News Roundup

Drupal Commerce introduces advanced Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) workflows and product customization features, enhancing personalized shopping experiences. Merchants can now add custom fields for product variations and order items, enabling options like jewelry engravings and B2B purchase approvals. This update strengthens Drupal Commerce's position as a versatile solution for both B2C personalization and B2B workflow management.

The Drupal Association is inviting nonprofit Drupal users to lead breakout sessions at the 2025 Nonprofit Summit during DrupalCon North America in Atlanta on March 24, 2025. Selected leaders will receive a free event ticket and have until January 31, 2025, to submit their session ideas. No formal speaking experience is needed — just a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering discussion.

The Drupal Open University initiative, led by Jean-Paul Vosmeer, is rapidly gaining momentum after its fifth official meeting since launching at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024. The project aims to open-source Drupal curriculums, strengthen ties with universities, and boost community collaboration. Key contributors like Hilmar Kári Hallbjörnsson and Gayatri Venugopal Tandon have been recognized for their vital roles in advancing this ambitious effort.

The Linux Foundation and Harvard's Innovation Lab release "Census III" report on widely used FOSS libraries. Based on 12M+ data points from 10K+ companies, it highlights key security challenges in open-source software. Industry giants like Snyk, Sonatype, and Black Duck contributed to this landmark study.

Drupal 7 reaches End of Life on January 5, 2024, marking the end of updates for the CMS after 13 years. Drupal 7 has outlasted versions 8 and 9, but many sites still rely on it, raising migration concerns. The shift toward Drupal 10, 11, and the new Drupal CMS highlights the community’s move to modern, secure platforms.

The 'Views Data Export' module is back under active maintainership, aiming for Drupal 11 compatibility and revitalized community support. Originally vital for exporting Drupal View data to CSV/Excel, it now plans to address 480+ open issues and provide bi-weekly progress updates. The effort, led by Steven Jones of ComputerMinds, seeks to restore it as a key tool for content-heavy Drupal sites.

The Greek Drupal Community will host the Greece Winter Sprint 2024 on December 10th in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras. The event will feature hands-on contributions to Drupal core and modules, plus a keynote by Drupal Association CTO Timothy Lehnen on Drupal's innovation roadmap. Sponsored by Annertech, E-Sepia, and PointBlank, it aims to unite and grow Greece's Drupal developer network.

MidCamp 2025 planning meetings will now be held bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 3:00 PM CT, starting December 11, 2024. The change aims to boost participation and scheduling flexibility for organizers. Stay updated via the #midcamp-organizers Slack channel and the official event website.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 hosted Asia's first-ever Splash Awards, marking a decade of global excellence in Drupal projects. Major winners included PreviousNext, taking home the prestigious "Best in Show" and Government category awards, while QED42, Sparks Interactive, Material+, and RealityLoop claimed top honors in other categories. The event celebrated creativity, technical mastery, and open-source collaboration, solidifying Asia's place on the global Drupal stage.

Time is running out to submit your session proposal for Drupal Mountain Camp 2025! The deadline is December 15, 2024, offering a chance to present on topics like Frontend, Backend, UX, and more. Speakers receive free event tickets, an exclusive dinner invite, and the chance to shape the future of Drupal.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 kicks off with a dynamic first day, headlined by Dries Buytaert’s keynote unveiling Drupal's future roadmap. Key innovations include the "Starshot" release set for January 15, 2024, and five new "Recipes" tracks aimed at enhancing content migration, SSO, and front-end design. The first release candidate for Drupal CMS was also announced, with a call for global launch parties via celebratedrupal.org.

Drupal Global Events Roundup (Dec 9-15, 2024): The week features major events like DrupalCon Singapore 2024 (Dec 9-11) and DICTU's Drupal Developers Day in the Netherlands (Dec 9), alongside the Greece Winter Sprint 2024 (Dec 10) and the Drupal Delhi Meetup (Dec 14). Virtual highlights include consultations on Drupal 11.1 hooks, workshops on Code of Conduct response, and A11Y Theme Builder sessions. Hands-on contribution days are set for New York (Dec 13) and Greece, fostering global community collaboration.

