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Getting Started with FlexExt Store All Editions

FlexExt Store is a modern, enterprise-grade modular ecommerce platform engineered natively for Joomla 4, 5, and 6. Designed for high-performance digital downloads, software licensing, and physical merchandise, it delivers blazing-fast single-page checkouts, faceted catalog filters, and deep Joomla ecosystem integration without the bloat of legacy cart systems.

Architecture Overview​

FlexExt Store is architected around modern Joomla standards and clean separation of concerns:

  • Component Core (com_flexext_store): The central engine managing product catalogs, pricing tiers, orders, RMA returns, customer profiles, and administrative dashboards.
  • Modular Add-ons & Plugins: Extensible plugins for payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Przelewy24, BLIK), shipping providers (InPost Paczkomaty, DPD, DHL), and conversion tools (Order Bumps, Abandoned Cart, Frequently Bought Together).
  • Modern Responsive Storefront: Built on responsive CSS grid, zero external dependencies, accessible keyboard navigation, and instant AJAX slide-out cart drawers.
  • Strict License Engine: Cryptographic Ed25519 signature verification ensuring secure, authenticated commercial license management.

Minimum System Requirements​

Before installing FlexExt Store, ensure your web hosting environment meets the following baseline requirements:

ComponentMinimum RequiredRecommended
Joomla VersionJoomla 4.4.x / 5.0.x / 6.0.xJoomla 5.2+ / 6.0+
PHP VersionPHP 8.1.0PHP 8.2 or PHP 8.3
DatabaseMySQL 8.0+ / MariaDB 10.4+MySQL 8.0+ with InnoDB
PHP Extensionssodium, curl, json, mbstring, gd / imagicksodium, fileinfo, zip, intl
Web ServerApache 2.4+ / Nginx 1.20+ / LiteSpeedNginx with HTTP/2 and Brotli/Gzip
HTTPS SSLRequired for payments & downloadsValid TLS 1.3 certificate
PHP Sodium Requirement

FlexExt Store relies on the standard PHP sodium extension (ext-sodium) for cryptographic license signature validation. It is enabled by default in standard PHP 7.2+ installations.

Quickstart Roadmap​

To get your Joomla store up and running in minutes, follow the 5-step quickstart roadmap:

graph LR
    A[1. Installation] --> B[2. License Activation]
    B --> C[3. Store Settings]
    C --> D[4. First Product]
    D --> E[5. Test Order]

Step 1: Install the Package​

Download the latest pkg_flexext_store_vX.Y.Z.zip package from your flexext.dev account and install it using the Joomla Extensions Installer.
→ Follow the Installation Guide.

Step 2: Activate Commercial License​

Enter your retail license key in the License Hub to unlock Pro and Ultimate commercial features, payment gateways, and PDF invoice templates.
→ Follow the License & Activation Guide.

Step 3: Configure Store Defaults​

Set your base currency, domestic tax rates, business address, and payment credentials in the Store Settings hub.
→ Explore Store Settings.

Step 4: Publish Your First Product​

Add your first digital download or physical product with title, pricing, stock rules, and high-resolution images.
→ Follow the First Product Walkthrough.

Step 5: Test Storefront Checkout​

Visit your public storefront, add the product to your cart, test the slide-out drawer, and complete a test checkout.
→ Follow the First Order & Checkout Guide.

Getting Started Guides​

Explore each topic in detail: