Joomla! Themes...Are They Extensions?

[timothy.stiffler]

Would it be possible to add themes to the extensions pages? I'll be working on my own theme sometime soon, and want to have a place to publicize it. But, I don't have a website where I can let people know about it. I'm sure there are others like this as well. I think it would be helpful, too, because the first place most new users look for themes is on this site.

[horus_68]

it would be a nice idea. An huge task... but useful to us all.
As for now we need to go to several sites, see their demos and register to download. A mess!

It would raise several questions similar to JED (commercial templates, votes and reviews, new versions, server load, and so on)

Anyhow lets dream a little bit with a starting scenario:

- Official Directory for templates
- Files will be hosted at a Joomla server for registered downloads
- Only authors could post files

The nightmares:
- update a template file
- server load

But it would be a dream for publicity!

Note:
I am sure that a post similar to this would be somewhere around here but couldn't find. (I do remember a "ban" for templates from Joomlacode)
If someone got lucky point it and merge them!

[LorenzoG]

Right now it isn't possible to publish any templates on the extensions directory or the joomlacode forge since they are only for extensions.

This is something that has been discussed during quite long time to make a directory similar to the Extensions Directory for templates. However, we aren't there yet. You can find some more information in this thread:
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic ... #msg973970

If you have your own site and want to do people aware that you have made a template, then an idea could be to submit it as a news article:
http://www.joomla.org/component/option, ... Itemid,75/

[timothy.stiffler]

Hmmm....
Well, I've always wanted to give something back to the Joomla! Team for all of there work. What if some of the members volunteered to help develope and work this thing? I would absolutely love to work with, or even head-up the project of organizing, building, and running the site for templates.

And like the person said in the other thread, why not just start fresh with J! 1.5 when it becomes stable?

Organizing is my specialty. It would be great to do something like this for Joomla!

NOTE: I decided to post here because the other thread hadn't been posted in for a long while.

[AmyStephen]

Tim -

I think a template directory might be bigger than you might imagine, truth told. I would encourage you to take some time looking at the threads in this forum to see how complicated things can get. I also don't think Joomla! org should try to do everything -- it's not difficult to find templates for Joomla! using Google.

But, I think you'd be an excellent working group member as you are a sincere and hard working person. The User Documentation "team" has one active member right now and that would be a really helpful place for people to join. If you are interested, consider talking to Humvee.

As usual, keep up the good work!
Amy

[timothy.stiffler]

Hey, that'd be great, too!
And yes, I do mrealize it would be a HUGE project. But hey, it would also be extremely beneficial for members and the Joomla! Team!

[AmyStephen]

It certainly could be. It is one of a growing number of things I can think of that would be *excellent* for this community! But first, we must gather the contributors.

Tim - you are the best!

Amy

[horus_68]

- it's not difficult to find templates for Joomla! using Google.

If JED doesn't exist people could also continue to search google for extensions. But believe me Joomla would be less important to non-techie people how wants to try Joomla


I may add another idea, with less work: a directory to templates producers so anyone could find their sites listed and voted has best templates authors (with a special category for free templates authors)
We could even ask for a minimum of X templates available for free and the rest could be commercial.

I do think that we didn't have a clear statement about templates and Joomla (J1.5 had a first look to templates and users). A simple article isn't enough!
Maybe someone could pick on this idea and create a demo for it so Joomla.org could take another look, maybe after Joomla 1.5 its out!

It would be a lost opportunity not to pick the landmark created with
Joomla! 1.5 Template Contest - http://www.joomla.org/content/view/3798/1/

Not everyone is a coder or a web designer!

[timothy.stiffler]

Code: Select all

Not everyone is a coder or a web designer! 

Amen to that!

Can we see about getting a team of people to work on this? I will be glad to supply the server space until J! decides to take over. I can definitely start playing around with the idea, but I'd like to get some help from others to make this more of a community built thing. Any ideas for how this could be advertised? Or must I stick with this one thread?

[AmyStephen]

Paulo -

I think a template directory would be fabulous!

But, we need volunteers who have demonstrated a long term commitment to work freely for the community to staff such a resource. From my perspective, we are a little short on volunteers as it stands.

It appears there are a limited number working in the forums and it seems challenging to even keep up simply answering questions from a continuous stream of new people on the forums. That's the number one priority from my perspective, even though it's not necessarily "exciting" or "innovative." Second priority for us non-coders would be to help with documentation. The End User documentation team has one person. The Developer documentation team has two (three?) Again, not sexy - not cool - not fun - but so very important.

We need to build up our community (by that, I mean contributors). We have to get the absolutely required chores complete, while doing so, we need to encourage others to help and rebuild some enthusiasm.  Then, we can start doing more.

I appreciate what you do, too, Paulo, you help a great deal and it is so appreciated,
Amy

@Tim - I see you posted while I was responding. Why not just do it, then? Build a site - staff it - and share it with the community. No one is stopping you from doing so. But, at this point in time, it would be unfair, IMO, to expect Joomla! org to do more. Those volunteering are really stretched thin and you *will* require existing people who are already overworked if it's done "on property." BUT, nothing is stopping you from making this dream come true on your own.

