Do you have problems deciding among numerous Joomla extension options available within the official Joomla resource directory? If so, this questionnaire can help you even if you're an experienced Joomla developer or business person.
Before You Start, Solidify Your Business Goals:
- Do you fully understand the business outcome and goals that you’re trying to accomplish?
- Do you understand how you're going to measure the success of your implementation? Example: sales & marketing metrics.
Quick Qualification:
- Does the extension work for your Joomla version?
- Is the extension in the expected category?
- How popular is the extension brand name?
- What is the extension type (Component, Module, Plugin)?
- Do you a long and short list of your possible extension choices?
- Does the extension meet your hosting requirements?
- Is the extension GPL?
- Is the extension encoded? Are some or all files encoded?
- What is the extension rating score on the official Joomla resource directory?
- What is the number of ratings?
- What's the extension popularity and number of downloads?
Critical Features to Meet Business Objectives:
- Feature A) < Enter your specific feature requirement here >
- Feature B) < Enter your specific feature requirement here >
- Feature C) < Enter your specific feature requirement here >
- Feature D) < Enter your specific feature requirement here >
- Feature E) < Enter your specific feature requirement here >
Other Secondary Features:
- Do you understand the total list of features you need (captcha type, ability to embed in articles, database storage, confirmations, styling options, …)
- Does it unnecessarily complicates the site installation (example: job extension and you have only 3-4 jobs)?
Security Concerns / Scam-Like Internet Practices:
- Do you understand security issues and problems related to installing this extensions?
- Can developers/company be trusted?
- What's the company online reputation?
- Are their extensions listed in the Joomla extensions directory?
- How long has the extension existed?
- Does the extension contain or require backlinks?
- Are their hidden links?
- Ads inserted in the control panel or front end?
- Does the extension contain call home functions? They're only welcomed if the extension can work normally without a developer server connection, it is possible to install it without call home and it only calls home for the version check.
- Does the public version of the extension contain security risks? Is it listed in the vulnerable extension list?
Legal/Licensing
- Does it limit use per domain/installation?
- Does it limit distribution of extension?
- Does it require a nondisclosure agreement?
- Does it limit usage of non GPL media files to a domain/installation?
- Is the extension not listed at JED?
- Does it limit support per domain/installation?
- Does it require payment to remove owner visible or hidden links?
User Experience
- Does it offer professional user experience for the site visitors?
- What is the website administrator user experience?
SEO
- Does the extension follow the best industry SEO practices?
- Does the extension support search engine friendly URLs?
Community
- Does the extension have a solid and favorable community view?
Demo
- Is there a demo or light version?
Author / Company
- What's the extension website?
- Who is the developer or development team?
- What's the extension roadmap?
- Is the official extension easy to download?
- Are there FAQs, written tutorials and training available?
Test Installation
- Do you have a test installation ready to evaluate an extension before trying it on your test installation?
Initial Set Up
- Do you understand how to set up test installation, have time, resources, knowledge, experience, etc?
- Do you have to manually copy extension files for it to install?
Maintenance
- Will the extension be easy to maintain?
- Is the extension easy to update?
- When was the last version released?
- Are security patches being promptly published?
- What is the stage of the extension development?
- Does the extension modify Joomla core files?
- Do you must have file/folder permissions set to 777 to install & run?
- After the extension is uninstalled, does the site or admin return errors?
- Does the extension team offer good technical support?
Cost
- Is the extension free/commercial?
- Does the plugin require one time payment or membership subscription?
Do you like these questions? Please download your free copy of the questionnaire. Also, if I have missed something important, please list questions/comments in the comments below.
