The Release System Module is implemented with the plg_jbackend_release plugin. It provides functions to implement a full Joomla Update Server and/or a generic Package Distribution System based on Joomla. It supports both free and paid packages, and it is seamlessly integrated with Joomla user's groups for authorization and license key generation. Here is the list of supported methods.

Generate key by email

Sends an email to the user with the license key for the specified package group.

Request parameters

action=post
module=release
resource=keybyemail
id=<package group>
email=<user email>

Example

<end-point>?action=post&module=release&resource=keybyemail&id=redj_ent&email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Example (REST format)

<end-point>/post/release/keybyemail/redj_ent?email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Response

{
    "status": "ok"
}

Notes

email is the user's account email on Joomla.

Generate key by authentication

Returns the license key for the specified package group.

Request parameters

action=post
module=release
resource=keybyauth
id=<package group>
username=<username>
password=<password>

Example

<end-point>?action=post&module=release&resource=keybyauth&id=redj_ent&username=user123&password=pass123

Example (REST format)

<end-point>/post/release/keybyauth/redj_ent?username=user123&password=pass123

Response

{
    "status": "ok",
    "email": "user email",
    "key": "license key"
}

Notes

username and password are the credentials used for the user's account on Joomla.

Validate key

Checks if a license key is valid for the specified package group.

Request parameters

action=post
module=release
resource=validate
id=<package group>
email=<user email>
key=<license key>

Example

<end-point>?action=post&module=release&resource=validate&id=redj_ent&email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Example (REST format)

<end-point>/post/release/validate/redj_ent?email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Response

{
    "status": "ok"
}

Verify key

Checks if a license key is valid for the specified package id.

Request parameters

action=post
module=release
resource=verify
id=<package id>
email=<user email>
key=<license key>

Example

<end-point>?action=post&module=release&resource=verify&id=redj_ent_190&email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Example (REST format)

<end-point>/post/release/verify/redj_ent_190?email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Response

{
    "status": "ok"
}

Notes

This method is intended to verify a license key over a specific package id before to download it.

Download package

Download the package for the specified package id.

Request parameters

action=post
module=release
resource=download
id=<package id>
email=<user email>
key=<license key>

Example

<end-point>?action=post&module=release&resource=download&id=redj_ent_190&email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Example (REST format)

<end-point>/post/release/verify/redj_ent_190?email=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&key=fd8s809f89ds8f90sd81231sdsds323

Response

The binary package (as application/octet-stream)

Plugin Settings

The following options are available for release system plugin:

Since version 1.6 Joomla has an Update System that allows you to update installed extensions automatically. And since January 10th 2017 supporting this system is almost mandatory for each extension.

jBackend Release System is a jBackend module that provides all features to implement a full Joomla Update Server and/or a generic Package Distribution System based on Joomla. It works with both jBackend and jBackend Community.

It can be used to distribute free packages, and paid packages as well. For paid packages the download restrictions are based on license keys, that are automatically generated and securely distributed to licensed users, authorized thorugh Joomla user's groups. Technical documentation is available here. An article that describes how it works can be found here.

Features

• Configurable packages distribution folder;
• Free and access restricted package distribution;
• Multiple package groups (releases in the same group share the license key);
• Multiple user groups can be enabled for each package group;
• Multiple package releases for each package group;
• Secret hash for each package group (increase security for generated license keys);
• Really lite (less than 700 lines of code).

jBackend Release System is released under GPL 2.0 license.

In this paragraph we will explain the meaning of each plugin parameter. To edit plugin settings go to menu "Extensions" -> "Plug-in Manager", find "System - ReDJ Community" or "System - ReDJ Enterprise" in the list and click on it to access to configuration page.

Basic Plugin Parameters

In the following table there’s a list of all basic plugin parameters.

Advanced Plugin Parameters

In the following table there’s a list of all advanced plugin parameters.