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The JInstant blog

Guides, comparisons and news on testing Joomla, and getting the most out of free, disposable test sites.

J.INSTANTCustomize Cassiopeia, the Joomla 6 default templateCYour Sitebrand + logoMENUHome · Blog · ContactBANNERTOP-ATOP-ASIDEBAR-RIGHTMAINFOOTERTEMPLATE STYLE · ADVANCEDLogoimages/logo.svgColour+ user.cssFont schemeRoboto + Noto SansLayoutFluidStaticChild templatecassiopeia_mysite: survives updates

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Customize Cassiopeia in Joomla 6: colors, logo, positions, child template

Cassiopeia is the default Joomla 6 template. Change its colors, logo and fonts, use its 18 module positions, and add a child template that survives updates.

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J.INSTANTJoomla release dates and version history, 1.0 to 7.01.020051.520082.520123201242021520236202572027SUPPORTEDCURRENTPLANNEDSUPPORT ENDED: 1.0 TO 4A NEW MAJOR VERSION EVERY TWO YEARS, IN OCTOBER

Joomla release dates and version history, 1.0 to 7.0

Joomla release dates from 1.0 (17 Sep 2005) to 6.1, with support end dates for Joomla 5 and 6 and the October 2027 plan for Joomla 7.0, in two sourced tables.

J.INSTANTWhich PHP version runs Joomla 5.4 and Joomla 6RUNS BOTHJ5Joomla 5.4recommended 8.3J6too old for Joomla 6Joomla 6.xrecommended 8.4PHP 8.1PHP 8.2PHP 8.3PHP 8.4PHP 8.5MINIMUM FOR 5.4MINIMUM FOR 6.x

Which PHP version does Joomla need? 5.4 and 6.x compared

Joomla 6 needs PHP 8.3 and recommends 8.4; Joomla 5.4 runs on PHP 8.1 to 8.5. The full version table, PHP end dates, and how to test your site on a new PHP.

J.INSTANTJoomla 6: test your extensions with the compat plugin offPLUGINBackward Compatibility 6OFFTEST SITE · JOOMLA 6.1Legacy slider pluginAn error has occurredClass "JPlugin" not found

Joomla 6 backward compatibility plugin: test it switched off

New Joomla 6 sites ship the Backward Compatibility 6 plugin switched off; upgraded sites have it on. What it restores, and how to test extensions with it off.

J.INSTANTJoomla 6.2: what’s new, and when it landsAlphaMay 2026Beta 118 AugBeta 315 SepRC129 SepYOU ARE HERESTABLE6.213 Oct 2026OAuth 2.0 for SMTP mailLanguage fallback chainTinyMCE link picker

Joomla 6.2: what's new and when it lands

Joomla 6.2 is due 13 October 2026. What is new: OAuth 2.0 mail, a language fallback chain, a TinyMCE link picker, what was pulled, and how to test the beta.

J.INSTANTJoomla 5 end of life: the two dates that matterOCTOBER 202613Joomla 5 bugfixes endJOOMLA 5 SUPPORTBugfixes + securitySecurity fixes onlyEnd of life13 Oct 202612 Oct 2027Test the upgrade now

Joomla 5 end of life: what changes on 13 Oct 2026

Joomla 5 bugfixes end 13 October 2026 and security fixes end 12 October 2027. What changes on each date, the PHP 8.2 catch, and how to test the upgrade.

How a Joomla permission resolves through four levelsThe Joomla group tree runs from Public down through Registered, Author and Editor. Alongside it, a permission resolves through four levels: a Denied set in Global Configuration, then Component Options, Category and Article, each of which reads Not Allowed and Locked because a Denied higher up cannot be overridden.J.INSTANTJoomla groups, access levels and the deny ruleGROUP TREEPublicRegisteredAuthorEditorA Denied on Public reachesevery group beneath it.How one permission resolvesGlobal Configuration down to a single articleGlobal Configurationthe rule that winsDeniedComponent Optionsyour setting here cannot beat itNot Allowed (Locked)Categoryyour setting here cannot beat itNot Allowed (Locked)Articleyour setting here cannot beat itNot Allowed (Locked)

Joomla user groups and access levels: how they resolve

Joomla ships 9 user groups and 5 access levels, and a Denied permission can never be overridden lower down. Here is how resolution works, tested safely.

J.INSTANTJoomla sample data, tried on a throwaway siteSample DataHome Dashboard, Joomla 6.1 and 5.43 profilesBlog11 articles, 4 categories, 3 menus, a workflowInstallTestingTags, banners, contacts, 72 articles, 9 stepsInstallMultilingualNeeds 2+ languages and no sample data yetInstall

Joomla sample data: install it on a throwaway site first

Joomla 5 and 6 install sample data from the Home Dashboard, not the installer, and all 3 profiles are irreversible. Here is how to try them without regret.

J.INSTANTHow long does a free Joomla test site last?Lasts 4 hoursthen auto-deletes, no cleanupHow long it lastsBy test-site optionJInstant4 hourslaunch.joomla.org30-day renewLocal installuntil deleted

How long does a free Joomla test site last?

How long a free Joomla test site lasts depends on the tool: a JInstant site runs 4 hours then auto-deletes, others need a 30-day renewal. See each option.

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