JED Will Phase Out Joomla 1.0 Extensions in June 2009

Written by Steve Burge

Back in mid-October, the Joomla team announced that they would be slowly phasing out support for Joomla 1.0. The official "end-of-life" date was set for July 22, 2009.

Today we're taking another step on that path. We're planning for the day when Joomla 1.0 extensions will be phased out of the Joomla Extensions Directory (JED).

Timeframe

October 13th 2008: Joomla 1.0 end-of-life date was announced.
March 31st 2009: No more Joomla 1.0 extensions will be accepted into the JED.
June 30th 2009: Joomla 1.0 extensions currently in the JED will be unpublished.
July 22nd 2009: Joomla 1.0 end-of-life.

Why Wait Six Months?

The date is very close to the "end-of-life" date for Joomla 1.0 itself.
We're aiming to give as much as advance warning as possible to Joomla users and developers. Hopefully half-a-year will allow you to make plans and adjustments.

Reasons for the Move

Security. Older extensions are often built using older and potentially unsafe coding methods.
Support. 1.0 has a large number of older and unsupported extensions.
End-of-life. Joomla 1.0 won't be maintained after the July end-of-life date, so it is a logical step to also stop supporting 1.0 extensions.
Focus. Allow Joomla developers to concentrate on developing for the current Joomla 1.5 version and also for 1.6.

Questions

Must I upgrade to Joomla 1.5?

Absolutely not. Personally I have several 1.0 sites that will likely never be upgraded. Migrating a large and complex website isn't a straightforward task and many Joomla 1.0 sites may continue to run happily for years. As the saying goes: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Should I upgrade to Joomla 1.5?

That is a more difficult question. Yes, if you have the time, money and expertise. The codebase for Joomla 1.0 was written in 2003 and so the features and extensions available for 1.5 are several years more advanced than those available for 1.0. Also, because there is no such thing as a totally secure application, it is inevitable that new vulnerabilities in 1.0 will eventually be discovered. With the end of life there will no longer be official releases to address these. There will also be no location from which to download an official copy of Joomla 1.0.x if you ever need to replace yours.

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37 Comments

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FidelGonzales makes this comment

2008-12-22 07:26:43

I once complained about the huge leap from Joomla 1.0 to 1.5. I have many sites running on the older version. But after finally putting some time into the latest 1.5.8 release, I am eager to rid myself of the archaic 1.0 version, and have quickly become annoyed with having to sift through endless 1.0 extensions, most of which are outdated, in search of a 1.5 extension. I applaud your decision and appreciate the time line you have provided. Thanks.
iceman9 makes this comment

2008-12-22 08:15:12

wow that's great to hear that! i really want to move or migrate to joomla 1.015 to 1.5.8 but im in doubt right now because this will take great deal of time of testing the move, which i think is technically challenging.
JoomlaWorks makes this comment

2008-12-22 14:30:19

Personally, I believe that Joomla 1.0 extensions should removed after 6 or more months after the "end of life" date for 1.0. If you don't want the 1.0 extensions be in the way of the newer ones, just add them in a separate link in JED and:
- block new j1.0 submissions
- allow editing of the existing ones (so updates are published)
- have a separate search compared for J1.0

BTW, you don't mention what will happen to the labels "compatible with J1.0", "compatible with J1.5" etc. ShoWill these green and red version labels be removed as well?

We have extensions submitted originally for j1.0 which were then updated to include j1.5 versions as well.

Can you elaborate a bit on this please?

Regards,

Fotis
Vic Drover makes this comment

2008-12-22 15:43:19

Would be great to have a J1.0 archive.
Sonali Agrawal makes this comment

2008-12-22 15:48:16

I don't know if that's a good thing for me and my clients whose websites have been running on Joomla 1.0. My experience says that many of the components of joomla 1.0 still don't run on 1.5 even after legacy is on. I am worried about such a thing happening.
toni font makes this comment

2008-12-22 19:00:55

Please keep a static 1.0 archive!
morgan makes this comment

2008-12-22 21:04:27

Can't come too soon for me, being a 1.5 user, it is very frustrating making one's way through the the zillions of old extensions, getting one's hopes up, and than having them dashed as they don't work. It will encourage the good and fine people who created some of these great things, to update them... that would be great!
Slabbi makes this comment

2008-12-22 21:09:25

Don't think this is a good idea.

There are some commercial (and other) professional websites whose development has cost several thousands of euro. Most of these websites will NOT migrate to Joomla 1.5 over night. From my experience customers will let them run for five or more years.

Of course these sites still need some maintenance, e.g. security updates of 3rd party components. And don't fool yourself or others, there are several components which will never adapted for Joomla 1.5 (and think about all individual components which have been developed for Joomla 1.0 and will not be adapted to 1.5 native).

The EOL period is definitely too short. And removing 1.0 components is quite a bad idea.

Better: implement a way to select what components (1.0 and/or 1.5) are displayed in JED (maybe in the users preferences).
koaweb makes this comment

2008-12-22 22:50:40

Removing them from the JED all together is a mistake. With so many 1.0 sites out there it just doesn't make sense. Ending the official support is understood but abandoning all of those sites running 1.0 is not.

Personally I don't want to upgrade because there are still lots of security issues with 1.5 (according to the number of forum posts) Reminds me of 1.0 before it became completely stable.
Mike Carson makes this comment

2008-12-22 23:03:53

Although I do see the value in clearing our old dead and non updated 1.0 projects, what about the extensions that support both joomla 1.0 AND Joomla 1.5? Are new submissions going to be able to have the 1.0 compatibility icon? I think that there should be some clarity on how the new submissions with be listed.

Regards
GJeffery makes this comment

2008-12-22 23:10:27

Can you not just implement a filter so that, by default, only native 1.5 extensions are shown? But, if you really want to see them, the 1.0 extensions are visible by adjusting the filter. That would be a great feature that would benefit all mankind immediately.
elin.waring makes this comment

2008-12-23 00:41:18

@Mike,

Intersting idea. I'm sure the JED editors will use the next 6 months to think about ideas like yours.
vjtemplates makes this comment

2008-12-23 01:37:36

While this announcement might not be a bad idea, I think Joomla developers should release 1.6 soon. Psychologically, people will automatically upgrade their old 1.0.x version without necessary being forced when they feel they have been left behind too far.
Saber Bousba makes this comment

2008-12-23 03:11:37

the good idea is to have Joomla! 1.0 extensions archive
brad makes this comment

2008-12-23 04:16:51

vjtemplates,
That would be great wouldn't it. If you want to help make this happen and contribute to development, be sure to get in touch with the development workgroup.
Mark makes this comment

2008-12-23 07:35:21

I think it is a great idea. Out witht the old and in with the new.
Creator makes this comment

2008-12-23 11:49:47

We all knew this day was coming. Let's face it, there are many sites out there that may be to big or to complex to migrate to Joomla 1.5. That is why we have put together a small team that is currently working on a project similar to JED. We are going to be offering a place for developers to submit their Joomla 1.0.xx extensions and will also be providing forums for continued support of the Joomla 1.0 series! We will post the site address here and in the Joomla Forums sometime in February of 2009 so that developers may start submitting their extensions. The site will then be opened to the public in April or May of 2009.
Hope to see you then!
Sherif makes this comment

2008-12-23 12:36:33

I don't know what is the purpose of these comments , is there a chance that the team will ever read it and apply some of the useful suggestions here about archiving or filtering but not eradicating a whole IRA of joomla! life ?
personally , i think not !!!!
I'm thinking seriously of giving up on joomla in general , as a result of the non-stop joomla! team wrong decisions and one sided questioned behavior for the last couple of years .

I assure you that there are people at the moment planning to make copies of the 1.0.x JED listing , and may even transload the joomlacode contents and establish online websites and libraries as a paid service for the kicked out users of 1.0.x .
Some of those people are not so far away from here , if you know what i mean
Max makes this comment

2008-12-23 13:00:10

@Creator - That is great that you will be starting an alternative extension directory. I hope that the Joomla! admins will allow you to transfer the existing entries instead of making developers reenter the info. Why?
Porting.
I have had more than one situation where I needed an extension that was not available for Joomla! 1.5. I found a simpler 1.0 extension and ported it to Joomla! 1.5.
In short, I think it is a horrible idea to get rid of the Joomla! 1.0 extensions. The community or the original developer may port/update these for 1.5.
Maybe you could start phasing out 1.0 by getting rid of the download link on the main download page (or at least making it smaller)
Klas Berlic makes this comment

2008-12-23 13:02:01

Can't agree more with these:

Quote:
Don't think this is a good idea.

