Joomla 4 RC3 download is available for testing. JoomlArt team have researched and got you some FAQs for your concerns about this new upgrades. We will keep posting new questions and answers frequently.
Joomla 4 Frequent asked questions
1. Vision and direction for the release of Joomla 4 comes from?
1.1 Deprecated code:
It's been 5 years ago we started using Joomla 3.0 and on regular interval of time we have updates for Joomla 3.0 to 3.8 till now, There is changes in the PHP version as well. In This 3.x series update for Joomla there are alot of code changes has been done, There is 1000 of deprecated classes, functions are found in Joomla 3.8.x that becomes a problem for developers to work on development for Joomla with legacy code and outdated documentations.
1.2 Responsive Joomla user interface:
In 2012 a new Joomla interface is introduced. It's the first Responsive CMS backend. Nowadays all CMS offers the responsive backend and Joomla needs to improve its backend more stylish and responsive to increase the flexibility and stability, The Integration of Bootstrap 5 in Joomla will give it a new look, before Joomla is using Bootstrap 2 .The new Media manager in Joomla 4 is purely based on JavaScript framework with a lot of new Features.
2. The release of Joomla 4 and development status
2.1 What is Joomla 4 RC released for?
Joomla 4 RC version is released for testing and development of extensions and templates. It help extension developers to test their extensions on the new Joomla version, report all the bugs and get them fixed well before the final version release.
2.2 What is this version NOT for?
Joomla 4 RC3 release is for testing ONLY. Not suitable for production sites as there will be lots of changes in coming versions.
2.3 How can you help Joomla development?
Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a developer to help build Joomla. As long as you could help with sorting bug reports, coding patches and testing solutions, definitely the Joomla Bug Squad always welcome you in the Joomla development process. Furthermore, it’s a great way for enhancing your working knowledge of Joomla, and also a nice way to network with new people from all walk of life.
2.4 When Joomla 4 stable is available?
There is no fixed date for stable version release. Joomla 4 is still being actively developed and will be released soon down the line.
1.5 What is Roadmap for Joomla 4 release ?
Currently Joomla 4 development is under process to implement new features, New Media manager has been already completed. The focus is going on the further development in the Joomla 4 backend development to make it fully ready for bootstrap 5 . There is no specific date to release yet, we are expecting Joomla 4 release in 2021.
Update : The latest version of RC 3 has been released for Joomla 4 and we expecting a new RC release in every 2 weeks till stable version.
Want to get more information?
If you are an extension developer, you can subscribe to Joomla's general developer mailing list, a place for extension development discussion, to get the latest update. Useful news and information will be posted here frequently.
Following is a list of sites of interest:
3. Joomla 4 New Features
3.1 What are the main benefits in Joomla 4?
Joomla 4 comes with a lot of improvements and new features. The main benefits for the users A new flexible Admin dashboard, New media Manager, New Joomla front end and backend template and Accessibility support. On the other hand it's also helpful for developers as Bootstrap 5 integration will allow developers to create new designs.
3.2 What’s new in Joomla 4.0 so far?
There are lots of new features introduced in the Joomla 4 beta. Here is list of Joomla 4 main features:
- Bootstrap 5 Integration
- More friendly Back-end UI
- Coding improvements
- New front-end template and back-end template
- New Media manager
- Simplified installation process
- Faster page loading times
- Features to improve SEO
Checkout more details about Joomla 4 new features:
3.3 What does Joomla 4 front-end look like?
Joomla 4 introduced 1 new front-end template: cassiopeia, the template integrates Bootstrap 5 and responsive.
Joomla 4 template layout structure
New front-end template
View Joomla 4 Template Layout Structure →
For more information about Joomla 4 front-end template, read the full article →
3.4 What does Joomla 4 back-end look like?
Joomla 4 introduced 1 new back-end template: atum with Bootstrap integration, improved user interface, responsive and working better in mobile.
More friendly back-end interface on Joomla 4
More Joomla 4 back-end screenshots:
Articles Manager
Add new article page
Module Manager
Joomla 4 global configuration
Read more: Joomla 4 back-end preview: outstanding improvements →
3.5 What are Joomla 4 key features?
After trying Joomla 4 , here're the key features of Joomla 4 that I want to share with you!
New Media Manager
The rebuilt Media Manager in Joomla 4 comes with more friendly user interface and more advanced features:
- Multiple files drag and drop uploading
- More tools. to manage files: edit name, file preview, file properties
- Built-in image edition tool: crop images, resize image, rotate images
Joomla 4 new media manager
Read more: Joomla 4 New Media Manager: How it helps manage media files →
Simplified and fresh installer
Joomla 4 installation processs will be improved to be clean and simpler with 6 simple steps, the sample data and multilingual installation are included in the "Customize Installation" panel.
Joomla 4 fresh installer
Read more: How to install Joomla 4 on localhost →
High coding quality
Joomla 4 will have clean codebase and high coding quality, over 1000 deprecated classes and functions in Joomla 3.8.
