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:
Terminal window
```
cd ~/public_html/cli
php garbagecron.php
```

2. Checking for Extension Updates

Script: update_cron.php
Downloads update information for installed extensions.
Example command:
Terminal window
```
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:
Terminal window
```
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:

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.