PrestaShop 9: Community Concerns Over Bloatware and GitHub Availability

PrestaShop 9: Community Concerns Over Bloatware and GitHub Availability

A recent thread on the PrestaShop forum raises concerns about the increasing amount of 'bloatware' included in the official PrestaShop 9 release and the shift in distribution away from GitHub.

The original poster, ale123, notes that the PrestaShop 9 installation from the official website comes bundled with numerous modules such as Marketplace, PrestaShop account linking, Eventbus, and Wall of Fame. The user expresses frustration at having to manually disable these modules, which they consider unnecessary 'bloatware'.

In previous versions (up to 8.2), ale123 preferred using the GitHub version of PrestaShop because it offered a cleaner, less customized installation experience. The user highlights a key distinction: the GitHub version was perceived as more 'pure', while the official website version included direct integrations and customizations by PrestaShop.

The core question revolves around the availability of a similar 'clean' installation option for PrestaShop 9. The user notes that the GitHub repository only contains the release files, lacking the installer. While manual installation from the GitHub release is possible, the user prefers the simplicity of using the installer. They inquire whether the package available on GitHub is identical to the one downloadable from the official website, specifically regarding the inclusion of pre-installed modules.

The user's primary concern is avoiding the inclusion of numerous 'advertising' modules that add classifications, news, and promotions to the PrestaShop dashboard. They seek a way to install a PrestaShop 9 instance without this added promotional content.

Key Takeaways:

• Community members are concerned about the increasing number of pre-installed modules (bloatware) in official PrestaShop releases.
• Users value the option of a 'clean' installation, similar to what was previously available on GitHub.
• The absence of an installer in the GitHub repository for PrestaShop 9 complicates the process of obtaining a clean installation.
• The thread highlights the need for PrestaShop to consider offering a streamlined installation option for users who prefer a minimal setup.