Hey everyone,
This is a post I never thought I'd have to write.
After nearly two decades, it's time to say goodbye to RocketTheme.
This decision hasn't come easy. The landscape of web development has evolved, and despite our efforts, we can no longer sustain the costs of keeping the servers online and supporting our dedicated staff. It's a bittersweet moment, but one that allows us to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared.
It all began in 2004 when I started MamboDev.com while working as a core developer for the Mambo CMS. The site quickly evolved into a template club, and following the Joomla fork in 2005, we rebranded as RocketTheme. During my time as a Joomla core developer, RocketTheme rapidly grew into the leading template club for Joomla.
When we started, the web was a different place. Theme development was about creating distinctive styles that showcased your brand identity. RocketTheme excelled in this space, pushing the boundaries of what browsers could render and what CMS platforms could support.
As the years progressed, we witnessed—and participated in—the evolution of web design paradigms. First came the rise of "Mega Themes"—all-encompassing templates packed with every conceivable feature and layout option. While many companies rushed to stuff their themes with features, we focused on making our designs not just feature-rich, but intelligently structured and performance-optimized.
Then came the "Site Builder" revolution that fundamentally altered how websites were created. Drag-and-drop interfaces began replacing traditional theme customization. Through it all, RocketTheme adapted, innovated, and often led the way.
In 2009, we introduced the Gantry Framework, which in many ways was a precursor to the website builders that would later dominate the market. Gantry wasn't just another theme framework—it was a revolutionary approach to site construction that bridged the gap between developer flexibility and user accessibility.
Before the term "page builder" entered the mainstream, Gantry was already offering modular design capabilities, responsive layouts, and visual customization tools that empowered users to create sophisticated websites without coding knowledge. We were among the first to implement these concepts at scale across multiple platforms.
Gantry brought a new level of flexibility and power to Joomla, WordPress, and later Grav, making it easier for developers to create responsive and feature-rich websites. The release of Gantry 5.5.x marked a significant update, introducing support for Joomla 4, WordPress 5.8, and PHP 8, along with a revamped menu system and improved SCSS compiler.
Throughout our journey, RocketTheme consistently pushed technical boundaries. When browsers struggled with CSS3, we found creative workarounds. When responsive design was in its infancy, we were creating adaptive templates that worked across devices. We pioneered techniques in Javascript integration, CSS optimization, and CMS extensibility that many others would later adopt.
Our team didn't just follow web standards—we helped shape them through our implementations. Whether it was optimizing load times before page speed was a ranking factor, or implementing accessibility features before they were mandated, RocketTheme often anticipated where the web was heading and got there first.
RocketTheme has always been more than just templates and frameworks; it's been about people. From our talented team members to the vibrant community of developers and users, your support and collaboration have been the heartbeat of this journey. Together, we've built not just websites, but lasting relationships and a shared legacy in the web development world.
The RocketTheme forums became a knowledge base where developers from around the world shared ideas, solved problems, and formed lasting professional connections. Many of today's leading web designers and developers cut their teeth on RocketTheme templates, learning principles that would shape their careers.
While we're winding down operations, we want to ensure you have access to the resources you need:
Please make sure to download any necessary files during this period.
Though RocketTheme is closing its doors, the impact of our work continues through the thousands of websites built with our tools, the developers who learned from our code, and the innovations we contributed to the web development community. The principles of flexible, accessible design that guided our work remain as relevant as ever in today's digital landscape.
Many techniques pioneered in Gantry and our templates have become standard practices in modern web development. In that way, a piece of RocketTheme will live on in the websites of tomorrow.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Your support, creativity, and passion have made RocketTheme what it is. While this chapter is closing, the impact we've made together will continue to resonate in the web development community.
The web has transformed dramatically since 2004, from static pages to complex applications, from desktop-only to mobile-first, from proprietary systems to open standards. Through it all, RocketTheme adapted, innovated, and thrived—until now. Every journey has its conclusion, and I'm immensely proud of what we've accomplished together.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Andy Miller