There are some commercial (and other) professional websites whose development has cost several thousands of euro. Most of these websites will NOT migrate to Joomla 1.5 over night. From my experience customers will let them run for five or more years.

Of course these sites still need some maintenance, e.g. security updates of 3rd party components. And don't fool yourself or others, there are several components which will never adapted for Joomla 1.5 (and think about all individual components which have been developed for Joomla 1.0 and will not be adapted to 1.5 native).

The EOL period is definitely too short. And removing 1.0 components is quite a bad idea.

Better: implement a way to select what components (1.0 and/or 1.5) are displayed in JED (maybe in the users preferences).

The whole story reminds me very much of Microsoft "Use Vista or die" story.. J1.5. is just NOT better enough that would justify this kind of enforcement.
Horus_68 makes this comment

2008-12-23 13:23:30

@ Sherif
Yes we read it (JED editor here). You also have a forum where you can elaborate this with follow ups: http://forum.joomla.org/viewforum.php?f=262Sherif
I dont see the market for the 1.0 only repository... most of that extensions are simple dead! Authors dont even update their infos. When a download link are reported dead... its usually cause for unpublish because authors don't update. Its not easy to mantain 1.0 when the authors don't mantain their extensions. And users keep reporting issues with those extensions.
So the extensions must have, at least, a Joomla 1.5 legacy badge!
The Archive 1.0 could be a good idea but not as a filter system: only a static copy somewere else!
Wilco Jansen makes this comment

2008-12-23 13:23:39

It is always interesting to see people start moving when changes are announced, but when we seek help to man our teams we almost cannot find anyone that actually want to help. Might be missing something here, but I just don't get it.

People have to understand that every piece of software comes to an end. It happened with PHP 4, Windows NT, Wordperfect (remember the good old days?). All we can do is openly communicate about it and give a notice ahead. We are aware aware there still are a lot of 1.0 sites out there, and if people want to continue they are really free to do so. The good thing is we are GPL and you have that freedom to take the source code so you actually can do just that.
Amador Jaso makes this comment

2008-12-23 16:16:15

One more vote for archived. Think it is silly to remove all work that has been done, archiving will allow you to visit the
AndriaD makes this comment

2008-12-23 17:17:17

I'm distraught -- because there is one module I absolutely MUST have, and it hasn't been updated to joomla 1.5 -- the ajax header rotator. From their comments at joomlaworks.gr, the header rotator WON'T be updated, so I repeat, I'm DISTRAUGHT.

I'd also like to point out that one of the major reasons I've decided to go with Joomla rather than Drupal or Wordpress is because of how often Drupal and Wordpress feel compelled to issue updates -- that is just ANNOYING. I saw Joomla still using 1.0 even after 1.5 has come out, and both have been around for some time, and I think, at last, STABLE software that doesn't release a new anti-hack every other week. *sigh* Was I wrong? Is Joomla going to start behaving like Nuke, Drupal, Wordpress, and give us these ridiculous updates every other week, making it virtually impossible to keep one's site up-to-date? I sure hope not. If programs are written right the first time, all these updates are unnecessary (yes, Microsoft, I'm talking to you, too -- they finally have one that works -- XP Pro -- and now they want us to use Vista? I don't think so!!!).

Please don't go down this amateurish track of the constant gratuitous updates.
Joe makes this comment

2008-12-23 17:49:57

I agree that the old files/links should be kept in an archive. Not so much for J1.0 users, but for potential developers to look at the old code as well as an idea base.

There are many good j1.0 programs out there that have not been converted yet to j1.5.

Why re-invent the wheel?
brad makes this comment

2008-12-23 22:17:51

Remember, www.joomlacode.org contains the actual code for many such projects. Google will also help you locate them.

Anyhow, let's see how the next few months go, I am sure the JED editors will end up doing what's best for the community.

