Joomla is a content management system that you use for building websites and web applications. Joomla makes it possible to perform simple tasks and to update your website without having to call in a technician. The reason that you do not need to be a programmer to use Joomla is because the program is automated so anyone will be able to use it easily. If you are able to use a word processor then you can use Joomla.
Joomla is easy to install and customer support is available for people who need assistance with the software. Users work with a browser based interface to manage the content on their website. Adding content and updating existing content is simplified for all users. Its free even with cheap web hosting packages.
When you install Joomla, you receive templates for creating your site. You are also able to install and manipulate templates that you have gotten somewhere else. You are able to design the layout of the modules that you place on your page, which gives you some freedom at customizing your page. You are also able to use the templates on different pages of one site and assigning multiple templates for your website is easy using the menu option. You can assign templates to certain pages and to different parts of your site through the Joomla interface.
Because it is possible to find free and open sources of scripts, add-ons and templates, it becomes easier and less expensive to use Joomla instead of a technician for building your website. However, if you choose to install Joomla and use a technician, your fees will be reduced because of the automation that Joomla offers to a user.
You can organize, update and add more functionality to your website with Joomla and you can use Joomla for the creation of simple pages to more complex web applications. Personal uses for Joomla include personal and family websites. Community uses for Joomla are websites for non-profit organizations, organization web sites, school websites, church websites and community portals. Businesses can use Joomla to create their business and E-commerce sites. Professional uses of Joomla are corporate websites, corporate portals, government applications, corporate intranets and extranets, magazines and newspapers.
While Joomla is not a program that will help you to design a site, it will help you to develop your site. You will be given the tools to create a basic structure, navigation system and a structure that can be added to with other features using an autoinstaller for prebuilt components which is easier than building a page entirely from the ground up.
A static web site can be converted to Joomla in a matter of hours. You just have to replace the content with Joomla applications and then use this interface to add your content.
System Requirements
You must have these minimum requirements to run Joomla: PHP 4.2 or higher, MySQL 3.23 or higher or Apache 1.13.19 or higher and MySQL, XML and Zlib functionality must be enable within your PHP installation. Joomla supports database drivers for MySQL 4.1 on PHP 5 and for MySQL 5.