Challenges in Documenting the Rapidly Evolving Drupal CMS

Drupalize.Me’s Joe Shindelar detailed the challenges of documenting the rapidly evolving Drupal CMS in a blog post, ahead of the product's launch. Joe highlighted issues such as frequent UI changes, evolving page structures, and button functionality, which rendered previously prepared documentation and screenshots outdated. The task is further complicated by incomplete infrastructure, scattered documentation drafts, and the accelerated pace of development, with an average of seven commits per day, including weekends. 

The Adopt-A-Document program funds the creation of the Drupal CMS Guide, allowing sponsors to prioritize sections for development, though evolving features and deadlines limit the ability to achieve comprehensive coverage before launch. Collaboration between Drupalize.Me, the Drupal Association, and community teams is ongoing, despite new and sometimes uncomfortable dynamics. An initial set of end-user-focused documentation is slated for publication today, with continuous updates planned to address gaps and gather feedback. Schindelar expressed pride in the team's progress but acknowledged the challenges of producing high-quality open-source documentation under tight deadlines.