- Implementing image option for the offline.php default page (Jean-Marie Simonet)
- Joomla! update notification button in the quickicons module (Nicholas Dionysopoulos)
- Debug Plugin Reloaded (Nikolai Plath)
- *Option to set Joomla to Site Offline (YES) during installation (fade2grey)
- Patch to enable change of newsfeed display direction (Mathieu Cattin)
- Add a true autoloader to the CMS (Rouven Weßling)
- Database Version Check (Mark Dexter)
- "Select a Menu Item Type" in modal box in menu item edit page (Dennis Hermatski)
- Improving SEO: New system plugin: languagecode (Jean-Marie Simonet)
- Manager for Language Overrides (Patrick Alt)
- Easier workflow by linking Menu Manager: Add Menu to Module Manager: Module Menu (Andrew Eddie, Jacques Rentzke)
- Add an option to filter the mod_whosonline by groups of the connected user (Christophe Demko)
- Add a check for native ZIP support to the Installation (Rouven Weßling)
- Add ability to support other databases starting with Microsoft SQL Server / Windows Azure (Hooduku Team)
- mod_status optimization (Kyle Ledbetter)
- Category filtering on content doesn't including sub-categories (Ofer Cohen)
- User Notes (Andrew Eddie)
- Use the images and urls fields to create simple standardized layouts (Elin Waring)
- Custom Black List in Text Filters - Ready to test - Makes it possible to overwrite default blacklist - Joomla 1.7 (Tore B. Krudtaa, Denise McLaurin)
- Captcha in the core (Jonnathan S. Lima, Rouven Weßling, Nicola Galgano)
- Finder Integration (Rob Schley, Michael Babker, Elin Waring, Chris Davenport, Omar Ramos, Viet Hoang Vu, Jean Marie Simonet, Rouven Weßling, Louis Landry, Gabriele Pongelli)
Security Issues Fixed
Tracker Issues Fixed
Joomla! Bug Squad
Thanks to the Joomla Bug Squad for their dedicated efforts investigating reports, fixing problems, and applying patches to Joomla. If you find a bug in Joomla, please report it on the Joomla! CMS Issue Tracker.
Active members of the Joomla Bug Squad during this last release cycle include: A Firoozmandan, Akarawuth Tamrareang, Alain Rivest, Andrea Tarr, Andrew Eddie, Ashwin Date, Bill Richardson, Brian Teeman, Chris Davenport, Christophe Demko, Denise McLaurin, Dennis Hermacki, Elin Waring, Emerson Rocha Luiz, Francisco Marzoa, Ian MacLennan, Jacob Waisner, Jacques Rentzke, James Brice, Janich Rasmussen, Jean-Marie Simonet, Jennifer Marriott, Jeremy Wilken, Kevin Griffiths, Loyd Headrick, Mark Dexter, Matt Thomas, Michael Babker, Mutuga Kigumi, Neil McNulty, Nikolai Plath, Ofer Cohen, Prasit Gebsaap, Rachmat Wakjaer, Rob Clayburn, Roland Dalmulder, Rouven Weßling, Rune Sjøen, Samuel Moffatt, Shaun Maunder, Sudhi Seshachala, Tim Plummer, Tom Fuller, Troy Hall, Viet Hoang Vu.
Bug Squad Leadership: Mark Dexter Coordinator; Elin Waring and Marijke Stuivenberg, Team Leaders.
Joomla! Security Strike Team
A big thanks to the Joomla! Security Strike Team for their ongoing work to keep Joomla secure. Members include: Airton Torres, Alan Langford, Bill Richardson, Elin Waring, Jason Kendall, Marijke Stuivenberg, Mark Dexter, Omar Ramos, Rouven Weßling, Samuel Moffatt.
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Joomla 1.7.4 Released
The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Joomla 1.7.4. This is a security release.
Note that most users should update their sites to version 2.5.0 instead, which is now released. Version 1.7.4 is only intended for those users who for some reason are unable to update to version 2.5.0. Version 1.7 will reach end of life on 24 February 2012.
The Production Leadership Team's goal is to continue to provide regular, frequent updates to the Joomla community. Learn more about Joomla! developement at the Developer Site.
If you are upgrading your existing 1.7 site, you should be aware that the method of upgrading has changed since Joomla 1.5 so we recommend you look at the instructions.
Download
Instructions
Want to test drive Joomla? Try the online demo or the Joomla JumpBox. Documentation is available for beginners.
Please note that you should always backup your site before upgrading.
