What is Joomla

Understanding Joomla

1. What is Joomla?

Joomla is a Content Management System (CMS) that is built using PHP (PHP Hypertext Processor). The history of the emergence of Joomla is because there is a bit of "conflict" between develop (the developer) Mambo with the founder (the programmer) Mambo. Party founder wishes to form a company called Mambo Foundation, but the developers didn't agree cause they reasoned that if The Mambo has been handled by a company automatically Mambo will become a commercial software.

Joomla Logo

Whereas the early destination Mambo is free (free of charge) to everyone and everyone can use, duplicate, or even modified. Such conditions lead to the develop who has the responsibility and conscience to the user to make them leave the management of Mambo. Which in the end develop those who do not agree to join and create a software "counter" Mambo. Then created a software that has the same shape and function exactly called Joomla.

Almost the entire module and component for Mambo can be used also in Joomla. Although the program using php language, does not mean to understand all about php code. For they do not understand the code HTML, Javascript, ASP, CGI, or PHP should not be afraid to study because despite not knowing about these codes, anyone can create a web in an instant with some features that are very complex, Joomla can be used to create the site:

• Portal
• Commercial
• Non-profit
• Personal

Diverse applications can be created using Joomla for a number of skills, including:

1. Can update the article pages, main page, news page,  and archive pages quickly.
2. It can view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PDF.
3. You can add a new menu on the main menu, other navigation, or top menu easily
4. Can set web link quickly and easily.
5. Can set the banner (advertising).
6. Can set the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
7. Can set Newsflashes
8. Create an archive and recast
9. Can print, send articles via email, and read the article in PDF format.
10. Can the user set different levels of access levels.
11. Can add templates, components, and modules from third parties (such as: forums, calendar, reminder, agenda, guestbook (guest book), shopping carts, etc.).

Joomla design differs from similar applications such as Microsoft FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver. Joomla is very flexible, easy to use, and simple shape, makes the software very user friendly for beginner because:

1. Easy to setup / installation.
2. Having a simple administrator interface to manage the contents of the site (website).
3. Easy to use for editing (add, modify, and delete) content and images.
4. Flexible to set the display front end.
5. Flexible to add new components and modules from third parties.

As has been previously explained that you no longer need to know the concept of making web with HTML, XML and DHTML, simply enter content and the image you want shown into the site. Even webmasters do not need to understand FTP program to upload data because Joomla has been able to handle it.

2. Prerequisites

Joomla can function well if supported by other application programs such as: Apache (as a web server), PHP (as interpreter code), and MySQL (a database). These three elements are required to install in your computer if you want to run Joomla. So when  You create a site offline (localhost or 127.0.0.1) need a server. Each application have different functions. This book will not discuss the installation of Apache, PHP, and MySQL. You can install the software themselves. To download Apache httpd software you can visit: MySQL in mysql.com, Apache in apache.org, and PHP in php.net. There are several programs that can serve as a mini server (often referred to as server kit) is a Uniform Server Uniserver), PHP Triad, Jack (work of the nation), and AppServe. The fourth program was able to run Joomla because it constitutes a necessary component of Joomla. Of the many servers, author recommended Unform Server (Uniserver) because it can work stably. However you can also use other programs as desired.

3. Uniform Server

Uniform Server 3.2.a (Uniserver 3.2a) is a program consisting of several applications such as MySQL, PHP,  Perl and Apache, . The program functions like a mini-server that can run the code for the web like php, Perl, CGI, or ASP. As we know, an absolute requirement to be referred to as the server is able to translate the language created in the Client next us then translate and transmit the message delivered to the web browser like mozilla. google chrome or IE such as what is desired by the makers of the site. And a server, generally have to provide some program language interpreters, as mentioned above. The program is similar to the Uniform Server PHPTriad and Jack. The installation process was completely easy and doesn't need to be installed into the computer. You simply copy (duplication) into one disk drive (C or D). Then you only put a Joomla installation files into one folder.