Intellispire Software Installer - com_updater Component

The Joomla! Updater is an extension for Joomla! 1.5 that puts a simple "Add Software" menu item under Components. Once activated, you can install a variety of Joomla! software with just a few clicks.

The old way: search the Internet for applications, creating accounts with 10's of different websites, downloading components, plugins, mambots, modules ... worrying about compatibility. Logging into your Joomla! site, uploading all the stuff you've just downloaded ... pretty soon an hour or two has gone by, and you're still not sure if the new functionality will work.

The new way: Using the Updater, select "Add Software" from the Components menu, browse for the functionality you want, and click "install".

Done.

The latest version ads internal support for updating even the most complex components! No more FTP'ing files up after install or manual database changes the Updater handles it all for you.

We've included 1-click install support for the most popular components, including JCE, Kunena, SOBI2, VirtueMart, eXtplorer, uddeIM, template packs and many more!

Release Notes:

Version 1.2.0 New core installation method allows for native upgrade of packages such as JCE and AllVideosReloaded that have core installer dependencies. Fireboard has beed dropped in favor of Kunena (native 1.5).

Version 1.1.6 Adds basic site diagnostics, plus a way to use the older archive handling (see Parameters) if necessary, primarily for compatibility with some Windows based setups.

Version 1.1.5 Has improved / faster archive handling, the ability handle secure (digitally signed) manifest packages, numerous fixes and additional packages.

Version 1.1.4 - internal release, only.

Version 1.1.3 adds the ability to "force overwrite" of already installed extensions and to view packages before installing (download only)

Version 1.1.1 adds support for CURL - Now works with DreamHost and other hosting providers who turn off url wrappers.

Version 1.1.0 support the Pro version for automatically updating Joomla itself, as well as fixes a problem with installation on Windows.

Report

byjimmer on September 2, 2009
Nick has done a great job with this extension and I have it on 20 plus sites and soon to be 30 plus. I paid for the pro version and have no regrets. I feel it was money well spent. The only think that will make this excellent is if Nick can add more updates to exsisting extensions and have that extension do an auto update like JoomPack has done recently.

Great work Nick,

Look forward to see where this extension will be in a few short months.
Here's a great idea to make installations and updates quick and easy. Appears to work well, but if the free version is any indication, you're going to have to identify a lot of updates yourself. Haven't seen a change in latest version numbers since I installed the program about 6 months ago, and I KNOW that many of the stock listings are at this point stale. There's provision for the user to report them, but doesn't that fly in the face of the concept. Unless and until this pretty serious flaw is corrected, I don't see much value in paying for the upgrade.
I have owned the Pro version of this product since 2008 and it has been 100% problem free up until about 1 month ago. When it works, it saves the administrator quite a bit of time with software updates. However, recently, serious cracks in support, unresponsiveness to tickets/email, lack of supported application updates have surfaced. Until support issues get worked out I think it's probably best to avoid this product and perform updates to your joomla site manually.
Owner's reply

I apologize for the recent perception of unresponsiveness. Our business has been re-structured and things should be back on track. With v1.2.0, we will be able to continue to provide updates into the future. - Nick

Saves you a lot of time and stress! Before I usually dread the times when I do upgrades. Problems like incompatibilities, failed installs and the like. Now, setup is a breeze.
bycrains on December 2, 2008
I am fairly new to Joomla and I found this to be a great installer... but if you are brand new to Joomla, you REALLY need to learn to install mods and plugins manually. After that, only then will you truly appreciate the beauty of this installer, especially if you have tried to figure out how to backup manually.
The component is great. It saves much time and work.
The only thing missing in the software list - a PhotoGallery
Owner's reply

Head on over to the site and suggest one - I'd love to have a photogallery for you to use. (Personally I'm hoping to get some gams in there pretty soon, too!)

byrfs1970 on September 6, 2008
This extension is fan-tas-tic! It is a very nice idea and works like a charmed... but... I think it will be nicer if the developer could create a kind of tree list layout organizing every extension by type.

Anyway... great work! Congratulations...
Owner's reply

Great Idea! it's on the TODO.

byMikesamar on August 28, 2008
As a developer of the extension Google Maps plugin I support this component. It's a great initiative and will help a lot of people to keep there site up to date.
Good luck with adding "all" extensions.
byfreeman on August 16, 2008
Whether you are a hard-core *power* user or completely new to Joomla, this extension will save you a LOT of time (and headaches!)

If you're tired of using hours searching and testing the vast range of components available for your Joomla site then I recommend you install this "one-stop" component updater immediately! I have built a lot of Joomla sites for my professional clients and this single component has just made my job so much quicker and easier.

By simply installing this one little gem (takes about 2 seconds), I was able to start installing all my favourite components immediately and directly through one single interface. Not only that but I can also quickly see which version of each component I am currently using, plus compatibility and stability analysis for each available update. Best of all, I only had to register once to get my Network ID which I can use on every single Joomla site I build.

Absolutely amazing!
I've never seen anything like this when it comes to ease of installing joomla extensions...First the updater installs like any other extension, then once installed, See the extension you want on the Updater list, click install and that's all it takes....you're even notified when it is time to upgrade the extension or the updater itself...Excellent job!