Release Notes
Check the Joomla 1.7.4 Post-Release FAQs to see if there are important items and helpful hints discovered after the release.
Statistics for the 1.7.4 release
Security
Joomla! Bug Squad
Thanks to the Joomla Bug Squad for their dedicated efforts investigating reports, fixing problems, and applying patches to Joomla. If you find a bug in Joomla, please report it on the CMS Issue Tracker.
Active members of the Joomla Bug Squad during this last release cycle include: A Firoozmandan, Akarawuth Tamrareang, Alain Rivest, Andrea Tarr, Andrew Eddie, Ashwin Date, Bill Richardson, Brian Teeman, Chris Davenport, Christophe Demko, Denise McLaurin, Dennis Hermacki, Elin Waring, Emerson Rocha Luiz, Francisco Marzoa, Ian MacLennan, Jacob Waisner, Jacques Rentzke, James Brice, Janich Rasmussen, Jean-Marie Simonet, Jennifer Marriott, Jeremy Wilken, Kevin Griffiths, Loyd Headrick, Mark Dexter, Matt Thomas, Michael Babker, Mutuga Kigumi, Neil McNulty, Nikolai Plath, Ofer Cohen, Prasit Gebsaap, Rachmat Wakjaer, Rob Clayburn, Roland Dalmulder, Rouven Weßling, Rune Sjøen, Samuel Moffatt, Shaun Maunder, Sudhi Seshachala, Tim Plummer, Tom Fuller, Troy Hall, Viet Hoang Vu.
Bug Squad Leadership: Mark Dexter Coordinator; Elin Waring and Marijke Stuivenberg, Team Leaders.
Joomla! Security Strike Team
A big thanks to the Joomla! Security Strike Team for their ongoing work to keep Joomla secure. Members include: Airton Torres, Alan Langford, Bill Richardson, Elin Waring, Jason Kendall, Marijke Stuivenberg, Mark Dexter, Omar Ramos, Rouven Weßling, Samuel Moffatt.
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Joomla 2.5.0 RC1 Released
The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of Joomla 2.5 RC 1 for download. Version 2.5 is the second release made within the new six-month release cycle that started with the delivery of Joomla 1.6 in January 2011.
What is this release for?
There are several goals for this release:
- To allow advance testing of sites and custom extensions so that site administrators and developers can report any problems before the final release.
- To raise awareness that the end of the current development cycle is fast approaching.
- To allow testing of the upgrade from version 1.7 to 2.5.0.
Click here to download.
What is this release NOT for?
This RC1 version of Joomla 2.5 is not suitable for production sites. It should be used for testing only.
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Joomla! Joins Protests Against SOPA
The Joomla! project joins the ranks of US and international internet and technology organizations like Free Software Foundation (FSF), Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), Mozilla, Google, Wikipedia, Open Source Initiative, WordPress, and Human Rights organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, in expressing our concern with these US Congress and Senate bills:
A US Congressional vote is slated on these bills for this month [now delayed until February], and many feel that it will inevitably become a mandate for formalized Internet censorship, with an impact that goes far beyond the borders of any single country.
PIPA introduces a deeply concerning degree of legal uncertainty into the internet economy, particularly for users and businesses internationally. And while SOPA is also a US bill, it has several provisions that would have serious implications for international civil and human rights which raise concerns about how the United States is approaching global Internet governance.
The Joomla! project respects legitimate Intellectual Property rights of others, but we are concerned about the consequences of such far reaching laws, both for citizens of the US, and the global community.
Today, the 18th of January 2012, many organizations will show solidarity by participating in a massive website blackout, and other forms of protest. As an international Open Source software project, Joomla! champions an open internet for all, and expresses its concern over these US Congress and Senate bills.
Sources and links:
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Joomla 2.5 Beta2 Released
The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of Joomla 2.5 Beta 2 for download. Version 2.5 is the second release made within the new six-month release cycle that started with the delivery of Joomla 1.6 in January 2011.
What is this release for?
There are several goals for this release:
- To allow advance testing of sites and custom extensions so that site administrators and developers can report any problems before the final release.
- To raise awareness that the end of the current development cycle is fast approaching.
- To allow testing of the upgrade from version 1.7 to 2.5.0.
Click here to download.
What is this release NOT for?
This beta version of Joomla 2.5 Beta2 is not suitable for production sites. It should be used for testing only.
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Joomla Community Magazine | January 2012
The January issue of the Joomla Community Magazine is here!
