Hello World Module Tutorial¶

This tutorial guides you through creating your first XOOPS module. By the end, you will have a working module that displays "Hello World" on both the frontend and admin areas.

Prerequisites¶

XOOPS 2.5.x installed and running
PHP 8.0 or higher
Basic PHP knowledge
Text editor or IDE (PhpStorm recommended)

Step 1: Create the Directory Structure¶

Create the following directory structure in /modules/helloworld/:

/modules/helloworld/
    /admin/
        admin_header.php
        admin_footer.php
        index.php
        menu.php
    /assets/
        /images/
            logo.png
    /language/
        /english/
            admin.php
            main.php
            modinfo.php
    /templates/
        /admin/
            helloworld_admin_index.tpl
        helloworld_index.tpl
    index.php
    xoops_version.php

Step 2: Create the Module Definition¶

Create xoops_version.php:

<?php
/**
 * Hello World Module - Module Definition
 *
 * @package    HelloWorld
 * @author     Your Name
 * @copyright  2025 Your Name
 * @license    GPL 2.0 or later
 */

if (!defined('XOOPS_ROOT_PATH')) {
    die('XOOPS root path not defined');
}

$modversion = [];

// Basic Module Information
$modversion['name']        = _MI_HELLOWORLD_NAME;
$modversion['version']     = 1.00;
$modversion['description'] = _MI_HELLOWORLD_DESC;
$modversion['author']      = 'Your Name';
$modversion['credits']     = 'XOOPS Community';
$modversion['help']        = 'page=help';
$modversion['license']     = 'GPL 2.0 or later';
$modversion['license_url'] = 'https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html';
$modversion['image']       = 'assets/images/logo.png';
$modversion['dirname']     = 'helloworld';

// Module Status
$modversion['release_date']        = '2025/01/28';
$modversion['module_website_url']  = 'https://xoops.org/';
$modversion['module_website_name'] = 'XOOPS';
$modversion['min_php']             = '8.0';
$modversion['min_xoops']           = '2.5.11';

// Admin Configuration
$modversion['hasAdmin']    = 1;
$modversion['adminindex']  = 'admin/index.php';
$modversion['adminmenu']   = 'admin/menu.php';
$modversion['system_menu'] = 1;

// Main Menu
$modversion['hasMain'] = 1;

// Templates
$modversion['templates'][] = [
    'file'        => 'helloworld_index.tpl',
    'description' => _MI_HELLOWORLD_INDEX_TPL,
];

// Admin Templates
$modversion['templates'][] = [
    'file'        => 'admin/helloworld_admin_index.tpl',
    'description' => _MI_HELLOWORLD_ADMIN_INDEX_TPL,
];

// No database tables needed for this simple module
$modversion['tables'] = [];

Step 3: Create Language Files¶

modinfo.php (Module Information)¶

Create language/english/modinfo.php:

<?php
/**
 * Module Information Language Constants
 */

// Module Info
define('_MI_HELLOWORLD_NAME', 'Hello World');
define('_MI_HELLOWORLD_DESC', 'A simple Hello World module for learning XOOPS development.');

// Template Descriptions
define('_MI_HELLOWORLD_INDEX_TPL', 'Main index page template');
define('_MI_HELLOWORLD_ADMIN_INDEX_TPL', 'Admin index page template');

main.php (Frontend Language)¶

Create language/english/main.php:

<?php
/**
 * Frontend Language Constants
 */

define('_MD_HELLOWORLD_TITLE', 'Hello World');
define('_MD_HELLOWORLD_WELCOME', 'Welcome to the Hello World Module!');
define('_MD_HELLOWORLD_MESSAGE', 'This is your first XOOPS module. Congratulations!');
define('_MD_HELLOWORLD_CURRENT_TIME', 'Current server time:');
define('_MD_HELLOWORLD_VISITOR_COUNT', 'You are visitor number:');

admin.php (Admin Language)¶

Create language/english/admin.php:

