The following outlines my personal wish list of proposed enhancements and new features for Joomla 6, categorized by functionality and addressing both user needs and potential technical considerations. They are in no specific order.
Overview
Joomla 6 represents an exciting opportunity to further evolve the platform and empower users to build more robust and dynamic websites directly with Joomla's core capabilities. The philosophy of "doing more with core" has gained traction since Joomla 4, allowing users to create complex sites without relying on extensive third-party extensions or templates. While extensions remain vital for specialized functionalities, the next iteration of Joomla should be able to include universally beneficial features that enhance core usability.
Proposed Features and Enhancements
1. Contact Form Module
Problem: The current contact component is limited to creating contact forms on dedicated pages, which is not ideal for modern website designs, particularly single-page sites.
Solution: Introduce a Contact Form Module integrated with the contact component. This module will allow users to place contact forms anywhere on their site while utilizing existing contact data. It will leverage core mail libraries and support mail templates for consistency.
Benefits:
- Increased flexibility for contact form placement.
- Enhanced usability for developers and content creators.
- Remove dependency on standalone third-party modules.
Existing Examples: None in the core; third-party modules are standalone solutions without integration.
2. Enhanced Media Manager with ACL Restrictions
Problem: The current Media Manager has no Access Control List (ACL) restrictions, which can lead to issues in multi-author environments such as accidental deletions or unauthorized access to sensitive media.
Solution: Incorporate ACL-based restrictions directly into the Media Manager. This feature will enable site administrators to define access levels for media folders and files, ensuring secure and organized media management.
Benefits:
- Improved security and media integrity.
- Greater control over media management in multi-user scenarios.
Existing Examples:
3. Integrated Cookie Manager
Problem: Joomla currently lacks a robust, built-in cookie management system, creating compliance challenges for privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR). Previous attempts at creating a native solution, such as a Google Summer of Code project, were unsuccessful due to complexity.
Solution: Adopt and integrate an existing open-source cookie management system into Joomla. This approach minimizes development overhead while ensuring a reliable and maintainable solution.
Benefits:
- Simplifies compliance with privacy regulations.
- Leverages established, well-supported open-source projects.
- Low maintenance burden on Joomla's development team.
Existing Examples:
4. Bootstrap-Specific Modules
Problem: Bootstrap 5.x provides versatile components, but Joomla doesn't have built-in modules to utilize them effectively. This limits non-coders from leveraging Bootstrap's full potential.
Solution: Develop a suite of Bootstrap-specific modules (e.g., pricing tables, carousels, albums) to simplify the implementation of common design elements. These modules would allow users to input data directly into a module and take advantage of these design elements without needing advanced coding skills.
Benefits:
- Increased customisation and flexibility for no-code users.
- Simple implementation of popular Bootstrap components.
Existing Examples: None identified.
5. Site Template Customization
Problem: Joomla’s Cassiopeia template has not evolved to leverage the latest Bootstrap developments, resulting in limited customization options for users.
Solution: Expand Cassiopeia’s customization capabilities by introducing a no-code SCSS compiler and enhanced color scheme management. This will allow site builders to modify variables and colors without external tools or coding knowledge.
Benefits:
- Empower site builders to customise the core template more easily.
- Leverage modern Bootstrap features for improved performance and aesthetics.
- Simplify template management for users of all skill levels.
Existing Examples: None identified.
Technical Considerations
- Maintenance and Support: Each feature introduces additional code that must be maintained over time. A thorough evaluation of development resources and long-term support commitments is essential.
- Compatibility: Ensure new features align with Joomla’s existing architecture and maintain backward compatibility where feasible.
- Community Feedback: Engage the Joomla community to refine and prioritize proposed features based on real-world needs.
Conclusion
Joomla 6 has the potential to set a new standard for core functionality, reducing dependency on third-party extensions while addressing key user pain points. By focusing on these enhancements, Joomla can continue to thrive as a modern and flexible content management system.
These are just my ideas and wishes and I am sure many of you have your own ideas and suggestions. For any of this to be achieved it needs your support. That goes from "buying in" to the suggestions to writing the actual code. I can help and support where I can but as with everything in Joomla it is down to everyone not just the few to achieve anything. This is your opportunity to help make Joomla what you want it to be.