QED42 launches AI DXP, a platform designed to simplify AI integration into business workflows. Developed by Alphons Jaimon, it offers semantic search and customizable AI chatbots for smarter data access and interaction. The platform targets sectors like legal, healthcare, and insurance, with features for flexibility, security, and operational efficiency.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 spotlights the future of Drupal with sessions on Drupal 11, Drupal 12, and the groundbreaking Starshot initiative. Key highlights include an exclusive panel with Drupal leads like Dries Buytaert, insights on user-centered design, and discussions on AI's impact on web development. Attendees will explore innovations in accessibility, content strategies, and Drupal’s evolution as a leading open-source CMS.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 offers a prime platform for companies like Varnish Software, Technocrat, PreviousNext, and Tag1 Consulting to showcase their expertise and connect with the global Drupal community. Sponsors will highlight their innovations, support community initiatives, and engage in talks, demos, and networking. From exclusive product launches to impactful contributions, this event promises a celebration of Drupal’s growth and the people driving its future.

Anticipation mounts as DrupalCon Singapore 2024 returns to Asia from December 9-11 at the luxurious PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay. The event promises three days of sessions, workshops, and networking, highlighted by the first-ever Splash Awards in Asia on December 9. With social meetups, a scenic cycling tour, and a hands-on Contribution Day on December 11, Drupal enthusiasts have myriad opportunities to connect, collaborate, and contribute.

The third and final part of the "Meet the Speakers: DrupalCon Singapore 2024" series highlights two compelling sessions. Owen Lansbury, Co-founder of PreviousNext, will present "Supercharge your company with an open-source business model," showcasing how active contribution to Drupal can drive profitability and retention, with PreviousNext's own success as proof. Aastha Shrivastava from QED42 will lead "Level Up Your Impact: Building Socially-Driven Projects with Drupal as a Digital Public Good," emphasizing Drupal’s role as a Digital Public Good and its potential for social impact in areas like education and sustainability. Both sessions promise actionable insights for agencies and developers looking to elevate their impact and growth.

Drupal enthusiasts worldwide will gather for MidCamp 2025, featuring training, contribution sprints, and networking. Sponsorships, from $600 to $4,000, offer brand exposure, with unique options like session recordings and coffee breaks. Job postings and individual sponsorships are also available to engage this dynamic open-source community.

Join industry experts on December 12 for Banking on Open Source: Finding Success With OSS in the Finance Sector. Learn strategies to navigate security, compliance, and data sovereignty challenges while leveraging OSS benefits. Registration is open now!

In the second installment of "Meet the Speakers: DrupalCon Singapore 2024," get insights into sessions happening December 9–11, covering development, leadership, and more. Highlights include Thijs Feryn on Varnish caching, Abhisek Mazumdar on Drupal distributions and recipes, and Takahiro Komatsu on creating community-driven Drupal books. With nine tracks and global participation, the event promises to inspire collaboration and innovation.

Red Airship’s partnership with Aqua Expeditions has earned them a finalist position in the first-ever Splash Awards Asia under the "corporate" category. This fourth episode of the "Splash Awards Finalist" series highlights their Drupal-powered website redesign, which aligns Aqua Expeditions’ online presence with its luxurious small-ship voyages. The transformation drove a 25% revenue boost in six months, showcasing the power of innovation ahead of the awards on December 9, 2024, at PARKROYAL Collection Marina Bay.

The upcoming Drupal CMS, unveiled at DrupalCon Portland 2024, aims to simplify content management for marketers and content creators. Featuring drag-and-drop tools, AI-powered optimizations, and pre-configured workflows, it bridges the gap between technical and business users. Learn more about this transformative "Starshot" initiative on Specbee's blog!

Brussels will host FOSDEM 2025 on February 1-2 at ULB Solbosch Campus, offering a free, no-registration event for open-source enthusiasts worldwide. Featuring live talks, workshops, and networking, key sessions will also be streamed, with "D" room sessions pre-recorded and online-only. Join this vibrant platform to connect and innovate in the open-source community.

Tag1 Consulting's latest blog explores the challenges of migrating public and private files during Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 upgrades. It highlights critical strategies like preparing environments, understanding entity IDs, and leveraging tools like the Migrate Upgrade module for smoother transitions. Tailored configurations and plugins like file_copy are recommended to optimize performance and minimize downtime.

