The Countdown to Drupal CMS: A New Era Begins on January 15, 2025

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The Drupal community is abuzz with anticipation as the launch of Drupal CMS approaches—a landmark event in the platform’s 24-year history. Drupal founder Dries Buytaert introduced the concept of Drupal CMS as the “Starshot Initiative” during his iconic State of Drupal address, known as the Driesnote, at DrupalCon Portland 2024. Described as a bold vision for the future of content management, the initiative aims to revolutionize how organizations and developers approach digital experiences.  

The first version of Drupal CMS is scheduled to launch on January 15, 2025, which has become a rallying point for the global Drupal community. The announcement has inspired Drupal enthusiasts to organize launch parties worldwide, emphasizing the community's collaborative and celebratory nature. These events promise to unite developers, business leaders, and tech enthusiasts to mark this historic occasion.  

When launching Project Starshot (also known as the Starshot initiative), Dries drew parallels to the United States space race, sparked by the USSR’s milestone of putting a man in space. While President Richard Nixon had set an ambitious eight-year timeline for his space challenge, Dries charted an even bolder target: an eight-month period for the Drupal community to deliver a revolutionary low-code/no-code product: the Drupal CMS.  

A Campsite for Initiatives

The Starshot initiative was designed as a unifying framework, akin to a central "camp" for various projects. It brought together several existing core and contributed initiatives under one umbrella, organizing them into distinct tracks. Notable ongoing projects like Automatic Updates, Project Browser, Distributions and Recipes, Layout Builder, and the Drupal AI Initiative were incorporated as tracks within Starshot. Beyond consolidation, the initiative expanded the scope of many of these efforts to align with Drupal’s broader vision.  

For example:  

  • The Layout Builder evolved into Project XB (Experience Builder), aiming to enhance user experience comprehensively.
  • The concept of distributions was reimagined as recipes, enabling users to quickly and easily set up websites with pre-configured features.  
  • As the project progressed, new tracks were added to accommodate the growing vision of the initiative.  

Here is a list of some of the important Tracks and the Track Leads:

Drupal’s Evolution and Challenges

Drupal's user base peaked with the release of Drupal 7, which adhered to a traditional, developer-driven architecture. However, subsequent versions struggled to maintain this momentum. The transition from Drupal 7 required a complete architectural overhaul with no straightforward migration path, leading many users to explore alternative low-code/no-code platforms. These alternatives, however, were often proprietary, introducing limitations like vendor lock-ins.  

Drupal began transitioning toward a low-code/no-code paradigm in response to these market shifts. The Drupal CMS is poised to become a flagship product in this space, completing its evolution from a developer-focused platform to one tailored for marketers and non-technical users.  

At DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, Dries Buytaert showcased how Drupal’s AI-powered features now allow anyone to set up a website with minimal effort, eliminating the need for professional developers.  

The Future of Drupal with Starshot and CMS 2.0

The Starshot initiative also marks a significant shift in Drupal's development approach. CMS 2.0, set to launch alongside Experience Builder, represents Drupal’s gradual departure from its traditional PHP-based foundation. Experience Builder is written in React rather than PHP, signalling a new era for the platform.  

This shift underscores Drupal's commitment to embracing modern technologies and expanding its appeal to a broader audience, ensuring it remains competitive in the ever-evolving web development landscape.

A preview of Drupal CMS was revealed earlier this year at DrupalCon Singapore 2024, where Buytaert unveiled the launch candidate. The excitement from attendees was palpable, as many had the chance to explore its new features. Early reviews highlight its transformative capabilities, from improved usability to innovative tools that simplify and elevate digital experiences.  

For a deeper dive into what Drupal CMS offers, The Drop Times has published several insightful articles. These blogs cover hands-on experiences with the launch candidate, offering a glimpse into its potential and how it might shape the future of web development. The following are some:

Drupal CMS Launch Parties

To participate in the celebrations, community members can check out the Drupal.org community events page, which lists the locations of launch parties worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newcomer to Drupal, these gatherings offer an excellent opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate this monumental milestone. 

As January 15 draws closer, the excitement continues to build. The release of Drupal CMS marks not just the introduction of a new software version but the beginning of a new chapter for Drupal and its global community. With its ambitious goals and cutting-edge features, Drupal CMS is set to redefine content management and reinforce its position as an open-source leader.

DrupalCMS Launch Parties - 2025

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