Drupal’s Starshot Edition Bounty Program Seeks to Accelerate Contribution and Reward Innovation

The Drupal Association has introduced the Starshot Edition of its Bounty Program, designed to reward contributors with credits for their involvement in key projects. Announced on August 7, 2024, this new initiative aims to accelerate progress within the Drupal community by providing tangible recognition for contributions that align with the Starshot initiative’s goals. Earlier, The Drop Times had reported about the new program, which can be accessed here. 

The Starshot Contribution Credits system offers various forms of recognition for contributors. Notably, 50 credits per week will be awarded for each full-time equivalent (FTE) employee dedicated to Starshot-related projects. Financial contributions are also acknowledged, with one credit granted for every $100 invested in supporting the project. Additionally, special credit bounties are available for resolving issues deemed exceptionally important, with each issue carrying a reward of 50 credits—five times the standard credit amount.

The Bounty Program, particularly in this Starshot Edition, is focused on tasks that enhance Drupal core and reduce reliance on contrib modules within the Starshot framework. Among the high-priority issues identified are improvements to the linking experience in CKEditor 5, which is expected to enhance the editorial experience significantly. Another key task is fixing the maximum number of field values with an 'add more' button, aimed at improving the usability of forms where fields have set cardinality.

Further important issues include ensuring that Views handler loading respects configuration, a fix that will enable more flexible configuration of Views, and the development of configurable views filters with different widgets, which will provide a more robust set of filtering options once the preceding bug is addressed.

The Bounty Program was initially launched as a proof of concept, aiming to align the Drupal Association's goals with those of individuals, companies, and the broader community. By continuing this program, the Drupal Association seeks to drive innovation and accelerate the evolution of the platform. The Starshot Edition, in particular, represents a significant step forward in this ongoing effort.

Alex Moreno, who has been instrumental in coordinating this program, expressed his continued commitment to supporting Drupal's growth and innovation. Although his direct involvement with the Drupal Association concluded earlier this year, Moreno has remained dedicated to the project's success, furthering the initiatives he helped start. He extended special thanks to the core team members, including Tim Lehnen, Pamela Barone, Gábor Hojtsy, and Nathaniel Catchpole, for their support in identifying key issues for this edition.

For more detailed information about the Starshot Contribution Credits and the specific tasks eligible for bounties, interested contributors can visit the official Drupal blog.