In the third entry of The DropTimes' Splash Awards Finalists series, QED42’s Drupal 10 transformation for the American Diabetes Association is highlighted. The project, nominated in the "Not for Profit" category, revolutionized ADA’s digital platform with cohesive branding, accessibility, and scalability. Winners will be revealed at DrupalCon Singapore on December 9, 2024.

The new Drupal.org homepage showcases a modern design, emphasizing Drupal as a fully composable CMS and reflecting its refreshed brand identity. The redesign, a collaborative effort involving Evolving Web, Palantir.net, and the Drupal Association, highlights the community-driven power of open-source marketing. Launching ahead of Drupal's next major release on January 15, 2025, it sets the stage for an exciting future.

The EvolveDrupal Summit at the University of Toronto's Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus will feature over 30 talks focused on collaboration, innovation, and user-centric design. A highlight session by TELUS experts Nika Karliuchenko and Donna Vitan will explore governance frameworks, best practices for design systems, and headless CMS integrations like Contentful and Drupal. Attendees can expect actionable insights for scalable and efficient multi-brand digital strategies.

Matt Glaman expands on his DrupalCon Barcelona talk, detailing how Web APIs and WebAssembly power a browser-based Drupal trial environment running PHP natively. This innovative setup transforms traditional server-based stacks, utilizing IndexedDB, service workers, and custom web components for seamless execution. Read his blog for insights into this cutting-edge approach.

Metadrop has released a detailed guide on integrating AI with Drupal, showcasing modules like AI and Image Genie AI for smarter content management. Features include text generation, translations, tone adjustments, and AI-driven image creation using OpenAI’s models. This tutorial is a must-read for those modernizing workflows with cutting-edge Drupal innovations.

The Drupal Starshot Initiative introduces Drupal CMS Beta, a pre-packaged version with pre-installed modules, automated updates, and a drag-and-drop experience builder. A WebWash blog post features a video walkthrough and setup guide using DDEV, emphasizing accessibility and reduced technical barriers for all users.

Kyon shares a step-by-step guide for building custom modules in Drupal 10.3.6, with PHP 8.3.10 and MySQL 5.7.44. The tutorial showcases how to export view data to a CSV. It covers directory setup, YAML configuration, routing, and controller creation, ensuring smooth module integration. For complete instructions, visit Kyon’s blog.

Drupal 11 debuts with a sleek interface, AI-driven tools for SEO, and seamless Symfony 6 integration, enhancing accessibility and performance. Highlights include automated maintenance, advanced security, and streamlined developer workflows. Migration tools ensure an effortless upgrade for businesses and nonprofits alike.

A blog by ads-COM compares WordPress and Drupal, highlighting WordPress's user-friendly interface and wide plugin ecosystem against Drupal's robust customization and enterprise-level security. WordPress suits simple projects with minimal setup, while Drupal is ideal for complex, scalable sites requiring technical expertise. The choice depends on your project’s goals and technical needs.

Contribution Day at DrupalCon Singapore 2024 is set for December 11, 2024, at Staytion Lounge Dhoby Ghaut. This collaborative event welcomes Drupal enthusiasts of all backgrounds to improve the platform through coding, documentation, design, and more. Join the global community for a day of learning, networking, and meaningful impact in an inclusive environment.

The Boston Drupal Group is hosting a hybrid Drupal Lightning Talks event on December 9, 2024, at the Somerville Public Library West Branch and via Zoom. Participants can present, discuss, or network, with no prep required for 10-minute talks. Free and open to all, the event runs from 6:30–8:30 PM EST; RSVP and details available online.

Drupal Costa Rica invites developers and enthusiasts to explore updates in Drupal 11.1, focusing on hook changes, on December 9 at 9:30 AM CST. The event includes a free consulting session for web development queries. Open to all, this is a prime opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with the Drupal community.

Creek & River Company is offering a hands-on PHP Basics course for aspiring web engineers, starting January 14, 2025. Conducted in Japanese, the program covers PHP fundamentals, database integration, and secure coding over four interactive sessions. Applications close January 7, 2025—ideal for web designers aiming to boost their skills.