Our stories:
Editor's Introduction
Joomla! is shooting for the stars..., by Dianne Henning
Feature Stories
CloudAccess.net: A New Company on the Bay, by Ryan
What's new in Joomla! 2.5?, by Hagen Graf
Website Case Studies
Website Case Study: Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center, by Ryan Meravi
Leadership Connections
Leadership Highlights - December 2011, by Alice Grevet
Administrators Toolkit
Joomla 1.6, 1.7, and 2.5: ACL Concepts Overview, by Jen Kramer
Developers Workbench
Customizing Joomla! Help!!, by Ilagnayeru 'MIG' Manickam
Integrating WebSocket to Joomla!, by Matias Aguirre
Did you know...?
Shining up your website with five stunning and free Joomla photo galleries, by Anh Tuan Bui
Joomla! Events and User Groups
Joomla! Day LA Recap, by Mark W. Bender
Help Wanted
The Joomla! Project Wants You - January 2012, by Paul Orwig
Joomla! in the Press/Media
Joomla! in the Press/Media - January 2012, by Mark W. Bender
The Joomla! Haikus
Post your haikus for January, by Paul Orwig
Joomla Books
Download the free Joomla! Development Guide, by Hagen Graf
In our next issue
We want to publish your Joomla! story in the next JCM issue! So take a look at our Author Resources content to get a better idea of what we are looking for, and then register to become a JCM author and submit your Joomla! story!
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Joomla! World Conference 2012
The Joomla! Project is pleased to announce that the first Joomla World Conference will occur in November 2012. We are very happy that eBay has graciously offered significant support for this event, inviting us to use their facilities in San Jose, California.
Here are the preliminary details for the Joomla! World Conference:
Date: 16th-18th November 2012
Location:
eBay Town Hall
2161 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95131
USA
Tickets: Price for a 3-day Ticket is $199 USD
More details will follow next year.
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Joomla 2.5 Beta1 Released
The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of Joomla 2.5 Beta 1 for download. This is the second release made within the new six-month release cycle that started with the delivery of Joomla 1.6 in January 2011.
What is this release for?
There are several goals for this release:
- To allow advance testing of sites and custom extensions so that site administrators and developers can report any problems before the final release.
- To raise awareness that the end of the current development cycle is fast approaching.
- To allow testing of the upgrade from version 1.7 to 2.5.0.
Click here to download.
What is this release NOT for?
This beta version of Joomla 2.5 Beta1 is not suitable for production sites. It should be used for testing only.
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Joomla! Experiences Substantial CMS Growth in 2011
38 Percent Year-Over-Year Download Increase Driven by Large Developer Community Support.
Joomla, one of the world's most popular open source content management systems (CMS) used for everything from websites to blogs to Intranets, today announced that downloads have risen 38 percent from December 2010 to December 2011. To date, Joomla has been downloaded more than 27 million times*, making it one of the most downloaded content management systems in the world.
In addition to download growth, Joomla also experienced double-digit growth in many other areas, including:
- Joomla extensions developed by outside vendors increased by 41 percent annually to 8,475 as of October 31, 201.
- The number of forum users jumped 23 percent annually as of October 31, 2011, meaning more and more people are interacting to help shape Joomla.
"We've seen double and in some cases triple digit growth in Joomla's adoption since 2007," said Ryan Ozimek, president of Open Source Matters, the not-for-profit created to provide organizational, legal and financial support to the Joomla project. "Part of what's driven this massive number of downloads is an explosion of community involvement in the project."
More than 225,000 registered developers participate in the joomlacode.org site where open source developers work together to build extensions and the core codebase. More than 852 commercial development firms and individual developers support the more than 8,000 extensions available for Joomla. About 3,000 individuals have directly contributed to the development of the core codebase via project tools at joomlacode.org.
Joomla recently received recognition for its continued growth when Packt Publishing honored Joomla with its "Top Open Source Content Management System" award. Joomla previously won the same award, the Packt Open Source CMS Award, in 2006 and also won the Packt Best PHP Open Source CMS Award 2007.
Info-Tech Research also recently praised Joomla in October 2011 calling it the "market pillar" of the Web content management market in a report. In the report, Info-Tech confirmed Joomla powers more than 1.5 million websites. These include Citibank, eBay, General Electric and many more.
*Joomla began tracking its CMS downloads in 2007, even though the system was launched in 2005. Furthermore, Joomla's open-source community only tracks English versions of downloads (Joomla is available in at least 64 languages). Considering these two factors alone, the real number of Joomla downloads is presumably much higher than 27 million.
