News Roundup

Metadrop has launched the 'Content First' Drupal module, streamlining content reviews with a minimalist, text-only view on node pages. Developed by Jorge Tutor and Ricardo Sanz Ante, it enhances workflows for editors, UX writers, and accessibility checks. The module is plug-and-play with no extra dependencies and supports a truly content-first approach.

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is now accepting session proposals, with the deadline set for April 28. The October event will feature seven curated tracks and diverse session formats, offering speakers free admission and global visibility. Organizers urge timely submissions and community engagement via the official Drupal Slack.

Centarro launches Commerce Kickstart 5.0, the first contributed site template for Drupal, built on the new recipe and site template system unveiled at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025. This streamlined eCommerce starter kit offers flexible install options, enhanced Layout Builder support, and demo-ready content. Led by Jakub Piasecki, the release also introduces a Recipe Tracker and sets the stage for a future marketplace of premium templates focused on verticals like digital goods and donations.

The EU has launched 'EU OS', a Linux-based operating system built on Fedora with KDE Plasma. It aims to reduce dependence on U.S. tech giants and promote digital sovereignty. Designed for the public sector, it offers a customizable, standardized base across member states, rooted in the "public money = public code" principle. Critics question its reliance on Fedora instead of a European-backed distro like openSUSE.

Registration is now open for DrupalCon Vienna 2025, happening from October 14–17 at the Austria Center Vienna. The event promises a packed agenda with sessions, keynotes, contribution opportunities, and vibrant community activities. Early bird rates are limited, with discounts and scholarships available—register now to secure your spot.

EvolveDrupal 2025 Summit is set for June 6 at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge. It will feature 30+ sessions on Drupal, WordPress, UX, AI, and more. The event promises expert talks, networking, and digital strategy insights in the heart of Kendall Square. Early bird tickets are now live at evolvedrupal.com.

James Abrahams will keynote Drupal Developer Days 2025 with “AI is the New UI,” spotlighting how AI Agents are reshaping the Drupal CMS experience. The session will explore accessibility, UX, and developer tools powered by AI, along with ethical use and future directions. Attendees can engage further in a closing Q&A session.

Factorial is hosting a free webinar on April 8 to guide users away from the now-obsolete Drupal 8, which stopped receiving updates in 2021. The session will highlight security risks, outline upgrade paths, and preview new features in Drupal in 2025. Ideal for developers and site owners, the event stresses proactive migration to avoid costly vulnerabilities.

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 spotlighted Drupal's bold AI strategy, with Dries Buytaert calling AI "the new UI." A live demo showed AI turning static images into Experience Builder components—no coding needed. With adoption tripling and 30+ AI agents active, Drupal aims to let users build entire sites from tools like Figma.

QED42 unveils the "XB AI Assistant" module, showcasing AI-powered page creation in Drupal’s Experience Builder using natural language prompts. The assistant auto-builds pages using Single Directory Components, intelligently structuring layouts and content. Now available as a contributed project, it signals a leap in GenAI-driven site-building for the Drupal community.

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 spotlighted the alpha release of Experience Builder, a game-changing tool aimed at streamlining content editing and component creation. Presented by Dries Buytaert and Balint Kleri, it features visual global region editing, reusable sections, and an in-browser React editor. A full 1.0 release is planned for DrupalCon Vienna with Drupal CMS 2.0.

Drupal expert Ivan Zugec shares a step-by-step tutorial on turning complex Webforms into clean, multi-step wizards using built-in features. His no-code method improves usability by splitting forms into labeled sections with navigation and a progress bar. Ideal for site builders, the guide includes a video walkthrough and detailed notes.

Seed EM reflects on DriesNote at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, spotlighting the launch of Drupal CMS 1.0—aimed at simplifying the platform for newcomers. The 2025 roadmap promises improved onboarding, AI integration, and a pivot toward digital experience solutions. Seed EM also welcomes DrupalCon Japan and previews Drupal 11, reinforcing their Drupal commitment.

​The Drupal community offers a variety of events this week for enthusiasts and professionals alike. On April 3rd, the Drupal User Group Berlin is hosting a meetup in Berlin, Germany. Additionally, the Nonprofit Drupal Community Chat occurs on the third Thursday of every month, providing a platform to discuss Drupal's role in the nonprofit sector. For a comprehensive list of upcoming Drupal events, visit Drupal.org's community events page

Drupal.org revamps its project release UI, retiring the “recommended by maintainer” label. Stable releases now appear in blue, with alpha, beta, and RCs in grey, aligning visual cues with semantic versioning. The update reflects deeper Composer integration and Drupal.org’s evolving brand identity.

