News Roundup

Anoop Singh, Tech Lead at Valuebound, announced the upcoming FlexiStyle Digital Experience theme for Drupal projects. The fully customizable and scalable theme will support the latest Bootstrap and FontAwesome and be compatible with Drupal 10 and 11. While the release date is pending, Singh promises a modern, high-performance design for diverse digital needs.

This week in the Drupal community, from September 16 to 22, 2024, events include meetups, webinars, and release parties. Highlights are the Drupal 11 Brisbane Release Party on September 17, focusing on contributions and discussions about Drupal 11, and the Paris Meetup on September 18, featuring insights into the Drupal Starshot initiative. Other notable events include the "Drupal Does That?!" London Meetup, the EvolveDrupal NYC summit, and the Drupal Pune Pre-Camp Meetup, offering learning and networking opportunities for Drupal enthusiasts worldwide.

Darren Oh introduces the business model behind Drupal Forge, aiming to sustain Drupal through vendor contributions. Vendors can offer product trials on their hosting platforms, sharing subscription revenue or paying referral fees to product owners like the Drupal Association. Drupal Forge also supports vendors without hosting platforms, offering pre-configured packages and Stripe integration for seamless setup, fostering long-term sustainability for Drupal products.

The FOSSEPS and OSOR projects are surveying EU public administration IT professionals to gauge interest in forming a European Open Source User Group. The initiative aims to address common FOSS-related challenges and enhance collaboration across public sector bodies. Survey results will inform discussions at a workshop in October 2024 on improving FOSS management and fostering resource-sharing in the EU.

The Drupalers Association Pune is hosting a pre-camp meetup on September 21, 2024, ahead of DrupalCamp Pune 2024, to plan and organize the event. Open to volunteers and community members, the session will cover logistics, scheduling, and role distribution for the camp, set for October 19-20. Attendees will collaborate, share ideas, and clarify responsibilities to ensure the event’s smooth execution.

DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 prioritizes sustainability by implementing eco-friendly practices such as reducing food waste, using renewable energy, and partnering with local suppliers. Key initiatives include an electronic device collection drive, a Train Travel Contest to reduce carbon footprints, and a wellness space for attendee well-being. With a focus on minimizing environmental impact, the event builds on the success of DrupalCon Lille 2023 and continues its partnership with Terra Verde Sustainability.

MidCamp 2025 planning kicks off, inviting Drupal enthusiasts from all backgrounds to volunteer for various roles. Planning is remote, with a diverse team, and the first meeting will be held via Zoom. Join the effort through Meetup and Slack, as the event will be hosted at DePaul University in Chicago.

Monarq has introduced the "Sections & Components" system to simplify content management in Drupal. This system offers an intuitive, modular approach for building responsive pages without coding. It lets site administrators combine customizable sections like text, images, and carousels, enhancing flexibility and user experience.

The call for speakers and volunteers for DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 is now open. The event is scheduled for March 24 to 27, 2025. Interested speakers must submit their proposals by October 23, 2024, while volunteers committing to at least eight hours of assistance will receive a free ticket. Both roles are essential in shaping the event and contributing to the Drupal community.

CodeLift will host a free webinar titled "Are You Ready?" on September 24, 2024, focusing on the End of Life for Drupal 7. Led by Drupal expert Niels de Feyter, the session will guide site owners through the risks of staying on Drupal 7 and explore migration options to Drupal 11, WordPress, or Backdrop. Attendees will gain step-by-step migration insights, learn from success stories, and connect with peers facing similar decisions.

DrupalDay Portugal 2024 is scheduled for October 11 in Aveiro, with a call for session submissions now open. Contributions on topics like development, modules, theming, and DevOps are encouraged. The submission deadline is September 15, 2024, and speakers must confirm availability for the event.

Jon Pugh, founder of ThinkDrop Inc., has developed "Launchpad," a tool that simplifies Drupal site creation using a wildcard domain and custom settings. The tool enables instant site setup, directing users to a pre-configured Drupal installation page without backend operations. Available on GitHub, it is set for further testing before wider release.

The Waterloo Region Drupal User Group (WRDUG) will host its "Fall Catch Up" Meetup on September 19, 2024, at the University of Waterloo. Led by Megan McDermott, the event will cover topics like Drupal 7 to 10 migrations, Single Directory Components, and custom design systems. Attendees can join in person or via Zoom, with details available on groups.drupal.org.

Sponsorship opportunities are open for DrupalCamp Berlin 2024, the largest Drupal event in the DACH region, expected to draw over 200 participants. Sponsors can gain valuable exposure, connect with key Drupal professionals, and support the growth of the ecosystem. For sponsorship details, contact [email protected] or visit the event website.

DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 will feature a CivicTheme Game Show organized by Salsa Digital, where contestants test their website-building skills. Four participants will have 20 minutes to create a landing page with no coding required, competing for a prize pool of €375 in Visa gift cards. The game show will run during the event from September 24-27, with the top contestant winning €150 and the title of DrupalCon’s Got Talent.

Christoph Breidert will lead a session at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 on "AI with Drupal" on September 24, focusing on integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT with Drupal. The session will feature a live demo showcasing an AI-driven tool for recommending DrupalCon sessions through a conversational interface. Christoph will discuss practical AI applications, costs, and strategies to optimize implementation, encouraging innovation in custom Drupal projects.

DrupalCon Singapore will feature three full-day training courses on December 11, led by top Drupal professionals. Attendees can choose from "Drupal Module Development" by DrupalEasy, "Headless Drupal" by Axelerant, or "Drupal: Zero to Hero" by Pixel Onion. These sessions cater to various skill levels, offering in-depth expertise in Drupal development.

Kevin Quillen has assumed maintainership of the Netlify module for Drupal, ensuring continued seamless integration between Drupal and Netlify for headless sites. The module automates site rebuilds on content or configuration changes, addressing caching issues in setups like Next.js. Kevin's leadership aims to enhance the module’s functionality and support for the developer community.

The Twin Cities DrupalCamp kicks off tomorrow at the University of Minnesota, drawing over 125 attendees for two days of sessions and collaboration on Drupal and web technologies. Keynote speaker Preston So will share insights from his extensive tech leadership experience. With over 30 sessions, unconference discussions, and a contribution day, the event promises to be a key gathering for the Drupal community.

DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 kicks off from September 24-27, bringing together global Drupal experts at the Barcelona International Convention Center. The event will spotlight AI advancements with 13 sessions focused on how AI is transforming web development. Key topics include AI-powered modules, government AI integrations, and innovative AI-driven solutions for business automation and accessibility.

The Drupal Association invites attendees to engage with its team at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024. Visitors can explore contribution opportunities, including the Ripple Makers and Drupal Certified Partner programs, with a special coffee event for Ripple Makers on Wednesday, September 25. Several Association-led sessions and the announcement of the 2024 At-Large Board member will highlight the event, alongside updates on the Drupal CMS aka Starshot initiative.