<?php
/**
 * Admin Language Constants
 */

define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_INDEX', 'Dashboard');
define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_ADMIN_TITLE', 'Hello World Administration');
define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_ADMIN_WELCOME', 'Welcome to the Hello World Module Administration');
define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_MODULE_INFO', 'Module Information');
define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_VERSION', 'Version:');
define('_AM_HELLOWORLD_AUTHOR', 'Author:');

Step 4: Create the Frontend Index¶

Create index.php in the module root:

<?php
/**
 * Hello World Module - Frontend Index
 *
 * @package    HelloWorld
 * @author     Your Name
 * @copyright  2025 Your Name
 * @license    GPL 2.0 or later
 */

declare(strict_types=1);

use Xmf\Request;

require_once dirname(__DIR__, 2) . '/mainfile.php';

// Load language file
xoops_loadLanguage('main', 'helloworld');

// Get the module helper
$helper = \Xmf\Module\Helper::getHelper('helloworld');

// Set page template
$GLOBALS['xoopsOption']['template_main'] = 'helloworld_index.tpl';

// Include XOOPS header
require XOOPS_ROOT_PATH . '/header.php';

// Get module configuration
/** @var \XoopsModule $xoopsModule */
$xoopsModule = $GLOBALS['xoopsModule'];

// Generate page content
$pageTitle = _MD_HELLOWORLD_TITLE;
$welcomeMessage = _MD_HELLOWORLD_WELCOME;
$contentMessage = _MD_HELLOWORLD_MESSAGE;
$currentTime = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');

// Simple visitor counter (using session)
if (!isset($_SESSION['helloworld_visits'])) {
    $_SESSION['helloworld_visits'] = 0;
}
$_SESSION['helloworld_visits']++;
$visitorCount = $_SESSION['helloworld_visits'];

// Assign variables to template
$xoopsTpl->assign([
    'page_title'      => $pageTitle,
    'welcome_message' => $welcomeMessage,
    'content_message' => $contentMessage,
    'current_time'    => $currentTime,
    'visitor_count'   => $visitorCount,
    'time_label'      => _MD_HELLOWORLD_CURRENT_TIME,
    'visitor_label'   => _MD_HELLOWORLD_VISITOR_COUNT,
]);

// Include XOOPS footer
require XOOPS_ROOT_PATH . '/footer.php';

Step 5: Create the Frontend Template¶

Create templates/helloworld_index.tpl:

<{* Hello World Module - Index Template *}>

<div class="helloworld-container">
    <h1><{$page_title}></h1>

    <div class="helloworld-welcome">
        <p class="lead"><{$welcome_message}></p>
    </div>

    <div class="helloworld-content">
        <p><{$content_message}></p>
    </div>

    <div class="helloworld-info">
        <ul>
            <li><strong><{$time_label}></strong> <{$current_time}></li>
            <li><strong><{$visitor_label}></strong> <{$visitor_count}></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<style>
.helloworld-container {
    max-width: 800px;
    margin: 0 auto;
    padding: 20px;
}

.helloworld-welcome {
    background-color: #f8f9fa;
    border-left: 4px solid #007bff;
    padding: 15px;
    margin: 20px 0;
}

.helloworld-content {
    margin: 20px 0;
}

.helloworld-info {
    background-color: #e9ecef;
    padding: 15px;
    border-radius: 5px;
}

.helloworld-info ul {
    list-style: none;
    padding: 0;
    margin: 0;
}

.helloworld-info li {
    padding: 5px 0;
}
</style>

Step 6: Create Admin Files¶

Admin Header¶

Create admin/admin_header.php:

<?php
/**
 * Admin Header
 */

declare(strict_types=1);

require_once dirname(__DIR__, 3) . '/include/cp_header.php';

// Load admin language file
xoops_loadLanguage('admin', 'helloworld');
xoops_loadLanguage('modinfo', 'helloworld');

// Get module helper
$helper = \Xmf\Module\Helper::getHelper('helloworld');
$adminObject = \Xmf\Module\Admin::getInstance();

