Joomla works beautifully — if you live in the right part of the world, speak the right language, and have the right kind of time.
Joomla prides itself on being global, open, and inclusive. In this article, I ask a question that may make some people uncomfortable: what if that promise only holds true for people like us?
This is not an attack on Joomla, nor a complaint dressed up as theory. Joomla is 20 years old, it's no longer a young upstart and this article is an invitation to slow down, question what we take for granted, and examine how power, privilege, and convenience quietly determine who Joomla works for and who is expected to struggle in silence.
When we describe Joomla as global, open, and inclusive, we rarely stop to ask what those words actually mean in practice. To answer that honestly, we need to look at the environment Joomla exists within. The concept of the Wealthy Western Web helps make this visible.
The Wealthy Western Web is not a conspiracy or a moral failing. It is the result of history, economics, and infrastructure. Most of the internet is built by people in wealthy, Western countries, using Western assumptions about language, time, access, and behaviour. Joomla is no exception. The myth of a truly global web survives only because those who are excluded from it are largely invisible to those who design, maintain, and govern it.
We like to tell ourselves a reassuring story about Joomla and the web it inhabits: that anyone can participate, contribute, and benefit equally. The reality is less flattering. Joomla, like most software projects, works best for people who are already well-positioned to engage with it. Its priorities, workflows, and culture are shaped by the real world experience of its most active contributors and not by the billions of people who exist outside that bubble.
The Myth: Joomla Works for Everyone
Joomla’s official messaging celebrates openness and community. It suggests that anyone, anywhere, can download, extend, and contribute with equal ease.
In theory, that is true. In practice, Joomla carries an invisible set of expectations. It assumes reliable internet, modern devices, fluent English, and the time, ability, and confidence to follow long discussions, navigate issues, and participate in governance. It assumes familiarity with Western collaboration norms and the capacity to engage consistently over long periods.
Joomla is available in almost all languages which is an impressive technical achievement. Translating the software removes one barrier but it doesn't make a project universal when virtually all discussions and meetings take place only in English.
Time zones add another, often ignored, barrier. Most Joomla conversations, meetings, and live activities happen during Western Europe and Continental America working hours. For contributors in Asia and Australasia, these events often happen while they are asleep. Being perpetually out of sync means being late to the party, missing critical discussions, and having less influence on decisions. If the rhythms of the project revolve around one part of the world others will always be on the margins perpetually playing catch up.
The myth of global openness persists because those impacted by these constraints are rarely visible in decision-making spaces.
Who Joomla Really Works For
Joomla reflects the priorities and realities of those most able to participate. Its design, governance, and culture reward people who are time-rich, confident, and culturally aligned with Western norms. These dynamics influence which problems are seen as urgent, which users are considered typical, and which frustrations are quietly normalized.
When we say, “Joomla is for everyone,” we often mean, “Joomla works best for people like us.” This is rarely intentional, but it has consequences. Some users struggle unnecessarily. Some contributors never move beyond the periphery. Their absence is mistaken for disinterest rather than exclusion.
If we do not ask who we are building Joomla for, the answer is decided by default. Defaults are never neutral. They shape the CMS itself, influence governance, and define community culture. Every design decision, policy, and governance choice carries a message about who is welcome and who is expected to struggle.
Ignoring this is not innocence; it is indifference.
A Call to Joomla Contributors and Maintainers
We should ask who Joomla is truly easy for and who it quietly demands the most from. We should examine who shows up consistently, who burns out, and who never makes it past the edges of participation. We should scrutinize how decisions are made and who is present when they are made. We should consider how long it takes to be heard, how forgiving the project is to people who cannot centre Joomla in their lives, and how timing affects participation.
We do not need to make Joomla perfect or universal. But we must be honest about who it currently serves. If Joomla only works smoothly for people like us, that is not a technical problem. It is the answer to the question we keep avoiding: who are we really building Joomla for, and how?
Disclaimer: I write this from a position of privilege. I live in the UK, English is my first language, I have fast internet, and I have access to modern hardware. My experience shapes how I see Joomla, and I acknowledge that contributors and users with different circumstances face challenges I do not experience. This critique is offered with the awareness that my perspective is limited, but I hope it prompts the project to consider those who are less visible and less empowered.
