Joomla 6 Alpha has officially landed, giving us a first hands-on look at the next major version of the Joomla CMS. For developers, this early release is a vital opportunity to explore new features, prepare for changes, and ensure future compatibility.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into Joomla 6 Alpha: what’s new, what’s changing under the hood, and what developers should start doing today to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're building extensions, maintaining templates, or managing complex Joomla projects, this guide will help you navigate Joomla 6 from a technical perspective.

Note: Joomla 6 is currently in Alpha 1 release. This means features are still subject to change. However, the core direction is clear and developers are encouraged to start testing.

Joomla 6 Alpha at a Glance

• Release Date: 27 May 2025 (Alpha 1)
• Stable Release ETA: 14 October 2025
• Upgrade Path: Joomla 5.x ➔ Joomla 6
• Minimum PHP Version: PHP 8.2+
• Code Name: Joostina

Joomla 6 follows the evolution set in motion by Joomla 4 and 5, pushing the codebase toward modern standards while removing long-deprecated APIs.

Official announcement: Joomla 6.0 Alpha 1 Released

What’s New in Joomla 6 Alpha

Joomla 6 Alpha has gone through three early-stage releases, each building on the technical foundation and preparing the platform for its stable launch in October 2025. Here’s a summary of what’s been introduced in each alpha version:

Alpha 1 (27 May 2025)

• Initial PHP 8.2+ support with strict typing across core classes
• Enhanced CLI capabilities for improved developer automation
• Removal of deprecated legacy classes from Joomla 3 era
• Base structure for adopting PSR-12 coding standards

Alpha 2 (24 June 2025)

• Improved error reporting and diagnostics in CLI
• Further cleanup of legacy libraries
• Standardization of exception and logging handling
• Continued work on core code modernization

Alpha 3 (22 July 2025)

• Continued namespace refactoring and legacy removal
• Updates to service provider and dependency injection container logic
• Better handling of installation scripts and manifest validation
• Core library reorganizations for consistency and extensibility

These technical upgrades may not be immediately visible in the backend UI but represent major under-the-hood improvements crucial for developers.

Let’s break down the most impactful changes:

1. PHP 8.2+ and Strict Typing

Joomla 6 is written with PHP 8.2+ in mind. It adopts typed properties, union types, and strong return declarations across the codebase.

Why it matters: This raises the quality of Joomla extensions and reduces runtime bugs.

2. Removal of Deprecated Classes & Legacy APIs

Joomla 6 continues the cleanup started in Joomla 5 by removing deprecated features and legacy code.

Impact: Extensions relying on outdated functions will break. Now is the time to audit and rewrite.

3. PSR-12 Coding Standard Compliance

Joomla is aligning with PSR-12, the PHP-FIG coding standard for formatting.

Benefit: Better tooling and cleaner, modern code practices for developers.

4. Better Composer Integration

Composer is now a first-class citizen. Joomla 6 simplifies dependency handling and makes it easier to manage third-party packages.

Tip: Shift to Composer-based extension development for cleaner dependency management.

5. New CLI Commands and Improvements

Joomla 6 Alpha expands CLI capabilities. You can now perform more admin-level tasks (like managing users or clearing cache) directly via the command line.

Why developers care: Streamlined automation, deployments, and testing workflows.

How Joomla 6 Impacts Extension Developers

• Refactor for Strict Typing: Check for method signatures, type declarations, and return types. Your extensions must avoid using mixed types and legacy parameters.
• Stop Using Removed Classes: Legacy libraries like JError, JController, and old helpers are now gone. If you're still using them, update your code immediately.
• Move to Namespaced Code: Namespaces are no longer optional. Modern Joomla extensions must use PSR-4 autoloading and proper namespacing. It's time to phase out class MyComponentHelper and move to namespace Vendor\Component\Helper.
• Check Installer Scripts: Joomla 6 is stricter about extension manifests and installation scripts. Run tests using the new CLI installer commands and validate that schema updates run cleanly.

What About Templates?

Overrides System Refactor (Coming Soon)

While Joomla 6 Alpha hasn't fully introduced override improvements yet, changes to the layout and rendering engine are expected in upcoming betas.

Prepare for:

• New template structure guidance
• Better separation of logic and layout
• Improved override inheritance

Best practice: Audit your current templates and test overrides on a Joomla 6 staging site to identify breaking changes early.

Developer Recommendations: What To Do Now

1. Spin Up a Joomla 6 Alpha Test Site
   • Use it as a sandbox to test your extensions, templates, and workflows
2. Enable Full Error Reporting
   • Catch strict typing or removed method warnings before they cause fatal errors
3. Update Your Development Stack
   • Ensure your local/server PHP version is at least 8.2+
4. Use Modern Tools
   • Adopt Composer, PHPStan, Rector, and phpcs with PSR-12 for automated code analysis
5. Refactor Legacy Extensions
   • Focus on plugins and modules that rely on older Joomla 3-style code
6. Follow Joomla GitHub & RFC Discussions
   • Stay updated on incoming breaking changes and participate in feedback rounds

Timeline: What’s Next After Alpha?

Source: Joomla 6 Roadmap

We’re Testing Joomla 6 Alpha Right Now

At ThePixel.dev, we’re already hands-on with Joomla 6 Alpha and running test migrations, code reviews, and performance audits across extensions. We provide:

• Compatibility audits for your extensions and templates
• Refactoring service for Joomla 6 readiness
• Migration support from Joomla 4 or 5

Want us to test your code with Joomla 6 Alpha? Contact us today or explore our Joomla development services.

Joomla 6 FAQs

Q: Is Joomla 6 Alpha safe for production use?
A: No. It is only for testing and development purposes.

Q: What if I’m still on Joomla 3 or 4?
A: You need to first upgrade to Joomla 5 before moving to Joomla 6.

Q: Will my old extensions work in Joomla 6?
A: Only if they're updated. Many older extensions will break due to strict typing and removed legacy code.

Q: Where can I report bugs or provide feedback?
A: Use the Joomla CMS GitHub repository.

For regular updates and hands-on Joomla 6 guides, access our Joomla 6 blog series

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