// Module directory
$moduleDirname = $helper->getDirname();
$modulePath = XOOPS_ROOT_PATH . '/modules/' . $moduleDirname;
$moduleUrl = XOOPS_URL . '/modules/' . $moduleDirname;

Create admin/admin_footer.php:

<?php
/**
 * Admin Footer
 */

// Display admin footer
$adminObject->displayFooter();

require_once dirname(__DIR__, 3) . '/include/cp_footer.php';

Create admin/menu.php:

<?php
/**
 * Admin Menu Configuration
 */

if (!defined('XOOPS_ROOT_PATH')) {
    die('XOOPS root path not defined');
}

$adminmenu = [];

// Dashboard
$adminmenu[] = [
    'title' => _AM_HELLOWORLD_INDEX,
    'link'  => 'admin/index.php',
    'icon'  => 'home.png',
];

Admin Index Page¶

Create admin/index.php:

<?php
/**
 * Admin Index Page
 */

declare(strict_types=1);

require_once __DIR__ . '/admin_header.php';

// Display admin navigation
$adminObject->displayNavigation('index.php');

// Create admin info box
$adminObject->addInfoBox(_AM_HELLOWORLD_MODULE_INFO);
$adminObject->addInfoBoxLine(
    sprintf('<strong>%s</strong> %s', _AM_HELLOWORLD_VERSION, $helper->getModule()->getVar('version'))
);
$adminObject->addInfoBoxLine(
    sprintf('<strong>%s</strong> %s', _AM_HELLOWORLD_AUTHOR, $helper->getModule()->getVar('author'))
);

// Display info box
$adminObject->displayInfoBox(_AM_HELLOWORLD_MODULE_INFO);

// Display admin footer
require_once __DIR__ . '/admin_footer.php';

Step 7: Create Admin Template¶

Create templates/admin/helloworld_admin_index.tpl:

<{* Hello World Module - Admin Index Template *}>

<div class="helloworld-admin">
    <h2><{$admin_title}></h2>
    <p><{$admin_welcome}></p>
</div>

Step 8: Create the Module Logo¶

Create or copy a PNG image (recommended size: 92x92 pixels) to: assets/images/logo.png

You can use any image editor to create a simple logo, or use a placeholder from a site like placeholder.com.

Step 9: Install the Module¶

Log in to your XOOPS site as administrator
Go to System Admin > Modules
Find "Hello World" in the list of available modules
Click the Install button
Confirm the installation

Step 10: Test Your Module¶

Frontend Test¶

Navigate to your XOOPS site
Click on "Hello World" in the main menu
You should see the welcome message and current time

Admin Test¶

Go to the admin area
Click on "Hello World" in the admin menu
You should see the admin dashboard

Troubleshooting¶

Module Not Appearing in Install List¶

Check file permissions (755 for directories, 644 for files)
Verify xoops_version.php has no syntax errors
Clear XOOPS cache

Template Not Loading¶

Ensure template files are in the correct directory
Check template file names match those in xoops_version.php
Verify Smarty syntax is correct

Language Strings Not Showing¶

Check language file paths
Ensure language constants are defined
Verify the correct language folder exists

Next Steps¶

Now that you have a working module, continue learning with:

Building-a-CRUD-Module - Add database functionality
MVC-Pattern - Organize your code properly
Testing - Add PHPUnit tests

Complete File Reference¶

Your completed module should have these files:

/modules/helloworld/
    /admin/
        admin_header.php
        admin_footer.php
        index.php
        menu.php
    /assets/
        /images/
            logo.png
    /language/
        /english/
            admin.php
            main.php
            modinfo.php
    /templates/
        /admin/
            helloworld_admin_index.tpl
        helloworld_index.tpl
    index.php
    xoops_version.php

Summary¶

Congratulations! You have created your first XOOPS module. Key concepts covered:

Module Structure - Standard XOOPS module directory layout
xoops_version.php - Module definition and configuration
Language Files - Internationalization support
Templates - Smarty template integration
Admin Interface - Basic admin panel