Twitter
Fri
25
Apr
'08
PDF
Print
Send
 
Hits (13359) | Comments (4) | Favorited (2) | Votes (0)

Joomla 1.5 getting more and more popular and more and more components supports is. Some of them in obvious legacy mode and some of them claim as Native. But what this word really means. We discoverer that just the fact that component works without legacy mode turned on does not means it is native. Below is a list of definitions that we believe can help developers create more compatible and standard extensions.

Joomla Nativity Standards (JNS)

Designing DB

  1. Every table should contain published field where it is applicable
  2. Every table should contain checked_out and checked_out_time fields if this table records managed in backed.
  3. Every table should contain access field where it is applicable

Development

  1. Component should be developed in complete MVC model of Joomla 1.5 taking in account all Joomla MVC standards
    1. MVC implementation should be done through core Joomla JController, JView, JModel classes.
    2. File structure should conform
  2. In administration component should use Joomla core Toolbar to create Functional buttons
  3. Every list of records have to have checkin and checkout functionality implemented to prevent double editing record at the same time.
  4. Every list of records should have published/unpublished opportunity
  5. Every list of records should have access column where it is applicable and its implementation should work in frontend.
  6. All error messages should be outputted through JError class

Styling Admin

  1. All standard toolbar buttons functions like publish, unpublish save, apply, close, edit, etc should use template images
  2. Custom button icon should be in the same style
  3. You should think out interface using Joomla interface elements like Sliders, Tabs, Toolbar, ... as much as possible
  4. Generating tables and forms standard CSS classes like admintable, adminform, ... should be used
  5. Everything component generate and display either in back-end or front-end should be formatted with appropriate core Joomla classes that should guaranty best outlook with any template.
  6. Personal formatting may be used but it should not format colors and borders
By one word all this above tells that your component in admin should looks & feel like core Joomla component. When users use it, they should intuitively understand this except where it is very specific. I mean at least ow to create new item or delete it, should not be the question.

Styling Frontend

  1. All elements rendered on frontend should be formated by core Joomla CSS classes. For example main title: .componentheading, subtitle: .contentheading, data/time: .createdate, .modifydateand so on.
  2. Special attention to format tables that list items. Do not forget table classes like .sectiontableheader, .sectiontableentry1, .sectiontableemtry2. I noted that many ignore that.
  3. Elements should be placed on the page in general Joomla style.

 By one word, user should not think a lot how to adopt component to looks great in his currect template but jut inastall component and use it. I mean that even if user need to edit template just to change positions and order of elements but not color and font size.


Comments
avatar
Quote
- -
Written by Omar Ramos on 30 May 2008

I think that this document could be very useful (and if it also had some examples it'd be great for new developers too :-).

There aren't too many mistakes either (some minor typos here and there but overall it made perfect sense to me).

-
avatar
Quote
- -
Written by Almas on 22 June 2008

Hello, 

Thanks for the nice clarification.

 

Thanks

Almas 

-
avatar
Quote
- -
Written by Andrey on 05 July 2008

I think this post must be included in wikipedia for better use.

Thanks.

 

-
avatar
Quote
- -
Written by Alimul on 06 August 2008

I think developer should work more for it

-
Add New Comment
Name:
Email:
Comment:
Attachment
Hide Comment
Security code:
Enter text as you see on image
 
 
What is best way for Download/Installation MightyExtensions?
 


Member Area



Member Activity

We have 1597 guests and 3 members online


MightyTemplate - Professional Joomla Templates