[timothy.stiffler]

Ahh, I see Amy.
Actually, I might have to do that. I'm also coming in here more often. Trying to help more people out with 1.5 stuff, since that is what I am using more of. I've been looking at the End-USer Doc team for a while now, and wondering how I would be able to help. I want to, but I wanted to finish my exams first.

Thanks Amy. You are, of course, a huge necessity here on the forums. You help so much, and we would not be where we are today if you were not here!

[AmyStephen]

We are in rebuilding mode on contributors, Tim. Anything people can do to help is really great! Taking on more at this moment seems like a very bad idea. I know both of you are really enthusiastic and caring people. This resource could start as a prototype "off property" and maybe later be shared back to Joomla! org.

And, I don't get to say - these are just my impressions, nothing more. But, I  see a number of tired, overworked people right now who I would like to see get some assistance with existing work.

OK - thanks for hearing me - I've said my piece and I'll exit this and help with some J! v 1.5 installs and configuration questions!

See you around,
Amy

[timothy.stiffler]

You're right, Amy!
Thanks for the input. I think I'll be glad to wait until after 1.5 is released to actually start this myself. Though anyone else is welcome!

[horus_68]

We need to build up our community (by that, I mean contributors). We have to get the absolutely required chores complete, while doing so, we need to encourage others to help and rebuild some enthusiasm.  Then, we can start doing more.

The forums are important... and I do my share at my language forum (portuguese) http://www.joomlapt.com
I'm also translator for Joomla and several extensions.
Some times I send messages here at JED extension forum but I'm limited by the English language
To help at documentation team it's not at my reach as I'm not fluent in English to write docs for others!

Though anyone else is welcome!

Count me on... some after Joomla 1.5. Maybe its best to create another topic to ask for ideas and contributors.

[timothy.stiffler]

Perhaps it would be good to start a new thread. Unless there is an objection from the administrators.
We cuold at least begin discussing it while we wait for 1.5 to become Stable.

Of course, this thread sort of is the discussion thread for this topic...do we really need another?

[apageor2]

I think this would be a good idea because personally I have been going through a nightmare of a time trying to locate themes for Joomla on the Internet and I haven't had any luck finding them on here. I haven't had much time to do a lot of participating due to taking a graduate program for my MBA and a work schedule with web clients.

Something that I have experienced difficulty with is locating templates that actually work correctly with the latest version of Joomla. That's a big issue for me.

[horus_68]

Just to remember the link for the template directory

Joomla Template Searcher - A Free Joomla Template Search Engine
http://www.joomlatemplatesearcher.com/


A fine example for a template directory (with sobi)
http://xtremeopensource.org/index.php?o ... &Itemid=47
it features a download for 1.0, 1.5 and demos

And another more simpler (with com_gallery and remository)
http://www.joomla24.com/

[igeoffi]

Perhaps it would be good to start a new thread. Unless there is an objection from the administrators.
We cuold at least begin discussing it while we wait for 1.5 to become Stable.

Of course, this thread sort of is the discussion thread for this topic...do we really need another?

Paulo -

I think a template directory would be fabulous!

But, we need volunteers who have demonstrated a long term commitment to work freely for the community to staff such a resource. From my perspective, we are a little short on volunteers as it stands.

It appears there are a limited number working in the forums and it seems challenging to even keep up simply answering questions from a continuous stream of new people on the forums. That's the number one priority from my perspective, even though it's not necessarily "exciting" or "innovative." Second priority for us non-coders would be to help with documentation. The End User documentation team has one person. The Developer documentation team has two (three?) Again, not sexy - not cool - not fun - but so very important.

We need to build up our community (by that, I mean contributors). We have to get the absolutely required chores complete, while doing so, we need to encourage others to help and rebuild some enthusiasm.  Then, we can start doing more.

I appreciate what you do, too, Paulo, you help a great deal and it is so appreciated,
Amy

@Tim - I see you posted while I was responding. Why not just do it, then? Build a site - staff it - and share it with the community. No one is stopping you from doing so. But, at this point in time, it would be unfair, IMO, to expect Joomla! org to do more. Those volunteering are really stretched thin and you *will* require existing people who are already overworked if it's done "on property." BUT, nothing is stopping you from making this dream come true on your own.

Let's see if I got this right: Joomla! (the site itself?) needs more dedicated volunteers because as it stands there are not enough volunteers and the volunteers are stretched really thin.

Maybe we could make it easier for people to sign up to volunteer?? Some people might not know where to sign up to help??

Anyways, I guess from this topic (IMO) I see that we have some people who are willing to help manage a "template" section of the Joomla! extension site. I'd be willing to help as well.

[AmyStephen]

Looks like Tim is signed up now!   

Thanks, Tim, for helping the community out as a moderator!

Amy