Joomla 1.7: A Security benefit or Trouble to Upgrade?
Introduction
Joomla! 1.7 has hit the market recently and is now available to download as an open medium to meet the needs of high end websites. Launched on July 19th, 2011, the latest offering from the Joomla family is available on World Wide Web as a free medium. Like previous versions, the Joomla 1.7 ensures an ease of use for those with even minimum of programming knowledge. The newest version meets the growing security concerns convincingly besides offering a range of features for better experience and results. Easy installation, hassle-free migration to the next version, contemporary security benefits and enhanced site management capacity to the end users are some of the features that have been offered with the latest Joomla 1.7 version. Being the most famous open source Content Management System, Joomla has brought forward the 1.7 version to take care of a wide range of concerns of its existing users to give them good experience and ease.
Why Joomla 1.7?
Security is a big issue these days and nobody is ready to take chances with such a serious matter. With the constantly growing cases of illegal hacking and unauthorized access to valuable information, users across the globe always feel threatened and thus, want a secure system. The newest Joomla 1.7 release is to primarily dispel those remaining security doubts that have often crept inside the minds of the users. Joomla understands the concerns of its millions users from across the globe and the newest launch of 1.7 version is result of that understanding.
With constantly rising clamor of a weak security model, there was an urgent need to launch a new version to extinguish such doubts of security. With the Joomla 1.7 version, security issues are set to be dispelled to an extent, or to be kept at the minimum possible level. Besides offering some good features, the Joomla 1.7 ensures to align the development lifecycle by ensuring a predictable time schedule for the next version, i.e. Joomla 1.8 version.
In a nutshell, With Joomla 1.7 version:
● The CMS installation process becomes as simple as possible
● New versions would be more time-bound and frequent
● Migration to the latest version of Joomla becomes more easy and more frequent
● Security advantages would be available that comes by running the newest code
How Joomla 1.7 is More Beneficial Than 1.6?
Unlike the previous version of 1.6, that took a long 3 years development cycle, the Joomla 1.7 has been launched only after a development period of 6 months. Unlike the 1.6 version, this newest offering does not boast of as many features. But then, Joomla 1.7 is beneficial in many ways when compared to the 1.6 versions, like:
● Enables new developments away from Joomla
● More security protection than ever
● More Ease to upgrade to the next version
● Provides more ease to developers than ever
● More ease for content management
Features
Joomla 1.7 offers some really good features, like:
On-click update
Joomla 1.7 is its one-click update feature
In the previous versions of Joomla, the Webmasters have to download the separate patch file in order to upgrade their Joomla to latest version. On the contrary, Joomla 1.7 includes one-click update feature, which allows users to upgrade the Joomla without any hassle. This will also remove any need of the manual upgrade in the existing management system.
Split platform
The latest version enables users to split the platform from the real CMS thus, paving the way for modification and enhancement outside of Joomla. That split feature would lead developers towards usage of many different development projects for quality development.
Six-Month Release Cycle
Joomla.org already declared to launch 1.8 in next six months. (Courtesy: Joomla.org Website)
Joomla users now have the advantage of active development in every six months as a six-month release cycle has been introduced. The Joomla 1.7 version would have a support term of 15 months to make the process of migration more easy and hassle-free.
Multi-Language Support
With the Joomla 1.7 version, multiple language support is available that would enable the support of various languages at a given point of time. The built-in packs of language will enable different fonts and admin tools for a better working experience and flexibility.
Enhanced security
Joomla 1.7 offers a far more secure way to save operation to remove the doubts of hacking. It would help stop invalid manipulation of the site to add to the security concern of the users globally.
Enhanced coding experience
Joomla 1.7 offers a better coding experience to produce entirely different plug-ins and customized extensions. Developers now have the opportunity to build custom extensions even more easily.
Easy Content Management
The ‘Submit Article’ form will set the article category by design and thus, the content won’t be accidentally inserted to the false page on a website.
Compatibility Issues
With the launch of Joomla 1.7, users are bound to have a range of doubts related to their sites and existed versions. New users, existing users and would-be migrating users will all have doubts in galore for various reasons. The doubts would be more concerned with the issue of compatibility, like:
Joomla 1.6 to 1.7 Migration Issue
After one month of the launch of the 1.7 version, Joomla 1.6 will not be updated for security purposes and thus, the existing users of 1.6 won’t get any further help from the Joomla. So it would be a better step for the existing 1.6 users to migrate to the newly-launched version of 1.7.
Joomla 1.5 to 1.7 Migration Issue
It’s to be noted that the next version of Joomla 1.8 will be released in January 2012 and the 1.5 version has a support date till April 2012. As a result, anyone looking to switch from Joomla 1.5 to 1.7 must use own prudence to come to conclusion. If the 1.5 version is going well, there is no need to switch.
Which version to choose for fresh sites?
If anyone looking to build a new site, he/she must choose the latest version of Joomla 1.7 instead of 1.5 for cost-saving measures and benefits. With the next version of 1.8 is slated to release in six months time, a switch would be inevitable and vital. If you don’t have any website at the moment, then you must pick 1.7 Version to save money while switching to the next version.
1.7 version and hacking dangers
The newest version of Joomla 1.7 has been launched to deal with the constantly growing security issues and to avoid any danger of hacking. The existing Websites on 1.6 version will have a higher risk of being hacked and in that case, there won’t be any other remedy available than to switch to the 1.7 version.
1.7 version and extensions benefits
The Joomla 1.7 version will keep adding extensions that would not be available to the 1.6 users, if the switch is not made. More so, changing template would not be that easy if migration is not done. Though, the existing extensions that are 1.6 compatible as of now won’t pose any issues in the 1.7 version.
Why or Why Not Upgrade to Joomla 1.7?
With the launch of Joomla 1.7, one question is doing the round: upgrade or not. The decision in this regards calls for evaluation of the needs and functionality of the website.
Advantages
● Security is the foremost issue that would be solved to an extent if one decides to upgrade to the newest Joomla 1.7 version from the existing version.
● Cost-saving would be another vital factor that is met once the decision to upgrade to Joomla 1.7 has been taken
● An amplified support- time would be availed
● Developers now can build new applications with the Joomla framework
● One click migration is possible
Disadvantages
● More security risks and more hacking chances
● Cost would be more once migration is expected at later stages
● No advantages of extensions
Conclusions
High-end websites have become the need of the hour and thus, users must find an open source medium that enables the same advantage. Joomla is one of the most popular open source CMS and thus, steadily offers versions to meet the needs of the current day users and developers. The Joomla 1.7 version has been outfitted with some extensive features that were earlier not present and thus, ensures fine working experience. Joomla 1.7 scores for its favorable SEO settings, unique search facility and multiple language support systems. Thus it’s the right time to opt for the Joomla 1.7 version to give a new dimension to your websites.
