The interesting fact is that many don't know they can have or don't feel comfortable with a blank installation.

I, myself, prefer a blank installation to avoid the hassle of cleaning up all the unnecessary content from the site. I add what is needed and avoid confusion about what is what, specially in the module manager.

Here are the replies and interactions I had with Bob Bloom (The Virtumart Guy) in regard to sample data.

@bobbloom: You MUST install the sample data b/c must-have modules are in sample sql file, not the install sql file

@FlahDesign:Actually not true....you can create modules as you need them using the module manager. The sample data is just a showcase.

@bobbloom: very inconvenient installing modules that come with Joomla but in sample_data.sql only, such as banners yet not in joomla.sql

@FlahDesign: Not sure what you mean... I can just go to Module Manager and create a new banner module there.

@bobbloom: I install sample data, then delete all articles, so my client sees that I installed everything that they see when they install

@FlahDesign: Each person has a personal methodology. I prefer to start with a clean db and fill it up with just the content/extensions needed

@bobbloom: After Jason's security seminar in Dec, I agree with you more and more. To not install; and, to delete files not needed.

I hope you benefited from this article. Let me know if you have any specific questions you would like answered by members of the J! community. The J! Question of the Day is asked daily at 7am EST.