Joomla in Faces. Rifat Wahid Alif (Project Lead)

My name is Rifat Wahid Alif. I am a software engineer and technology leader with over 20 years of experience. Currently, I am the Head of Software Engineering at Durst Software Development GmbH in Germany and the Managing Director of VolksByte LTD (UK and Bangladesh). My career has transitioned from hands-on development in the early days of the CMS movement to managing large-scale engineering teams and international business operations today.

My journey started in 2004 with Mambo. I was immediately drawn to its potential for creating dynamic web content. When the community decided to fork the project to maintain its open-source integrity, I moved with them to the newly named Joomla. Being there during the rebranding and the birth of Joomla 1.0 was an electrifying experience; it felt like we were part of a movement that was going to change the web forever.

Yes, extensively. In my leadership roles, I believe in choosing the right tool for the specific job. Over the years, I’ve worked with WordPress, Drupal, Magento, OpenCart, and more. Each has its strengths, but this exposure only deepened my appreciation for Joomla’s architecture—particularly how it handles complex content structures and user permissions natively.

My contribution has been both technical and strategic. I have contributed to the Joomla Core, specifically focusing on the admin template and user interface.

Beyond code, I have been a visible presence at JWC (Joomla World Conferences) and JoomlaDays worldwide, often representing JoomShaper as a Diamond and Core Sponsor. Additionally, I’ve been a speaker at JoomlaDay Malaysia and Bangladesh and have organized numerous Joomla birthday meetups and workshops in Bangladesh to foster local talent.

For me, it’s about the Open Source Spirit. I’m motivated by the idea that a global community can build something that rivals proprietary software. I am also deeply inspired by the people I've met along the way. My journey has been influenced by my close friend Fahim Murshed and Kawshar Ahmed (CEO of JoomShaper); their dedication to the project has been a constant source of inspiration. What I get out of this is a global network of friends and the satisfaction of seeing the "Joomla family" grow.

JoomShaper was a defining chapter. Leading the development of products used by millions taught me how to think at scale. Working alongside Kawshar Ahmed, I learned how to balance technical excellence with business vision. It gave me deep insights into product lifecycles and UX, which became the foundation for my current leadership roles at Durst and VolksByte.

The potential is immense. In Bangladesh, there is a vibrant pool of engineering talent; through my workshops there, I’ve seen how hungry they are for knowledge. We need to show them that Joomla is a mature, high-paying career path for enterprise work. In Malaysia, the corporate and government sectors are a perfect fit for Joomla’s security. My goal has always been to provide the advocacy needed to turn that potential into a thriving regional ecosystem.

I would highlight its Enterprise-level Core: features like the robust ACL, Native Multilingual support, and Custom Fields are built-in. Also, the Override system is a developer's dream—it allows us to customize everything without ever touching the core code, ensuring a clean and secure update path for the long term.

Twenty years is a testament to the power of community. It’s a moment to look back and realize that we didn’t just build software; we built a legacy. Joomla has survived multiple technological shifts and emerged as a stable, modern platform. Reaching this milestone means that our "volunteer-driven" experiment worked.

I am incredibly proud to have been part of this journey since 2005 and look forward to the next 20 years!