Friday, May 25, 2012

Language installer in com_installer or in com_languages?

Hello,

I'm facing my first big doubt about where to put in the administrator the "language installer". There are two options:

  • In a tab in the "Extensions Manager" also known as com_installer witch is more related to installing things in Joomla!
  • In a tab in the "Language Manager" also known as com_languages witch is more related to languages in Joomla!
Is not a matter of coding but more about User Experience. I want to place it in the easiest place for users to find it.

Please check the next video and share your best option in the comments.


Thanks so much.

16 comments:

  1. In my oppinion it fits better in the Language Manager, better than in the Extension Manager.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good question!

    I'd prefer the extension installer. I suspect over time it will evolve into something like Wordpress has whwere you could browse the JED from inside Joomla and this would fit into that. It also makes more sense to me from an ACL viewpoint. (If I don't allow access to com_instaler I don't want people to install something). Lastly there's probably more code that can be reused in com_installer than in com_languages.

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  3. I'm torn about this one, it could make sense in either location. On the one hand, the Extension Manager is already *THE* central location for managing anything and everything when it comes to what is on your Joomla! site extension wise (this includes languages). On the other hand, maybe we could build out the Language Manager to more efficiently manage everything dealing with languages, and this could be a step in that direction.

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    Replies
    1. I like the idea that Jean Marie suggest about linking from the language Manager to the Extension Manager, what do you think?

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  4. Should be in Extension manager. If you want to install something (even languages) you have to go there.

    Plugins are installed in the extension manager, not in the plugin manager. Modules, etc.

    Hope to see that finished.

    Regards.

    Roberto Segura

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    Replies
    1. You are totally right, thanks for adding your thoughts.

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  5. The Installer is the natural place to do the job.
    One could use a link in the Language Manager to redirect to the Extensions Manager specific Tab, if desired.
    What is priority though, IMHO, is the implementation when installing a brand new Joomla, in the installation process.

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    Replies
    1. Seems that all you agree that the Extensions Manager is the right point. I like your idea of linking form the language Manager. Thanks

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  6. in the Extensions Manager, because all extensions are installed from there. No matter if they are modules, components, plugins or language.

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  7. I'd prefer the extension installer. Everything is installed from there - also it is an obvious place to put an installer into :)

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  8. I agree with putting it in the installer, however it would good from a USER POV to have it in languages as well - just a link back to the extention manager install view is good enough.

    That way you can keep 'install' operations in the 'installer' while keeping unfamiliar users happy by having the 'install language' in the language manager - which is where someone new to Joomla would look for everything related to languages.

    Remember, extentions are made for the USER not the developer or development community - so while it is obvious for developers to have it in com_installer, which is definately where the code should reside, the person using it does not need to know (or care) where the code is, all they want is a button/menu in the most obvious place (according to them - so maybe you should ask the question on a few user forum). Having it in two places (the actual class in the extention manager) with a link from the language manager (as a tab item that when clicked takes them to the extension manager language installer view), that only those with the appropriate ACL privs can see, is not problem to code and is a better user experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your thoughts, have you seen the resulting proposal? http://languageinstaller.blogspot.com/2012/06/help-to-test-language-installer-tool.html (check the video)

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