3.6 PHP support: Why Joomla 4 supports minimum PHP 7?
PHP 7 was a major release for the PHP language used for developing websites and online applications. It is estimated that over 80% of websites relies on some version of PHP, fully or to some extent. Look at the comparisons:
- PHP 7 can outpace PHP 5.6 roughly twice as fast
- Request Execution: When Joomla 4 runs on PHP 7, it can execute twice as many requests per second compared to Joomla 3 running on PHP 5.6.
- PHP 7 runs more efficiently requiring less resources. That in turn can lower maintenance costs and even reduce energy consumption
Read more: Joomla 4 and PHP 7: What Are The Benefits? →
3.7 How're Joomla 3 features compared to Joomla 4 features?
Here're 15 new things to take note for the comparison:
- Bootstrap 2 vs. Bootstrap 5
- LESS vs. SASS
- Responsive vs. mobile-first
- More simplified installation process
- Media manager: fully rebuilt Media Manager
- Default Front-end template: 2 vs. 1
- Default Back-end template: 2 vs. 1
- Mootools and NO Mootools
- Minimum PHP version require: PHP 5.3 and PHP 7
- Back-end navigation: horizontal vs vertical collapse menu
- Responsive Back-end UI: compatible and mobile-first
- Performance / loading time: Good vs. better
- Technologies: outdated vs. latest
- Coding quality: clean and well optimized
- Security features: More features added
3.8 JomSocial On Joomla 4. What to expect?
- First Adjustments
- Changes in Navigation
- Core Changes & Compatibility Layers
- Addons & Third-Party Integrations
- Themes
- Upgrade
3.9 What in Joomla 4 can be improved?
Media Manager
Joomla 4 new media manager will be improved to make it even better: restyling the media form field, adding file downloads and moving/copying files.
Backend Template
The style of the new Joomla 4 back-end template will be improved (style and workflow) and it will be compliant with Level AA of WCAG 2.0
Codebase and performance
As mentioned, the focus of Joomla 4 is coding quality and performance, the Joomla team is working hard to optimize codebase and improve performance so we can expect that, stable version will work much better.
4. Upgrade Information
4.1 What users should expect when upgrading from 3.x to 4?
Upgrading Joomla from one version to another becomes hard for users when the extensions were not supported with Joomla version, In the Joomla 4, developers have RC version already out to test the extensions on it. In Joomla 3.10 there is also an feature that will allow developers to check the compatibility of extension with Joomla 4. The upgrade to Joomla 4 will give a new flexible system with bootstrap 5 that is fast, stable and has less amount of code.
4.2 Should I plan to upgrade to Joomla 4.0?
Joomla 4.0 is major version so Joomla team will release Joomla 3.9 together with Joomla 4 with the last minor release of Joomla 3 and from Joomla 3.9, user can upgrade to Joomla 4. Joomla 3.9 will be supported for 2 years so you will have quite lots of time to plan for migration to Joomla 4 and update your extensions to Joomla 4.
4.3 How to upgrade to Joomla 4?
The procedure is quite simple, you need to upgrade your Joomla site to Joomla 3.9 (Joomla 3.9 will be released together with Joomla 4) and from Joomla 3.9, you can upgrade your site to Joomla 4. A note that you have to make sure template and extensions in your site are compatible with Joomla 4.
4.4 What if I can't upgrade?
An important thing to remember is that Joomla! 3.9, the last scheduled 3.x release, will be supported for two years after its release. Similarly for Joomla! Framework users, the Framework 1.x packages will be supported for roughly the same timeframe (especially as the CMS has inbuilt dependencies to many Framework packages). Again, assuming Joomla! 4.0 releases in 2018, this means you can run your Joomla! 3 site comfortably until 2020. By 2020, you should upgrade your Joomla version as soon as possible as not only will your Joomla version no longer be supported, but most PHP versions that will run Joomla! 3 will be unsupported, as will many server software packages and distributions.
5. Summary
Joomla 4 RC has been released and the stable Joomla 4 would be released soon.
Joomla 4 will introduce new features, raise the minimum supported PHP version to PHP 7, Media Manager rebuilt as well as remove previously deprecated functionality. Joomla 4.0 uses Joomla! Framework 2.0 and new User Interface is based on Bootstrap 5.
Have you tried Joomla 4? Do you have any thoughts, ideas or questions? Leave them in the comments below so we can answer you or open some discussion.
Know more about Joomla 4:
- Joomla 4 New Back-end Preview: Outstanding Improvements
- Joomla 4 new Front-end template Preview – cassiopeia template
- [INFOGRAPHIC] 9 exciting Joomla 4 new features introduction
- 8 most exciting Joomla 4 new features
- Joomla 4 New Media Manager: How it helps manage media files
- JomSocial on Joomla 4: What to expect?