gitwtfhub

wtf is magento-composer-installer?

nntoan/magento-composer-installer — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-18 · repo last pushed 2017-02-07

PHPAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · easy

TL;DR

A Composer plugin that automatically installs Magento 2 extensions, themes, and language packs into the correct folders, so developers don't have to move files by hand.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Routes extension files
      Reads composer.json type
      Sets file permissions
    Tech stack
      PHP
      Composer
      Magento 2
    Use cases
      Install modules
      Install themes
      Install language packs
    Audience
      Magento store owners
      Extension developers
    Folder mapping
      app/code
      app/design
      app/i18n

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Install a Magento 2 module, theme, or language pack cleanly through Composer instead of copying files manually.

REASON 2

Package a Magento 2 extension so it installs into the correct folder automatically when someone else downloads it.

REASON 3

Define custom file locations and permissions for a Magento extension's composer.json configuration.

What's in the stack?

PHPComposer

How it stacks up

nntoan/magento-composer-installerargosback/aura.sqlqueryargosback/jcgenealogy
LanguagePHPPHPPHP
Last pushed2017-02-072023-05-282018-02-01
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/53/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min
The explanation does not state a specific license.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
I'm packaging a Magento 2 extension. Show me how to configure composer.json so magento-composer-installer puts my module's files in app/code correctly.
Prompt 2
Explain how magento-composer-installer decides whether a package is a module, theme, or language pack and routes it to the right folder.
Prompt 3
Help me set custom file permissions for a Magento extension using magento-composer-installer's composer.json options.
Prompt 4
I'm installing a third-party Magento 2 theme via Composer, walk me through what magento-composer-installer does behind the scenes.

Frequently asked questions

wtf is magento-composer-installer?

A Composer plugin that automatically installs Magento 2 extensions, themes, and language packs into the correct folders, so developers don't have to move files by hand.

What language is magento-composer-installer written in?

Mainly PHP. The stack also includes PHP, Composer.

Is magento-composer-installer actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2017-02-07).

What license does magento-composer-installer use?

The explanation does not state a specific license.

How hard is magento-composer-installer to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is magento-composer-installer for?

Mainly developer.

View the repo → Decode another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

Don't trust strangers blindly. Verify against the repo.

Other repos in this lane