Compile Native Components, Plugins & Modules
—in one unified workflow
Joomla! Component Builder (JCB) allows you to design and compile full Joomla extensions directly from the graphical interface — not just components, but also plugins and modules. Each of these extension types is compiled as a fully native, standalone installable package, fully conforming to Joomla standards.
What It Does
And JCB will:
✅ Compile Joomla Components (.zip)
✅ Compile Joomla Plugins (.zip) — by plugin type (e.g., system, content)
✅ Compile Joomla Modules (.zip) — frontend or admin
✅ All packages are installable via Joomla’s Extension Manager
✅ Output is version-specific: Joomla 3, 4, 5 — and Joomla 6-ready
How It Works
Within JCB, you create or import the blueprints for a Component, Plugin, or Module. Then, using the same unified GUI:
- Define the logic and structure
- Add fields, views, layouts, templates, libraries, snippets
- Link plugins or modules to your components (if needed)
- Apply Joomla-specific behavior (update servers, ACL, language, manifest)
- Choose which Joomla version the output must target
Once saved, click “Compile” — JCB will generate:
- The full folder structure
- Required manifest files
- PHP classes, views, controllers, models
- Language files
- Media assets
- Proper versioned ZIP for direct Joomla installation
Unified Workflow — One Interface
Whether you’re compiling a content plugin or a site module, the logic is identical:
- You stay in the JCB GUI
- You reuse core building blocks (fields, templates, libraries)
- You can manage all your extension types in one place
- Shared logic/components across plugins/modules is supported
The Power Behind the Seamlessness
Your logic doesn’t exist in isolation — it flows through a rich, interwoven set of features:
→ The Custom Code System allows you to inject logic exactly where it belongs, whether in components, plugins, or modules — with reusable code blocks that follow your build.
→ Snippets, Layouts, and Templates turn repetitive HTML/PHP/UI code into shareable visual building blocks — no need to rebuild buttons, rows, or AJAX actions over and over.
→ Super Powers let you define namespaced PHP classes and behaviors that act like your own internal framework — perfect for things like content filters or remote data fetchers.
→ Joomla Powers ensure that your code references remain accurate across Joomla versions. No need to guess if that helper class moved in J5 — JCB dynamically resolves it.
→ And when you’re ready to ship? The Packaging system version-controls your builds, pushes them to Git, and prepares them for distribution — clean, ready, reliable.
These aren’t afterthoughts — they’re engineered to scale with you as your ecosystem grows.
Imagine This Workflow…
- A frontend module that shows upcoming sessions?
- A content plugin that embeds course badges under articles tagged "Certification"?
The Output You Get
- A native Joomla installable .zip
- Structured by convention — following Joomla's folder standards
- Version-aware — meaning your J3, J4, J5 (and soon J6) code is clean and optimized
- Update-ready — include an update server endpoint with one checkbox
- Taggable and release-ready — push directly to Git with changelogs auto-generated
One Compiler. All Extensions.
JCB doesn’t just build components. It builds everything.