Joomla 5.1 Release Candidate 2: A Call for Testing and Collaboration

Details

The Joomla Project is excited to announce the release of Joomla 5.1 Release Candidate 2 (RC2), marking a crucial phase in our development cycle. This release serves two primary purposes:

  1. Providing developers with a stable platform to test their extensions and report issues before the final release.
  2. Allowing users to explore and familiarize themselves with the new features in Joomla 5.1.

Key Points:

  • Release Date: RC2 released on April 9, 2024
  • Final Release: Scheduled for April 16, 2024
  • Download: Available at [Joomla download link]
  • Testing Environment: Launch a free Joomla 5 website at launch.joomla.org

What's New in Joomla 5.1 RC2:

  1. Security and Performance:
    • Implemented TUF updater
    • Improved error handling in Joomla Update

  2. User Experience:
    • Enhanced dark mode with backend switch
    • New Welcome Tour feature
    • Improved Guided Tours functionality

  3. SEO Enhancements:
    • Added trailing slash behavior option
    • Improved URL handling with index.php
    • Enhanced schema.org support

  4. Developer-Friendly Updates:
    • Converted multiple modules to service providers
    • Improved CLI commands
    • Enhanced webservices functionality

  5. Accessibility and Design:
    • Updated Jooa11y Accessibility Checker Plugin
    • Added support for subcategory levels in contacts
    • Improved modal dialogs across various components

Important Notes:

  • This is a Release Candidate and not suitable for production sites.
  • Language freeze is now in effect; only critical language-related fixes will be accepted.
  • No new features will be added to the 5.1 branch from this point forward.

How You Can Help:

  1. Testing: We need your help to ensure Joomla 5.1 is production-ready. Please test thoroughly and report any bugs at issues.joomla.org.
  2. Extension Developers: Test your extensions with Joomla 5.1 and share your experiences.
  3. Documentation: Contribute to the growing documentation at docs.joomla.org and manual.joomla.org.

Resources for Developers:

The Joomla Project extends its heartfelt gratitude to all volunteers and contributors who have made this release possible. Your dedication drives the continuous improvement of Joomla as a leading open-source CMS.

Stay tuned for the stable release of Joomla 5.1, coming soon!