A guide to hiring a Joomla developer
Joomla is a free, open source content management system written in PHP. People use it for company sites, news sites, member areas and sites in several languages. Many Joomla sites were built years ago and still do their job, which is why the work is often about care as much as new builds. A Joomla developer is someone who knows how the platform fits together and can change a live site without breaking it.
Why a Joomla specialist, not a general web developer
Every content system has its own habits. Joomla keeps content in articles and categories, shows it through menus and modules, and extends it through components, modules and plugins. Access is handled by user groups and access levels. A developer who knows these parts can solve a problem in minutes that a newcomer might spend a day on, or fix in a way that breaks at the next update. If you are still choosing a platform, our CMS developers can compare options. If you already run Joomla, this page is the right place.
Templates and overrides
The template controls how your site looks. Recent versions ship with a default front end template called Cassiopeia, and many sites use a custom or purchased one. The safe way to change how an extension displays its output is a template override, which sits in your own template and survives updates. Editing core files or extension code directly is the habit that causes pain later. Ask a candidate how they would change the layout of a blog list without touching the core, and listen for the word override.
Components, modules and plugins
A component is a full feature with its own pages and admin screens. A module is a small block placed in a part of the page. A plugin runs in response to an event, such as saving an article or logging in. Custom work usually means one of these three. Good developers package their work as a proper extension, with install and update files and language strings, so it can be moved between sites and updated cleanly. The Joomla Extensions Directory lists many ready made extensions, and part of a developer’s job is judging which are worth installing and which are not.
Upgrading from older versions
Joomla 3 and earlier versions no longer get fixes from the Joomla project, so an old site slowly becomes a risk. A careful upgrade starts with a list of what is installed. Each extension and the template are checked for a version that works on the newer release. Then the developer builds a copy of the site, moves the content, replaces what does not work and tests every page, form and login. You review the copy before anything changes on the live site. For current support dates, check the Joomla project’s own release pages.
Moving a site to a new host
A site move means copying the files and the database, then updating the configuration file with the new paths and login details. The new server may run a different PHP version, so extensions need testing there. The developer checks forms, logins, email sending, uploads and any scheduled tasks, and keeps the old host running until the new one is proven. Done carefully, visitors never notice the change.
Speed work
Slow Joomla sites usually have a few clear causes. Caching may be off, images may be far larger than they are shown, one extension may load heavy scripts on every page, or the database may be full of old data. A developer measures the site first, then changes one thing at a time. Joomla has built in page caching, and a newer PHP version often helps as well. You get a short note on what changed and what difference it made.
Security upkeep
Most hacked sites are old sites. They run an out of date core or an extension nobody updated. Regular updates, removing unused extensions, strong admin logins and two factor login close most of the doors. File permissions should be set sensibly, and backups should be tested, not just taken. If a site has already been hacked, the developer cleans it, finds how the attacker got in and closes that route. Tools such as Akeeba Backup are common for backups on Joomla sites, and a developer can set one up and test a restore.
Multilingual sites and access control
Joomla has built in support for several languages and for detailed user groups. That makes it a fit for sites that publish in more than one language or show different content to members, staff and the public. These features are powerful and easy to set up wrongly. A developer who has done it before will plan the language structure, the menus and the groups first, then build.
Working with PHP and the database
Under every Joomla site is PHP code and a database. When something breaks, the answer is often in an error log or a table. A good developer reads both. For deeper PHP work beyond Joomla, see our PHP developers. For wider site builds that include a custom front end or other tools, see our web developers.
When to hire a Joomla developer
- Your site runs on an old Joomla version and you want to move to a current one.
- An extension broke after an update and nobody on your team can fix it.
- You want a custom component, module or plugin built the Joomla way.
- You are changing host or server and need the move to go smoothly.
- Your site is slow or has been hacked and you want it cleaned and kept safe.
If you have not chosen a platform yet, or you are thinking of leaving Joomla, a CMS developer may be the better first conversation.
How to read a Joomla developer’s background
Ask for sites they have built or maintained and what they personally did on them. Ask which versions they worked on and whether they have done an upgrade from Joomla 3. Look for people who talk about backups, test copies and rollback plans without being asked. Then ask the candidate to describe one problem they solved on a site that was a mess when they arrived.
Interview questions to try
- How would you change the output of an extension without editing its code?
- What do you check before upgrading a site from Joomla 3?
- When would you write a plugin instead of a module?
- A page loads slowly. How do you find the cause?
- How do you test that a backup can really be restored?
A strong answer names a real site and what went wrong or right on it. If a candidate only lists features, ask for the story behind them.
Run a small paid exercise
Hand every finalist the same small job on a copy of your site, such as a template override, a small module, a speed review of one slow page or an upgrade plan for your extensions. Pay them for it. Compare the results, the questions they asked and how plainly they explain what they did.
Agree how the site is looked after
The hosting account, the domain and the admin logins should be registered to your company, and each person should get their own login. Ask for a short note on every change, and use a test copy of the site for anything risky. If your developer moves on, you lose nothing.
Settling in
Start with a copy of the site, a list of the extensions you rely on and one small first task. One weekly call and a shared task list are enough to follow progress. Point out the odd corners early, such as the form that emails the sales team or the page only a few members can open. Those are the places where surprises hide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Updating the core or an extension on the live site with no backup and no test copy.
- Editing core files or extension code instead of using overrides.
- Leaving an old version running because it still seems to work.
- Letting the hosting account or the admin login sit under a contractor’s name.
To read more on related roles, see our CMS developers for platform choices and our web developers for wider site work.