Joomla! 1.6 Released | What to do

Joomla! 1.6 has been released finally! Should you use it? When do you convert?

It is true  - the latest and greatest has been released.

I generally don't migrate to the latest version of release until about batch .5. This is ensure bugs are worked out and that extensions are compatible.

People are asking questions about how the upgrades from Joomla 1.5 to 1.6 are going for client sites. They're also debating whether to build sites in Joomla 1.5 or 1.6 as of this writing (February 2011).

These are great questions to consider, but for 4Web, the answers are very clear.

First of all, Joomla's leadership has made an announcement concerning the roadmap to Joomla 1.7 and 1.8, as well as support of Joomla 1.5. All companies relying on Joomla for their websites need to read this very important post. This deeply impacts your business.

In summary, here are the facts from that post:

• Based on the roadmap, Joomla 1.6 will be in active development through July 2011.
• Joomla 1.7 is due out in July 2011. It will be in active development through January 2012.
• "Joomla 1.8" (not the official name), the next long term stable release, is due in January 2012. That will be supported for a longer period of time than 1.6 or 1.7 -- at least for 15 months.
• Joomla 1.5 is supported through April 2012, when it reaches end of life.
• A migration utility will be available to move sites from Joomla 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7 to "Joomla 1.8".

If you are adopting Joomla 1.6 today, you are using software that will be supported for a SHORTER period of time than Joomla 1.5. You will definitely need to upgrade clients with 1.6 sites to 1.7 or 1.8 at some point. And, given the long timelines for building some sites, 1.7 might be out before you finish your 1.6 site.

Throw in the time it takes 3rd party developers to update their extensions and templates to Joomla 1.6, and then potentially Joomla 1.7, and I think the path is pretty clear.

4Web is not building new sites in Joomla 1.6 or 1.7, unless there is a very compelling reason to do so. For us, that would mean we need the ACL features, or we need the accessibility features that are available in the core. Otherwise, we are building sites in 1.5 until "1.8" is available.

Furthermore, we do not recommend upgrading any existing Joomla 1.5 site to 1.6 or 1.7, unless there is a very compelling reason to do so. Once "Joomla 1.8" is released, and extensions and templates have a chance to catch up, we will be talking with clients about migrating their sites at that time.

Jen Kramer wrote this article. Lisa Girard of Digital Destiny, LLC did not. I am in no way trying to use these words as mine.