The DropTimes wraps up its series on essential Drupal contributed modules by spotlighting CMS recipes—curated module sets tailored to specific use cases like forms, scheduling, mapping, accessibility, and privacy. This comprehensive listicle features powerful tools such as Webform, Scheduler, BPMN.iO, Smart Date, and Klaro, helping site builders streamline workflows and expand Drupal's core capabilities. Whether optimizing admin UI or enhancing geospatial interactivity, these modules empower developers, editors, and strategists to build more robust, user-centric digital experiences.

Perforce is hosting a live webinar on April 3 to unpack the 2025 PHP Landscape Report, spotlighting key trends and security risks. Despite PHP’s 30-year evolution, 40% of teams still run on outdated versions. Experts will share insights on safer migrations and smarter deployment strategies.

Pantheon honoured five agencies at its 2025 Partner Summit during DrupalCon Atlanta. Awards went to MMGY Global, TEN7, Four Kitchens, Lullabot, and Evolving Web for excellence in innovation, client success, and open web impact. The recognitions spotlight each agency's standout contributions over the past year.

Drupal Developer Days Leuven 2025, set for April 15–18, announces a powerhouse keynote lineup including Thijs Suiten, Dr. Merlijn Sebrechts, James Abrahams, and Christina Chumillas. Topics span tech-for-good, WebAssembly, AI-driven UI, and the Drupal CMS roadmap. The event promises top-tier insights and networking for the open-source community.

Metadrop launches Visual Layout Suite (VLSuite), a low-code module for building web pages in Drupal with drag-and-drop ease. Designed for both developers and non-tech users, it offers real-time visual editing, reusable templates, and smooth theme integration. VLSuite simplifies page creation while maintaining design consistency and speed.

Droptica Co-CEO Grzegorz Bartman releases a step-by-step video tutorial on building an idea registration system using Drupal. The 18-minute guide shows how to structure and manage employee suggestions via custom content types and views. Aimed at boosting internal innovation, the full tutorial is now live on YouTube.

Next.js 15.2.3 patches a critical flaw that allowed attackers to bypass Middleware in self-hosted deployments. The issue stemmed from a misused internal header, posing serious risks to apps relying on authentication checks. Immediate updates are recommended to secure affected versions.

Lukas Fischer of Netnode shares a video analysis revealing a decline in overall Drupal usage since 2021, but rising adoption of modern versions like Drupal 10 and 11. Drupal 7 remains widespread but is steadily fading post-support. Notably, modern Drupal now powers nearly 7% of the top 10,000 sites, outpacing Adobe Experience Manager in that segment.

Specbee launches SmartLinker AI, a new Drupal module that automates internal linking using GPT-4, Milvus, and Zilliz Cloud. Designed to boost SEO and editorial workflow, it offers real-time link suggestions and customization options. Despite a complex setup, it enables quick, intelligent link generation for content editors.

Talking Drupal celebrates its 500th episode on May 2, 2025, with a special “Community Edition” featuring voices from across the Drupal ecosystem. The milestone show includes key figures like Dries Buytaert and longtime contributors reflecting on the community’s journey. The DropTimes will also launch a special content series chronicling the podcast’s legacy and future.

amazee.io and FreelyGive launch a free, no-signup one-click Drupal CMS trial with built-in AI tools. The initiative aims to simplify AI adoption in content management by removing setup and privacy barriers. Running on amazee.io's secure infrastructure, it offers AI-assisted content creation, smart search, and automation.

Session recordings from DrupalSouth Melbourne 2025 are now live on the official YouTube channel. Held at ACMI from March 11–13, the event featured talks on development, accessibility, content strategy, and more. All videos are free to watch, making it easy to catch up or share key insights.

Talking Drupal #494 explores AI's impact on higher education with insights from Rochester and MIT. Guests Brian Piper and Mike Miles discuss workflow automation, content strategy, and institutional AI policies. The featured Module of the Week, "External Entities", connects Drupal to third-party data sources.

Drupaljam 2025 returns on May 21 in Utrecht with the theme “and beyond,” uniting developers and open-source enthusiasts. A special “Drupal in a Day” Student Track invites university students to dive into web development with hands-on training and career insights. The initiative aims to spark new talent and expand the Drupal community.