DISCUSSION: Resources: Joomla Components, Modules, and Mambots

[MoonRay]

Hi Ken,

You have provided an excellent list of modules under "Advertising Banners". I have recently noticed that more such modules have been released by many sites. Some of them also on the Joomla developer site.

Here is a list I would suggest:

1. Google AdSense Referral Module Nov 2005
This module inserts the recently introduced and popular Google AdSense Referral butttons to Joomla.

2. Chitika eMiniMalls Module Nov 2005
To insert Chitika eMiniMalls ads. This module for Joomla and Mambo has many new features that have been recently introduced by Chitika eMiniMalls program.

Best Regards,

[kenmcd]

Here is a list I would suggest:

1. Google AdSense Referral Module Nov 2005
This module inserts the recently introduced and popular Google AdSense Referral butttons to Joomla.

2. Chitika eMiniMalls Module Nov 2005
To insert Chitika eMiniMalls ads. This module for Joomla and Mambo has many new features that have been recently introduced by Chitika eMiniMalls program.

Hello MoonRay,

I remember looking at these and rejected them because it appears these may have your referral ID embedded in the code.
I remember a number of extensions for Firefox which did this.
These Firefox extensions preyed on users trust and ignorance.
When you dig through what is actually happening you see the author is benefiting.
This alone is not a problem.
Lack of disclosure is a problem.
Disclosure is important to me and many other users.


My apologies if I am wrong.

Specifically what are these?

Code: Select all

$cpa_choice = array ('CAAQg6aazgEaCByzL-E9BzG1KOPC93M','CAAQ0aCazgEaCAu3WxmTyqbLKOPC93M','CAAQxZqazgEaCMOiwb9yonQWKIHD93M','CAAQ5ZaazgEaCFpxEHuGkQUbKIHD93M','CAAQh7yazgEaCCMiotM2K7TZKJ_D93M','CAAQ3bWazgEaCIDpU7OcSSWsKJ_D93M','CAAQ57CazgEaCIwq4QRNXucqKJ_D93M','CAAQ58WdzgEaCFLK1ovSD_DNKNvD93M','CAAQq8WdzgEaCCQIMpsWzihvKNvD93M','CAAQ0ZGazgEaCNfGe9Y_ARDqKPmNxXQ','CAAQ2ZCazgEaCCvPXrFfpg_0KPmNxXQ');

This one does look like it gets changed to the users ID.

Code: Select all

<param name="joomlaspan_ad_client" type="text" default="pub-1107008511660248" label="Client ID" description="Please type your Google AdSense Client ID provided by Google AdSense" />

This one looks like it may stay the same. What is this default channel?

Code: Select all

<param name="joomlaspan_ad_channel" type="text" default="4200435582" label="Ad Channel" description="Type the channel ID that you may have set in Google AdSense Admin options. It is advisable to assign a channel to track your earnings better. If you leave the default channel as it is, it does NOT affect your earnings, as long as you have entered your own AdSense ID." />

The Chitika eMiniMalls Module has this link to supposedly sign-up for Chitka.
http://www.medspan.info/chitik
This page has nothing to do with Chitika and everything to driving some ad revenue at your other site.

Module defaults.

Code: Select all

<param name="span_ad_client" type="text" default="shashikiranu" label="Client ID" 

All the modules seem to be geared to affiliate programs.
The JoomlaSpan web site does nothing but promote these referral modules.
All of this adds up to me getting my skeptics hat on.
How do you make money with these modules?

I have no problem with people making money for their efforts
But I do think that it should be fully disclosed when it happens.

Again, my apologies if I am wrong about any of this.
Please clarify your reasons for creating these modules and how you benefit.

Thanks.

KM

[MoonRay]

I remember looking at these and rejected them because it appears these may have your referral ID embedded in the code.
I remember a number of extensions for Firefox which did this.
These Firefox extensions preyed on users trust and ignorance.

Dear Ken,

You are right. Referral ID is embedded in them. But the important fact is that, the users know that they have to change it in the parameters in the admin backend. The default ID is used only when a user DOES NOT have his own ID. Such users do not use these modules at all.

You probably are looking at this unfairly. Sorry if I am wrong. Can I request you to install the module in Joomla and have a look at the admin backend? Then I would also request you to change the default ID in the 'admin backend parameters'. Later all you have to do  is to check the source of the output in a browser. If that still shows the default ID, then I also accept that the modules are cheating.

When you dig through what is actually happening you see the author is benefiting.
This alone is not a problem.
Lack of disclosure is a problem.
Disclosure is important to me and many other users.

The author benefits only when users signup through the links that are seen in the admin backend of the module. Is that wrong?
My apologies if I am wrong.

Specifically what are these?

Code: Select all

$cpa_choice = array ('CAAQg6aazgEaCByzL-E9BzG1KOPC93M','CAAQ0aCazgEaCAu3WxmTyqbLKOPC93M','CAAQxZqazgEaCMOiwb9yonQWKIHD93M','CAAQ5ZaazgEaCFpxEHuGkQUbKIHD93M','CAAQh7yazgEaCCMiotM2K7TZKJ_D93M','CAAQ3bWazgEaCIDpU7OcSSWsKJ_D93M','CAAQ57CazgEaCIwq4QRNXucqKJ_D93M','CAAQ58WdzgEaCFLK1ovSD_DNKNvD93M','CAAQq8WdzgEaCCQIMpsWzihvKNvD93M','CAAQ0ZGazgEaCNfGe9Y_ARDqKPmNxXQ','CAAQ2ZCazgEaCCvPXrFfpg_0KPmNxXQ');

These are the Google codes that get the appropriate format and size of the buttons onto the web pages, as per the user's specification in the admin backend panel. No way these are a mischief. Please look at the original google adsense referral codes, you will realize what they are.

This one does look like it gets changed to the users ID.

Code: Select all

<param name="joomlaspan_ad_client" type="text" default="pub-1107008511660248" label="Client ID" description="Please type your Google AdSense Client ID provided by Google AdSense" />

It does. Please check it for yourself. The instruction 'Please type your Google AdSense Client ID provided by Google AdSense' makes it very clear that users have to insert THEIR Id into the parameters box.

This one looks like it may stay the same. What is this default channel?

Code: Select all

<param name="joomlaspan_ad_channel" type="text" default="4200435582" label="Ad Channel" description="Type the channel ID that you may have set in Google AdSense Admin options. It is advisable to assign a channel to track your earnings better. If you leave the default channel as it is, it does NOT affect your earnings, as long as you have entered your own AdSense ID." />

It does not remain the same. If the user changes the channel, it changes to what the user has inserted. If the user does not insert the channel, even if the default channel remains, as long as the AdSense ID is changed, channel dos not matter.

The Chitika eMiniMalls Module has this link to supposedly sign-up for Chitka.
http://www.medspan.info/chitik
This page has nothing to do with Chitika and everything to driving some ad revenue at your other site.

Well, that is a spelling mistake. If it was http://www.medspan.info/chitika you will see it differently. I agree disclosure of referral ID is a problem here.

All the modules seem to be geared to affiliate programs.
The JoomlaSpan web site does nothing but promote these referral modules.
All of this adds up to me getting my skeptics hat on.

That is right. Joomla users also want these modules. There is no darkside, you can definitelytake your skeptics hat off.

How do you make money with these modules?
I have no problem with people making money for their efforts
But I do think that it should be fully disclosed when it happens.

The author benefits when users do not have their adsense ID to change it. Such users generally do not even install the modules.
The author benefits when the affilate signup links in the admin backend are used.

Again, my apologies if I am wrong about any of this.
Please clarify your reasons for creating these modules and how you benefit.
Thanks.
KM

You are not wrong about everything. I agree that 'disclosure' of affiliate links is what is wrong about the modules.
However that DOES NOT affect the users in any way.

My apologies if there is anything wrong with my reply.

Disclosure:
Moonray is affiliated with Joomlaspan. Not an admin, but contributes to the development of modules.
Some affiliate links used in the modules are of Moonray.
The first post here mentioning the modules was an attempt by Moonray to get these modules recognized by users.

--------------------------

Continuing further,

We learnt about the development of modules from others in the field. We have observed that using such default affiliate links are common. Examples are abound. That can be seen with almost all revenue related modules in the field. However, there has been no attempt in any version of any module to hijack the users revenue. Never.

All further modules released from the site will definitely have a "disclosure". We learn something new with every experience.

Looking forward to your reply and further action on these posts with interest.

Moonray.

[kenmcd]

Thanks for your comprehensive answer.

KM

[amstanley]

I'm researching geneaology integrations and found this:

http://field.ath.cx/index.php?option=co ... &Itemid=45
Which has a component for integration of http://phpgedview.net/

[MoonRay]

Hi Ken,

This is just to let you know that the Official Chitika eMiniMalls Support Website has linked to our Chitika eMiniMalls module at Joomlaspan.

Link at the eMiniMalls eSupport

Regards
MoonRay

[chico]

Hi Ken,

you should delete this entry on Page 7:

"multisites
supports sub-sites like:
- w_w.yoursite.com/subsite1, w_w.yoursite.com/subsite2
- w_w.site1.com, w_w.site2.com
Home MamboForge Documentation Demo-? Demo-? "

It makes a lot of headache for many people....

See on: http://mamboforge.net/tracker/?atid=130 ... unc=browse

it crashed every month a system......

Regards
Chico

[elmoch]

Hi Ken,

The link to the Bookmarks component support forum has changed. It is now using joomlaboard on http://www.tegdesign.ch/index.php?optio ... at&catid=6

Thanks for all your valuable work! 

[amstanley]

I'm researching geneaology integrations and found this:

http://field.ath.cx/index.php?option=co ... &Itemid=45
Which has a component for integration of http://phpgedview.net/

Just a note that I installed the component on a site using Joomla 1.03 and phpGedView-4.0beta1
The installation throws database errors when registered Joomla users try to access the phpGedView-4.0beta1 page

I contacted Ron Field , the component author, with an inquiry about the errors received
the answer I received was:

Try version 3.3.5.
I haven't looked at the new version 4.0beta1 so it's possible changes have been made to the app.

The current options therefore are to run phpGEDVIEW 3.3.5 with the PHP-GEDVIEW component, or run  phpGedView-4.0beta1in a wrapper or as a separate window with separate sign on.

[Tonie]

Hi Ken,

I noticed that MamboXplorer is in your list, but JoomlaXplorer isn't yet. The download location for this component is: http://developer.joomla.org/sf/projects/joomlaxplorer

[kenmcd]

Hi Ken,

you should delete this entry on Page 7:

"multisites
supports sub-sites like:
- w_w.yoursite.com/subsite1, w_w.yoursite.com/subsite2
- w_w.site1.com, w_w.site2.com
Home MamboForge Documentation Demo-? Demo-? "

It makes a lot of headache for many people....

See on: http://mamboforge.net/tracker/?atid=130 ... unc=browse

it crashed every month a system......

Regards
Chico

This pretty well explains it.
http://mamboforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=4303

At present, multisites is still during the course of testing, there are a lot of bugs, 0.9beta edition is only the preview edition of the function, steady edition will be released by 1.0 editions. Please use 0.9beta edition multisites cautiously , please do well and backup before installation.

[kenmcd]

Hi Ken,

The link to the Bookmarks component support forum has changed. It is now using joomlaboard on http://www.tegdesign.ch/index.php?optio ... at&catid=6

Thanks for all your valuable work! 

Thanks. Fixed.

[kenmcd]

Hi Ken,

I noticed that MamboXplorer is in your list, but JoomlaXplorer isn't yet. The download location for this component is: http://developer.joomla.org/sf/projects/joomlaxplorer

Thanks Tonie.
When I made this list JoomlaXplorer was not released yet.
I do have it in my local working list.

Hope to have the new list posted within the next few days.
- Expanded from 10 pages to 20 pages
- Added many CMMs, new and old
- Reorganized categories and added some new categories
- Fixed many out of date links
- Added many more example sites

Just need to clean it up enough to post.

[gsbe]

Hope to have the new list posted within the next few days.
- Expanded from 10 pages to 20 pages
- Added many CMMs, new and old
- Reorganized categories and added some new categories
- Fixed many out of date links
- Added many more example sites

Is there a reason why or have you gotten any feedback about using this list on an "official" x.joomla.org site? There are SO many reasons why this making this valuable resource visible would be valuable vs. having it hidden in this forum. Here are a few:

• prospective users can browse available solutions aiding their decision to choose Joomla
• existing users can expand the featureset of their sites (similar to a brainstorming/planning session for website development)
• list would be easier to maintain, searchable and generally more flexible
• the community requires a centralized location for the listing of available CMTs

J!Forge's drive to a categorization system is taking a long time and I have not seen anyone involved post anything to the contrary. I have tried to make suggestions on how the job could be more focused. Not all projects are hosted at J!Forge, either. The community really needs this and Ken continues to work his hiney off to make it available. Can't we just use this easy script called Joomla that we all love to publish this list to the world? I am optimistic and patient but maintain that this would REALLY help the global popularity of this project. There is a lot of support for the Extended Ratings component (I think that's the one) - couldn't that be used for this?

My $.08

[kenmcd]

Is there a reason why or have you gotten any feedback about using this list on an "official" x.joomla.org site?

The only thing I have heard is there is some sort of official Joomla link site being created.
Don't know if that is just Joomla powered sites, or CMMs, or resources, or all of these, or something else. Dunno.
When I heard this, I thought it may make this CMM list obsolete, and pondered doing nothing until then.
But, then after thinking about it for awhile . . .
What is the likelihood that this new link site and the forge will become "usable" ?
And therefore make this list a duplication and unneeded.
So here we are.

And, no, no one official has ever discussed me putting the CMM list on an official site.
Once at Mambo-no, someone official did ask if they could use the list  (I said yes, if on an official site).
My only objection was to one of the commercial para-sites using it  (which I just found recently).

The Mamb-no CMM list was created out of my frustration trying to find CMMs as I was just starting out.
It is still very popular - 104,000+ views now.

My first list: Mamb-no Doc Resources - 168,000+ views now.
Also created because of my experiences when first starting.
New doc site here was perhaps going to make the the J Doc Resources list unneeded.
Again, don't think that is going to happen, so the Joomla Doc Resources list is in the cue.

Maintaining the lists is not that bad; getting them setup at the beginning is difficult.
The Mambo-no lists were created and grown over a few months.
With the big M->J change many links changed.
And I 'm trying to make the categorization a little better (more usability).
All in a more compressed time frame.

Remember my signature in the old forum?
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way" - Thomas Paine
Sometimes you just have to go around.

[gsbe]

I really appreciate your work and know that it would really be a huge boost to the popularity of the project. Some might also say the legitimacy of this project. I have been taking notice of how well organized some of the other OSS projects websites are. The strength of this community has always been its forums and there is gold in these hills....but something as valuable as your list needs to be on the official x.joomla.org websites. I'll rally the troops a bit to see what we can do about it.

Cheers to you for all your time and interest.

[brad]

Ken, All,

An add-on site is not too far away... feel free to talk to me on AIM Ken and I can explain. You'll be happy

[guilliam]

Ken, All,

An add-on site is not too far away... feel free to talk to me on AIM Ken and I can explain. You'll be happy

looking forward to see this as well in the main site. nice push from @gsbe. btw,.. was also wondering a module in the index page of joomla.org to have a "featured site" which is joomla powered. it will be a great booster as well for those who are merely browsing joomla and they will se right away that these websites are products from the joomla cms.



- g

[gsbe]

http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,20247.0.html

Includes great info about various bridges

[guilliam]

.




^^
*guilliam like a kiddo now cries in agony* 



.

[gsbe]

What is going on? I don't understand what this is about. Your list is one of the most important posts on this forum. What is the problem? When did we start taking Phil so seriously? lol

[Tonie]

Aside from the first, this is THE most important post of the entire forum.

[davidgal]

For crying out aloud - half the Joomla community are linking every query for components to this list!

A deep breath..... count to 10..... and please put it back 

[PhilTaylor-Prazgod]

It seems Kenmcd has thrown his toys out, Had his moderator rights removed and been demoted from the doc team.

However all is not lost, remember google is your friend:
http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:QC ... tml+&hl=en

Shortly there will be no need for this list anyway as there will be a new "THING" announced by the core Joomla team (Thats right, I know, I am not part of that team.)

[oo7jeep]

Ken,
I was here yesterday and was really enjoying the FAQs.  Now they are gone!

Could you please repost them?  They were some of the best FAQs around.

Dont make me re-ask every newbie question in the world! 

Ill do it!

~E

I wonder what this does.  Hmmm....

[Saka]

Yeah, good move Ken.

Now me and Phil will go ahead and remove all our code from Joomla! that we wrote in the past 2,5 years in revolt leaving it crippled and delayed for months.

Talk about immature behavior.

[beautyblog]

Hi, I just wanted to post to this thread to say that the link to http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,16398.0.html is broken, the forum page seems to be missing. 

By the way this is the single most helpful resource I have found for Joomla - thanks, and I hope it gets reposted soon!


I posted this before getting to the end of the forum - now I kinda get it.

I'm hoping everyone involved can listen to a noob for a moment:

1. take a really, really deep breath, breath out out ahhhh!
2. realize that everyones contributions are valuable, this means your own work and the work of people you might not like
3. apologize to the people you have offended - this goes for everyone - do not think I am not talking about you - in fact if you think you might be exempt from apologizing then you most definitely need to apologize.
4. we must realize that the open source movement will always be most threatened by internal quarrelling - this is not a movement that an outsider can destroy - only we who love it can destroy it - thus it is our responsibility to make this community work - all of us.
5. if there is a problem or dispute always, always, always look to yourself as the first potential problem maker and only after a serious process of self examination should you look to cast blame on others

I will be the first to start...
I Brandon Thomas am sorry that I have not yet contributed to this community in a meaningful way, I promise to find a way to contribute in the near future.

I've put these pages up at my site - sorry its an ugly hack not much time - but I don't know if those other pages will disappear if google can't find them so anyway here they are should you need them.

Links to Resource Lists

Resources: Joomla Components, Modules, and Mambots
Resources: Developer Software and Tools
RESOURCES: Free Templates


hope this helps - Brandon

[gsbe]

Tutorial called "Modify an SMF theme for Joomla and Mambo"

• http://www.technoadvice.com/advanced/developer/modify_an_smf_theme_for_joomla_and_mambo.html

[Comenius]

The link is still broken.  Anyone know what's up? 

[brad]

Before we all get too excited.. 'THE THREAD' has been restored.. and the links will be added back shortly.