Administering Joomla from the Command Line

Joomla includes several command‑line interface (CLI) applications that allow administrators to automate tasks without logging into the web interface. On ruachost.com, these scripts can be run manually or scheduled with cron jobs to streamline site management.

Why Use the Command Line?

• Automates repetitive tasks such as cache cleanup and indexing.

• Saves time by running scripts directly without using the Joomla admin panel.

• Useful for advanced administrators managing multiple sites.

Available Joomla CLI Applications

1. Purging Expired Cache Files

• Script: garbagecron.php

• Removes expired cache data to reduce disk usage.

• Example command:

  Bash
  
  cd ~/public_html/cli
  php garbagecron.php
  

   

2. Checking for Extension Updates

• Script: update_cron.php

• Downloads update information for installed extensions.

• Example command:

  Bash
  
  cd ~/public_html/cli
  php update_cron.php
  

3. Deleting Old Files After an Update

• Script: deletefiles.php

• Cleans up leftover files after Joomla updates.

• Example command:

  Bash
  
  cd ~/public_html/cli
  php deletefiles.php
  

   

4. Managing Smart Search Indexing

• Script: finder_indexer.php

• Updates or rebuilds the Smart Search index.

• Example commands:

  Bash
  
  cd ~/public_html/cli
  php finder_indexer.php
  php finder_indexer.php --purge
  

   

Writing Custom CLI Applications

• Joomla provides a Framework for building custom PHP CLI scripts.

• Developers can extend Joomla functionality by writing scripts for specific tasks.

• More information: Joomla Framework.

Important Notes

• These scripts are located in the cli directory of your Joomla installation.

• If Joomla is installed in a subdirectory, navigate to that directory first.

• Always back up your site before running or modifying CLI scripts.

• Cron jobs can be configured to run these scripts automatically.