We are now recommending all our clients to migrate to Joomla 2.5. When we explain how hard it is to do this migration, we usually get one of the following answers:
Tell us again, why should we migrate to Joomla 2.5? or
Do we really need to migrate to Joomla 2.5? or
Can’t we just keep using Joomla 1.5.26 (it should be secure enough, no?) for the next few years or so? or
We just don’t need any new functionality – we’re happy with our website as it currently is – we don’t think we need this migration. or
We just can’t afford this migration – it costs a lot and we’re not prepared for this.
The moment we get any of the above answers, we feel it’s our job to explain the importance of the migration to Joomla 2.5 by stating the following facts:
- Joomla 1.5.26 is no longer secure: We have said it before and we’ll say it again – Joomla 1.5.26 is no longer secure! There are various exploits that were lately revealed in the Joomla 1.5.26 core that render any website using this version under constant threat of being hacked. And trust us, it’ll cost much more (in terms of money and online presence) to clean your website from viruses every other week than upgrading to the latest version of Joomla.
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New extensions are only written for Joomla 2.5: Ever since the Joomla official development team ceased to support Joomla 1.5.26 (that was back in May) , 3rd party companies developing Joomla extensions ceased the development for the 1.5.26 version. Currently, over 90% of new Joomla extensions are only being developed for Joomla 2.5. New extensions for Joomla 1.5.26 are only developed on demand.
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Extensions for Joomla 1.5.26 are no longer supported: Since everything and everyone is moving to Joomla 2.5, developers of the Joomla 1.5.26 extensions don’t see a point of supporting these extensions – they focus on updating their extensions to work on Joomla 2.5, where everyone else is heading.
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Joomla 2.5 is more stable: We have noticed that Joomla 2.5 is much more stable than Joomla 1.5.26, especially in terms of compatibility with prominent extensions. It seems that the Joomla team has worked with the main developers of 3rd party extensions to ensure that Joomla 2.5 has no conflicts whatsoever with these (3rd party) extensions.
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Joomla 2.5 has many good looking and powerful templates: One of the things that amaze us is that while the free and commercial templates for Joomla 1.5.26 are mediocre at best – those for Joomla 2.5 are very good looking. They work well and they are well built.
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It is very easy to extend Joomla 2.5: Want to add a few more fields to the registration form in the backend? You can do that by slightly modifying the jos_users table in the database (to add the new fields) and by editing a single XML file. In Joomla 1.5.26, the process is much more complicated.
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Your Joomla 1.5.26 website will cost you more everyday: Not only will maintaining your Joomla website cost you more because of all the constant hacks (because of the vulnerabilities of this version), but the number of developers who know Joomla 1.5.26 and are willing to work on it will decrease – and thus their rates will increase because simply there will be no competition.
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The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to migrate your website: Joomla 3.0 is looming in the horizon, and we all know it’ll be another migration from Joomla 2.5 to Joomla 3.0. What this means is that you will have to do two migrations if you decide to migrate your Joomla website at a later stage.
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Joomla 2.5 has many, many benefits: Take a look at our post: “20 Benefits of Using Joomla“. Many of the benefits listed in that post are exclusive to Joomla 2.5. Do you see what you’re missing?
Your website is your business – and you need to spend money on it to make money. We understand that it’s tough nowadays when it comes to the economy, but isn’t that website the same website that has given you a competitive edge which has led to the prosperity of your business? Isn’t that website the reason why you’re making more money? So why ignore it when it comes asking for money to look young again? (Yes – we do realize we’re using metaphors on websites!) Why let it catch all the viruses in the world so that you can save you a few pennies here and there? Why let it be the reason of losing your business rather than the reason of expanding your business?
It’s a bold (and potentially expensive) step – but you need to upgrade your Joomla 1.5.26 website to Joomla 2.5 – it’s either now or later, the only difference is that now it costs less, much less to do so, and if you need help in doing this, then go ahead, contact us! Keep in mind that this is a tough job though – but on the flip side, we are fast, we know Joomla by heart, our rates are affordable, and we will welcome you business with open arms!