The Joomla Project is pleased to announce the availability of Joomla 3.0 Alpha 1 for download.
What is this release for?
There is one goal for this release: to allow advance testing of custom extensions so that extension developers can report any problems well before the final release. This release includes most of the platform changes that will be included with version 3.0.0. Some of these changes will require small changes to extensions. For a complete list of known backward compatibility issues for version 3.0 see Potential backward compatibility issues in Joomla 3.0 and Joomla Platform 12.1 in the documentation site.
For known issues with the 3.0 alpha-1 release, see the version 3.0 Alpha-1 FAQ in the documentation site.
What is this release NOT for?
This alpha version of Joomla 3.0 is not suitable for production sites. It is for testing only.
When is the final release due?
Joomla 3.0.0 (general availability) is due to be released on or about 24 September 2012. The planned milestones are:
- on or about 23 July - Joomla 3.0 alpha-2 released for public testing. This will include new user-interface enhancements.
- mid-August - Feature freeze to prepare for beta release
- late-August - Joomla 3.0 beta 1 to be released for public testing
- on or about 24 September - Joomla 3.0.0 released
Please note that dates may be subject to change depending on availability of volunteers and circumstances beyond our control.
Should I plan to upgrade to Joomla 3.0?
Version 3.0 will be a standard-term-support (STS) release. If you are running an existing production site on version 2.5, you will probably not want to update to version 3.0. Instead, you will likely want to wait and eventually update it to version 3.5, the next long-term-support (LTS) release. Note that the 3.0 update will not show by default in the auto-updates in the Joomla! Update. By default, version 2.5.x updates will show.
Users who decide to use version 3.0 will need to update to versions 3.1 and 3.5 when these become available. Version 3.0 support will end 30 days after version 3.1 is released.
How do I upgrade to Joomla 3.0?
Depending on the extensions you have installed, it may not be possible to update your site from 2.5 to 3.0 until your extensions have version 3.0-compatible updates available. More information on that will be available before 3.0 is released.
If you are using Joomla 1.5 then you will need to migrate your site to version 2.5 before updating to 3.0.
What’s new in Joomla 3.0 so far?
So far, the only features that have been committed to version 3.0 relate to the new version 12 of the platform. Other features are expected to be committed before the alpha-2 release.
What happens to Joomla 2.5?
Version 2.5 is a long-term-support (LTS) release and will be supported at least until September 2013. The exact end of support for version 2.5 will be announced later.
How can you help Joomla development?
The great news is you don’t have to be a developer to help build Joomla. The Joomla Bug Squad is one of the most active teams in the Joomla development process and is always looking for people (not just developers) that can help with sorting bug reports, coding patches and testing solutions. It’s a great way for increasing your working knowledge of Joomla, and also a great way to meet knew people from all around the world.
If you are interested, please read about us on the Joomla Wiki and, if you wish to join, email
You can also help Joomla development by thanking those involved in the many areas of the process. In the past year, for example, over 875 bugs have been fixed by the Bug Squad. The project also wants to thank all of the people that have taken the time to prepare and submit work to be included in Joomla 3.0, and to those that have worked very hard on the Joomla Platform project.
Related information
If you are an extension developer, please make sure you subscribe to the general developer mailing list. This is a place where you can discuss extension development. News that may affect custom development will be posted here from time to time.
Following is a list of sites of interest: