18 Years of jDownloads, and Counting
Dear jDownloads Community,
In our recent article "What's next for jDownloads?", we shared the first glimpses of our roadmap for 2026. We promised you compatibility with Joomla 6 through v4.1, followed by an ambitious generational leap. Today, we're excited to detail that vision more fully – and to show you exactly how we're making it happen.
Since 2007, jDownloads has been serving thousands of websites as a reliable download management solution for Joomla. With the release of Joomla 6 and PHP 8.4/8.5, we're facing an important technological leap – and we're using this opportunity to present a clear roadmap.
Version 4.1: Immediate Joomla 6 Compatibility (Q1 2026)
What is v4.1?
A fully functional transitional release that enables you to upgrade to Joomla 6 right now. All core features remain intact, with code adapted for PHP 8.4/8.5 compatibility.
Key Improvements:
- ✅ Modern HTML5 upload system (replaces Plupload)
- ✅ Redesigned scan function for large directories
- ✅ New, modern layouts for each view type
- ✅ Joomla 6 + PHP 8.4/8.5 compatible
For Existing Users:
Updating from jD 3.x/4.0 to 4.1 works as usual. Your data, categories, and downloads remain fully preserved. Custom layouts may require minimal adjustments – we'll provide documentation.
Support: Version 4.1 will receive 6 months of bugfix support.
Version 6.0: The Modern Future (Q2/Q3 2026)
Why v6.0?
Over the years, we've accumulated legacy code that needs addressing. With v6.0, we're building on a clean, modern codebase – without baggage, but with ambitious new features.
Planned Highlights:
- Optional shopping cart with payment integration
- Multi-framework support (Bootstrap, Tailwind, Bulma, UIkit)
- Cloud Storage Abstraction (S3 first, expandable)
- Assigning a single file to multiple categories (frequently requested)!
- Performance optimisations
- Demo Data Plugin
- Modernised backend interface
- Responsive-first design
- ...and much more!
Migration v4.1 → v6.0:
We're developing migration tools that automatically transfer your data. Custom layouts will be replaced by modern alternatives – with converter assistance where needed.
Important: v6.0 is intentionally not a backwards-compatible bugfix, but a generational leap. That's why we're giving you time to plan with v4.1.
Our Promise
- Transparency: We communicate clearly what's changing
- Support: Migration will be documented and supported
- Community: Your feedback shapes v6.0 development
- Stability: v4.1 is your stable production release for Joomla 6
Timeline
- Now: v4.1 beta testing underway
- Q1 2026: Release v4.1 (Stable)
- Q2-Q3 2026: v6.0 development (with community feedback)
- Q4 2026: v6.0 Beta → Stable
Feedback Welcome!
Are you using specific features that matter to you? Have requests for v6.0? Reach out via the forum or (soon) GitHub – we're listening!
