Exploring Joomla 3.x Episode Guide

I thought it would be convenient to list all the episodes in one place to allow you to read a quick synopsis of the episode.  This way, you can skip around if you like, or perhaps there is something in particular you are looking for.  If a particular Episode interests you, you can click the TV Icon to the left to watch it.

television icon 64x64Episode 001 - Installing LAMP on Ubuntu 16.04

In this episode I show you how to set up a LAMP server on Ubuntu 16.04 to be used for local software development.  In addition to the LAMP server, we install a virtual host to a folder to the desktop, set up Apache to run as our local user to avoid some of the more common permission issues.  We set up PHP so that it will display errors and install PHP's xDebug software to enable getting a stack trace.  We install phpMyAdmin to give a convenient way of accessing the MySQL database withough using the CLI program mysql to do it.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 39 Minutes 29 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 002 - Installing NetBeans on Ubuntu 16.04

In this episode I install the NetBeans IDE on Ubuntu 16.04.  Programmers should have tools at their disposal to do the task they need to do as efficiently as possible.  An IDE like NetBeans will make developing Joomla extensions a little easier on you.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 12 Minutes 57 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 003 - Installing Joomla! 3.x on Ubuntu 16.04

In this episode I download and install the Joomla! CMS on Ubuntu 16.04 development server.  I show how to create the database via phpMyAdmin for Joomla to use and go through the install screens and the options they offer.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 20 Minutes 01 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 004 - Importing Joomla in NetBeans as a Project

In this episode, I add the Joomla site we installed as a project in NetBeans.  This allows you to navigate around the Joomla software and explore the classes and other structures of Joomla.  Additionally, as we code extensions for Joomla it will better enable us to look at our code and how it will interact with Joomla.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 11 Minutes 07 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 005 - The Joomla 3.x File System Layout

In this episode I cover the files and folders that Joomla installs.  I discuss what the folders are used for and the files that are in the folder with them.  Additionally, I talk about the site, administrator and installation applications that Joomla runs.

Category: A Walk in the Weeds (Joomla Discussion)
Runtime: 24 Minutes 30 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 006 - The Joomla 3.x Execution Cycle

In this video we explore Joomla's execution cycle. It covers loading the framework, building the application document, where the component gets run, loading the template, running the modules and finally sending the finished document to the uiser.

Cetegory: A Walk in the Weeds (Joomla Discussion)
Runtime: 19 Minutes 35 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 007 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 1

In this episode we discuss the bare minimum required to write a Site module for Joomla 3.x.  It discusses when and how a module is run, the folder layout for modules and installing and viewing your module on the front end.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 26 Minutes 43 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 008 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 2

In this episode I cover some items that were left out from the basic minimalist Joomla module.  I talk about the adding the meta-data to the manifest file that will allow Joomla to display some additional information to the site administrator about the module and provide information about the author, email, license and copyright of your work.  Additionally, I talk about two security issues that prevent a user on the Internet from listing files on your server and executing your module outside the Joomla environment.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 19 Minutes 48 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 009 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 3

In this episode we create a new module in earnest while using our first module as a tool to speed up the process of creating a module. I discuss internationalization with language strings and layouts. You can download the source code for this episode by going to this episode's page.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 36 Minutes 46 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 010 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 4

In this episode I create the database table using phpMyAdmin and LibreOffice Calc in order to generate the SQL that Joomla will need to install and populate the table for the Random Quote module to use. I also cover the changes that need to be made to the SQL file as it comes from an export from phpMyAdmin so that Joomla can use it. Finally, I cover the additions to the modules manifest file that are needed to copy the new code over and to get Joomla to both install the table and data to the database and if the user elects to uninstall the module, to run the code to remove the table and it's data that we added. You can get source code and other stuff for this series by visiting my website. The source code for this specific episode can be found by going to this episodes page.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 43 Minutes 51 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 011 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 5

In this episode we talk a little about MVC (Model, View, Controller) pattern and how the concept applies to a Joomla Module.  I implement the helper class and talk about using the database with Joomla.  The code is written to randomly grab a quote from the database and it is displayed to the front end user.  Source code for this episode and the PDF can be downloaded by going to http://myheap.com/electronics/exploring-joomla-3-x/writing-modules-for-joomla-3-x/creating-a-site-module-part-5.html. The source code for this episode can be downloaded from this episode's page.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 49 Minutes 35 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 012 - Joomla Updates, Upgrades and Extensions ... Oh My!

In this episode I cover diagnosing an issue with PHP when a server update has been done.  Edits are made to the php.ini file to resolve the issue long enough for it to be fixed.  I explain how to do a one click update to Joomla to upgrade from v3.5.1 to v3.6.0.  Next I cover the installation and use of Akeeba Backup to allow us to make backups of the site.  Finally, I cover downloading or transferring the backup from the site to a safe location.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 25 Minutes 59 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 013 - Restoring a Backup of Your Website

In this episode I show you how to create an additional virtual host to test your Joomla backup.  I introduce Akkeba's kickstart application for restoring backups made with Akkeba Backup.  Remember, you can download these tutorials from my website located at www.myheap.com.

Category: Development Tools
Runtime: 25 Minutes 29 Seconds

television icon 64x64Episode 014 - Creating a Site Module for Joomla 3.x - Part 6

In this Episode I cover how to add parameters to a Joomla Module.  I discuss where they are stored in the Joomla database, accessing them programmatically, uses of parameters, Joomla fields that are available and more.  To get the source code for this tutorial or a downloadable PDF of this tutorial, please visit this tutorials page by going to ths link.

Category: Writing Modules for Joomla 3.x
Runtime: 57 Minutes 56 Seconds