Looking for a good starting point

[Handi]

Hi,

I am experienced with the web,but new to Joomla.
I'm looking for a reasonable starting point for a Joomla based site for myself.
You may suggest cpmmercial add-ons too, if you think they are needed and "cost efficient".
Any other comments are welcome... I'm just looking for a sensible starting point for my development..

I'm aiming for a periodical/blog with articles published by subject area.
Latest news articles (also) displayed on the front page.
Users may comment, after having registered.
Subscribers will be alerted when a new article is published.
Comment management (e-mail me when new comment published or old comment "reported" (for violating rules))
Possibly banner/ads management.
Working well on phones and pods too.
Hidden forums for selected users.
Any other suggestions?

Can you point me to some existing sites I should learn from, i would be much obliged.

Eagerly awaiting your suggestions and thoughts / handi

[brad]

A good place to start is: http://docs.joomla.org/Beginners
Also, check out: http://magazine.joomla.org including the past issues. Many articles there will help to answer some of your questions as well.

[Handi]

Yes, I appreciate that it is "all there", but I am am not looking for the "how", nor the "how does it all work" but more of a shortcut to "what do I probably need" kind of advise.
More like "try this first. And use these as a plan B".
Regards / Handi

[Markstein]

You will need to do some research. The links brad pointed out are good starting points. You may find the following links useful as well to get you started on how to use Joomla:

http://docs.joomla.org/Getting_Started_with_Joomla!
http://cocoate.com/j25
http://www.joomlatutorials.com/
http://docs.joomla.org/
http://docs.joomla.org/Beginners
http://docs.joomla.org/Category:Help_screen_2.5

As for some pointers, here you go:

I'm aiming for a periodical/blog with articles published by subject area.
Latest news articles (also) displayed on the front page.
Users may comment, after having registered.
Subscribers will be alerted when a new article is published.
Comment management (e-mail me when new comment published or old comment "reported" (for violating rules))

For blogs you can look in the JED (Joomla Extensions Directory).

EasyBlog is an excellent extension:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... blog/12630

K2 is also popular:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... ction/8061

Other blog extensions:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... ntent/blog

Possibly banner/ads management.

You can use the core Joomla banner component. There are links within the Help_Screen link I posted above. Or you can look in this category of the JED:

http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... management

Working well on phones and pods too.

You'll need to read up on the extensions and templates you use to see if there are any issues with them working on phones/ipods.

Hidden forums for selected users.

Kunena is very popular:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... forum/7256

Other forum extensions may be found in the same category:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions ... tion/forum

Can you point me to some existing sites I should learn from, i would be much obliged

The links I provided above will be more than enough to get you started and there is always this forum!

Good luck and have fun!

Mark

[Handi]

Thanks a lot, I will explore your suggestions...

Incidently, this level of information is generally very hard to get to. Somehow you need to be an expert to write about it. But if you are an expert, it all comes naturally so it is not an issue.

PC-magazines often publish "PC of the month" where the components Rachel month reflect the then most Costas efficient solution. May I suggest something similar here... Like a "decission tree" that evolves over time.

Like:
"Need a forum? - use Kununa unless xxxx, in which case yyyy might be a better choise. Other solutions that are currently just outside the list but yet worth mentioning include e.g. ...

And so on and so forth... "

Just an idea... /Handi

[Markstein]

Incidently, this level of information is generally very hard to get to. Somehow you need to be an expert to write about it. But if you are an expert, it all comes naturally so it is not an issue.

I don't believe you need to be an expert to do a search on Google trying different search terms to find information you are looking for. For example, let's say you need a forum for your Joomla site so typing in "forum joomla extensions" in Google would provide a link to the Forum category in the JED. You then have the option to read up on each of the extensions features and see if they will help you accomplish what you desire.

May I suggest something similar here... Like a "decission tree" that evolves over time.

Like:
"Need a forum? - use Kununa unless xxxx, in which case yyyy might be a better choise. Other solutions that are currently just outside the list but yet worth mentioning include e.g. ...

And so on and so forth... "

That "decision tree" would be very huge as the extension count is currently at 10180 and what you need and what someone else needs are totally different not to mention this "tree" would need to be constantly monitored and updated. If you need a functionality that is not offered by the Joomla core then a search on the JED is right around the corner.

And, as I stated previously, there are always these forums to ask questions, search and find information.

Mark

[Handi]

Do you sincerely think that I think that there is a need to include all 10180 extensions in the decision tree?... I don't think so.
If the tree could be made to cover the 3-5 most poplular application areas, and then solve 80% (or even 50%) of their common needs, that would still provide a jump start.
Rather than learning about 10180 solutions and make my own well informed decision, I would prefer to learn about some core solutions that experienced users have arrived at already.

Kind regards /Handi

[paradise123]

hi..,
i am new to this forum site but i know a little bit that joomla is very important to enhance your websites page.
thanks.