Learning Joomla! Extension Development: Creating Modules, Components, and Plugins with PHP

As a developper, this book help me a lot to start in Joomla. I appreciate reading for several reasons: 1) it is 100% Joomla, no PHP or SQL explanation. If a needed a PHP explanation, I would buy a book about PHP; 2) cover a lot: module, component, plugin; 3) very oriented object programmed; 4) explain "Model, View, Controller" concept; 5) Good learning curve, create a basic component then go deeper with the MVC concept; Sure there is some type, but that will make you stronger :) Sébastien D'Errico [email protected]

This was a very well done book. It requires some experience with PHP (and even with, there are some new conventions used). The book takes you through building a component piece by piece. Without knowledge of PHP, you might get lost because you have to modify the code repeatedly - chapter by chapter. Read up on your PHP syntax and functions first, then give this book a try.

I am an experienced PHP/MySQL programmer and I am going to switch to Joomla! very soon as I think that it could save me a lot of work on dynamic sites where customers need to add/modify very often contents and articles. Well, of course Joomla! default content (articles) layout and behaviour will not fit any customer need and so I'd need to develop my own custom extensions: this is how this book comes in help! I have been able to develop my own custom component (with rich editor, sorting, publish/unpulish, categories handling features) in three days following the book recommendations. Yes the book is quite thin and the price is not very adequate, but its content is pure gold! clear, concise and very useful.

I imagine an expert wouldn't need this tutorial, but if you're familiar with PHP and mySQL, and you want to build some Joomla! components, this is by far the most comprehensive resource that I've found.

I would recommend this book for ANYONE beginner to expert if you are interested in learning or developing extensions for the best CMS out there.