Review: Joomla 3.5

Introduction

Joomla 3.5, released in March 2016, marked a significant milestone in the development of the popular open source content management system. With a long history dating back to 2005, Joomla has established itself as one of the leading platforms for web developers, designers and content managers. Joomla 3.5 not only brought numerous improvements and new features, but also laid the foundation for future developments by further optimizing the user experience, performance and security. This review provides a comprehensive look at the innovations and improvements that came with Joomla 3.5 and how they influenced working with Joomla.

New features and improvements

Joomla 3.5 introduced a number of significant innovations and improvements that made the system more attractive to both end users and developers. The most prominent features included:

• PHP 7 Support : One of the most significant improvements in Joomla 3.5 was full compatibility with PHP 7, the latest version of the PHP language. This support resulted in a significant increase in performance, with sites running on Joomla 3.5 able to be up to twice as fast as on previous PHP versions. This not only meant improved loading times for users, but also potentially lower server costs for website operators.

• Email notifications for updates : Joomla 3.5 introduced a new feature that notified administrators via email when new updates were available for their Joomla installation. This feature improved website security and maintenance by ensuring administrators were informed of the latest patches and updates.

• Drag-and-drop images : Another useful feature was the ability to drag and drop images directly into the article editor, which greatly simplified and sped up the image integration process. This ease of use greatly improved the content management experience.

• Collect statistical information : Joomla 3.5 introduced an optional feature that collected anonymous statistical data about users' server environment. This should help Joomla developers better tailor the platform to the needs of their user base.

• Export system information : Administrators could now easily export system information, improving troubleshooting and support. This feature was particularly useful for developers and technical support teams who helped diagnose and resolve issues.

These improvements in Joomla 3.5 were appreciated not only for their functionality, but also because they improved the overall user experience and prepared the platform for future technologies. Combining performance improvements, enhanced usability and new, convenient features, Joomla 3.5 represents a significant step forward.

User experience

The user experience in Joomla 3.5 received a significant boost with the new features and improvements. The optimizations aimed to make the platform more intuitive, accessible and easier to use on a daily basis.

• Improved user interface : Joomla 3.5 relied on a clearer and more user-friendly interface that made navigation and content management easier. Optimizing menu structures and clearly labeling functions helped new users find their way around more quickly and provided experienced users with a more efficient way of working.

• Drag-and-drop functionality : The introduction of drag-and-drop uploading for images was a huge win for usability. This feature allowed users to insert media content directly into articles and modules with minimal clicks and without the previous detour through complex upload dialogs.

• Responsive Backend : The backend of Joomla 3.5 has been further optimized to ensure better display and usability on various devices, including tablets and smartphones. This improvement allowed website administrators and content managers to manage their pages more flexibly and regardless of location.

• User-centric updates : The introduction of email notifications of available updates, as well as the ability to easily export system information, helped simplify the management of Joomla websites. These features were particularly helpful for users managing multiple websites, allowing for better visibility and more efficient maintenance.

These improvements in user experience not only made Joomla 3.5 more attractive to new users looking for a powerful but easy-to-use CMS, but also increased the loyalty of existing users by showing that their needs and feedback are being addressed.

Performance and safety

Joomla 3.5 also brought significant advances in performance and security, two aspects that are crucial to the smooth functioning of any website.

• PHP 7 support : As already mentioned, one of the most important improvements was the support of PHP 7. This not only brought a significant increase in performance, but also improved efficiency in resource consumption, which is particularly important for websites with high traffic and on shared hosting environments role played.

• Security Updates : Joomla 3.5 included several important security updates that addressed known vulnerabilities and improved the overall security of the platform. These updates were part of the Joomla development team's ongoing effort to protect the platform against new threats and attack vectors.

• Improved caching mechanisms : Optimizing the caching mechanisms in Joomla 3.5 helped reduce loading times and improved the overall performance of websites. These improvements were particularly important for complex websites with rich content and high traffic.

These performance and security improvements ensured that Joomla 3.5 provided not only a productive but also a reliable and secure web publishing environment.

Comparison with previous versions

Joomla 3.5 clearly stands out from its previous versions with its new functions and improvements. The comparison highlights the platform's continued evolution and shows how Joomla has responded to user feedback and technological trends.

• Performance improvement with PHP 7 : One of the most noticeable features of Joomla 3.5 compared to previous versions was the support for PHP 7. This brought a significant performance increase that was not available in previous versions that ran on older versions of PHP. This improvement made Joomla 3.5 one of the fastest versions of the CMS.

• User Experience and Usability : Joomla 3.5 made great strides in terms of user experience and usability. The drag-and-drop functionality for media content and the improved user interface were significant steps forward that simplified content management and made it more efficient.

• Security and Maintenance : The introduction of email notifications for updates and improved security features in Joomla 3.5 provided better protection against security threats and simplified website maintenance. These aspects were not as pronounced in previous versions or required additional extensions.

• Technological adaptations : Joomla 3.5 reflected adaptation to technological developments, not only through PHP 7 support, but also through improvements in responsive display and system information export functions. These adjustments ensured that Joomla kept pace with the needs of modern web development and user expectations.

Compared to its predecessors, Joomla 3.5 offered a more robust, user-friendly and powerful platform tailored to the needs of modern websites.

Conclusion

Joomla 3.5 represented an important turning point in the evolution of the Joomla CMS. With its support for PHP 7, enhanced user experience features, performance improvements and security updates, Joomla 3.5 set new standards in performance, security and usability. This release demonstrated not only Joomla's ability to adapt to technological developments, but also the Joomla community's commitment to responding to the needs and feedback of its users.

The introduction of Joomla 3.5 not only improved efficiency and security for end users and developers, but also increased confidence in Joomla as a flexible, powerful and future-proof web development and content management platform. The further developments and improvements in Joomla 3.5 provided a solid foundation for future versions and innovations within the Joomla community.

With this comprehensive review of Joomla 3.5, we have provided a detailed look at its features, improvements and overall impact on the Joomla platform and its users. Joomla 3.5 marks a significant step forward and remains an important chapter in the history of Joomla.