Thanks to them, we have such a unique resource that helps to make our project as successful as it is today.
MikeB makes this comment

2008-12-23 22:27:35

Some of my sites are still in J1.0 and as long as you know the process of migrating J1.0 to J1.5 then that would be no problem at all.
Kesepian makes this comment

2008-12-26 10:52:51

If all Joomla 1.0 extensions will be soon removed that means Joomla 1.0 fans have 2 options: to save all 1.0 extensions in their PC or to start migrating to 1.5
Kyle Ledbetter makes this comment

2008-12-28 03:22:58

Our timing is purely coincidental, but we've just opened up our new CMS marketplace/directory www.cmsmarket.com to Authors, so everyone feel free to list your 1.0/1.5 free or commercial items there. You can even sell the items directly through the site if you wish. I know this seems like self promotion (and it is), but I think it's relevant to this conversation.
Kyle Ledbetter makes this comment

2008-12-28 20:58:27

I've been seeing lots of folks requesting a new 3rd party directory and looking for a place that will keep 1.0.x extensions and 1.0/1.5 commercial or non-gpl extensions. By pure coincidence, we've just got our CMS Market to the point where we're ready for authors http://www.cmsmarket.com/

This is self promotion of course, but I just want everyone to know there is a place to list your hard work. The JED has valid reasons to remove the items, and we're here to fill the gap.

We also offer the ability to sell commercial or distribute free items for those who don't have their own site or are looking for an additional pipeline.

Best,
-Kyle
George makes this comment

2009-01-15 17:10:45

I think one thing developers/hard core coders forget is that many of the folks using Joomla are not geeks. We are just content producers looking for an easy way to get our content out there.

It is arrogance and disregard of end users on the level of Microsloth to just decide to totally eliminate the work and applications that have been created before.

Not everyone has the time to research, retest, reinstall and totally redo sites, especially since there is no central standard for having compatible replacements available for all modules, components, mambots etc. Being totally dictatorial and removing access to existing proven apps shows a total disregard and contempt for folks that aren’t not as technically savvy as yourselves, is at the very least very rude and self important.

I do regular backups and know how to use them. I am an adult and can make my own informed decis=ion on what to use, at my own jeopardy.

Please have some concern about the end users who had dedicated hundreds of hours creating content, not just the latest in coding and wiz bang features.
Lithuanian makes this comment

2009-02-03 02:59:37

I'm angry to this news!

AndriaD say true!

" and I think, at last, STABLE software that doesn't release a new anti-hack every other week."

YES! All these updates are UNNECESSARY!!! Very bad idea! Please don't remove Joomla 1.0, i liked it project, it's BEST cms! But not 1,5 Joomla!

I don't like Microsoft Windows Wista (dung!), don't like and joomla 1,5. My best and favorite cms - Joomla 1.0. It's very good work!

I think it is a horrible idea to get rid of the Joomla! 1.0 extensions. It is a necessary cms!

And the EOL period is definitely too short. And removing 1.0 components is quite a bad idea.

"Not everyone has the time to research, retest, reinstall and totally redo sites, especially since there is no central standard for having compatible replacements available for all modules, components, mambots etc." YES!!!

Personally I and my friends don't migrate to joomla 1.5! Very good idea is to have Joomla! 1.0 extensions archive.

Please keep a static 1.0 archive! Thanks.

Joomla enthusiast.
David-Andrew makes this comment

2009-02-15 18:57:32

I agree with the JED team. Time has come to let go and move on. Joomla! 1.5 and 1.6 is the future, that's what we need to focus on.
Joe James makes this comment

2009-03-09 01:37:06

JED just put 1.0 users on death row. I hope you consider an archive of 1.0 extensions. I simply don't like using 1.5.
MyJC makes this comment

2009-05-03 23:04:35

This is great! Continuing to focus time and resources at an old version of software makes no sense. It wasn't fun at first to learn a different way of doing things with v1.5 and it certainly is annoying when there is no extension equivalence in 1.5 for something we had in 1.0, but we adapt, learn and move on. New extensions are coming out all the time for 1.5 and some of the best most innovative stuff I've ever seen in the Joomla / Mambo world are new, powerful, beautiful, and built for 1.5.
Dmitry from Russia makes this comment

2009-06-08 11:40:20

For those who are content with 1.5, let them have extensions for 1.5. It's like with spare parts for cars: even when a manufacturer stops production of a certain model, they continue to make spare parts for years. That's called customer care. Please, leave 1.0 extensions at least as an archive. It'll phase out by itself with years, but there's no substantial reason why JED couldn't keep the old stuff for say another five years. That's what I'd have done. And now I am wondering if I should take time to make a personal archive of 1.0 extensions before it's too late... Don't want to be stuck with 1.5, even if you guys think it's better...
oyunlar makes this comment

2009-07-03 13:20:32

I need it for my v1.5

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