Component vs Module development [SOLVED]

[Adun]

Hello everyone,

I've found an awesome tutorial to develop a Module "quick contact". It's a simple module for building a contact form and for managing some associated settings. Regarding my needs, I'm just wondering if I have to develop this functionality as a component rather than a module.

Actually, I have a single page where I want to display the contact form as the main content (like an article) and not as secondary content (like a module panel). I have no other information to display on this specific page.

What do you think? Do I need to develop a component or can I develop just a module? I think that it's not possible to link an item menu with a simple module...

On the other hand, is it possible to develop a very simple component without model? I don't need to manage data from the database so I will have controller and view but not model. It's not really a MVC approach.

What do you think?

Thank you very much

[sovainfo]

It is very easy to turn a module into a component. Just rename mod_ to com_ and move it from modules to components. Because you didn't convert it to the expected MVC you'll miss out on several things. Unless you used MVC in your module instead of the common practise. Probably still need to make some changes in that case.

For pubishing a module in the space used for components you can use loadmodule or loadposition in an article and create a menu item for that article.

[Adun]

Thank you very much sovainfo!

Following your answer, I understand that "the cleanest" and the easiest way to manage this issue is to develop the module and to use loadmodule inside the article (as described in the link below):
http://docs.joomla.org/How_do_you_put_a ... article%3F

[goedda]

It depends more on what exactly you are trying to achieve. I will try to elaborate with my limited knowledge of Joomla! extensions.

A form in Joomla! is always sent to the 'index.php' file and from there to the controller of the component it was sent from. It does not really matter what 'action' attribute you define. Thus, to process a form and possibly react in some manner to it (reply, db storage, redirection etc.), you will need a component (or some sort of controller).

It is possible that you use an existing Joomla! component (or controller) like 'com_users' or 'com_contact' to process your form. If you could provide a link of the tutorial you used to create the module, I could check that. If that is the case, you usually have hidden fields in the form with the name 'option' and some other $_POST data for the component (or controller) to use.

In short: A module is more a shortcut to a component or to display data of a component. It is not so much an independent Joomla! extensions.

[sovainfo]

When you only want the module in the component position, yes.

As mentioned by @goedda a module doesn't have the capability to process its own actions, unless they are client (browser) related. You rely on components to process them, the server part. See the login module as example.

Think that the introduction of AJAX will bring the two closer. Maybe the distinction between the two will even disappear.

Disagree on the 'In short' of @goedda, but if it helps you to understand, fine with me.

[Adun]

Thanks for your answers.

You will find below the link for the tutorial:
[youtube].com/watch?v=npx8QR-mn6Y&list=UUgzk4AMvuFhk-w0kIcoXSLw

It's just a module sending a mail from a contact form. No interaction with database.
Sending the mail is the only action required on the server side.

I think that the best option will be to develop the module (like in the tutorial) and to use loadmodule in an article.
What do you think?

[Per Yngve Berg]

Why don't you use an existing forms extension?

http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... back/forms
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... tact-forms

[Adun]

Hello Per Yngve Berg,

I know that there are a lot of extensions already developed but I really want to improve my knowledge as developer with this CMS. So I try to develop by myself some basic functionalities

[Per Yngve Berg]

In that case, start with a Component. You can add a module later to display the form.

[sovainfo]

Sending the mail would be something that requires the server to do something for you. Unless that functionality is available somewhere you would have to create it yourself.
So, turn the module into a component. Create the task to sendmail and have the form in your view call that.

[Adun]

Ok noted,

I will develop a component.

Thanks sovainfo!