News Roundup

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.

ImageX celebrates its fifth consecutive Great Place to Work certification for 2025, with 97% employee satisfaction—far exceeding the Canadian average. This achievement highlights ImageX's commitment to workplace culture, especially in remote settings. The milestone will be celebrated with events, including a team retreat in Cancun.

Drupal addresses rising AI-era cybersecurity concerns with Pronovix's privacy-focused modules. The open-sourced 'View Usernames' and 'View Usernames Node Author' offer enhanced control over username visibility, mitigating risks in Drupal's API-first architecture. These tools align with Drupal’s dedication to secure, regulation-compliant web applications.

The second episode of the Splash Award Finalists Series highlights Axelerant, a digital agency rooted in India, nominated in the "Not-for-Profit" category at the first-ever Splash Awards Asia. Their work on the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) project revamped its outdated website using headless Drupal 10, boosting accessibility by 28%, SEO by 49%, and performance by 38%. This recognition underscores the project’s impact on addressing global displacement challenges through improved digital tools.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 returns to Asia after six years, from December 9–11, at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay. The conference will feature diverse sessions, training opportunities, contribution sprints, and Asia's first-ever Splash Awards. The DropTimes launches "Meet the Speakers," sharing insights into key sessions on automation, PHP 8, and decoupled Drupal observability, along with expert perspectives from Yas Naoi, Ajit Shinde, and Alexey Murz Korepov. Stay tuned for more updates!

The DropTimes announces its role as the official media partner for DrupalCon Singapore 2024, happening from December 9–11 at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay. The event marks DrupalCon’s return to Asia after nearly a decade, featuring training, sprints, and the inaugural DrupalCon Splash Awards. Stay tuned for exclusive coverage and updates on this global celebration of Drupal innovation and community!

Drupal Meetup Tokyo returns on December 5, 2024, offering a collaborative platform for Drupal enthusiasts to connect and share insights. Highlights include discussions on Drupal's AI module, networking opportunities, and an open dialogue on the platform's usage. The event welcomes all skill levels, fostering learning and community growth.

Join the Virtual Drupal Dojo on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 6 PM CST for an open, interactive meetup. Collaborate with fellow Drupal enthusiasts, troubleshoot issues, and explore ideas in a dynamic "hive mind" setting. RSVP by 5:30 AM CST on December 5 to receive the Zoom link and participate.

Mumbai Technology Meetup returns on December 7, 2024, at Microsoft Mumbai, spotlighting PHP with lightning talks, demos, and workshops. Celebrating over 12 years and 110+ events, the meetup nurtures aspiring speakers and showcases open-source innovation. Join the city's vibrant tech community for insights, networking, and hands-on learning.

The Balochistan Public Accounts Committee has adopted a pioneering Drupal-based automation system, becoming the first in Pakistan's government to implement such technology. This bespoke solution has replaced paper-heavy workflows, improving efficiency by over 50%, enhancing transparency, and enabling real-time decision tracking. The article, written by Muhammad Tanweer, highlights Drupal's potential for scalable, secure, and transformative public-sector applications.

The Drupal Association has launched a t-shirt design contest for DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, inviting creative contributions from the community. The winning design will feature on official event t-shirts, with the designer receiving a free ticket to DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 or North America 2026. Submissions close December 31, 2024, with finalists chosen for a public vote in January 2025.

Agiledrop highlights the growing preference for open source technologies like Drupal in website development, emphasizing their flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency. Unlike proprietary platforms, open source options allow full customization, seamless migrations, and long-term savings by eliminating subscription fees. Strong community support and access to top talent make open source a sustainable choice for evolving business needs.

The DropTimes highlights GovFlix by Morpht, a finalist in the Education category of the Splash Awards Asia at DrupalCon Singapore 2024, as part of its "Splash Awards Finalists Series." Built on GovCMS SaaS, GovFlix uses AI-driven tools like Recombee to revolutionize user engagement with personalised content recommendations. This recognition underscores GovFlix's innovative approach to enhancing government digital services.

The 47th Drupal Sapporo Meetup is set for December 26, 2024, with a focus on integrating Drupal with other open-source software. The event invites session proposals and offers discussions, examples, and collaborations on OSS integrations to enhance digital experiences. Organized by the Drupal Sapporo community, it promises valuable learning and networking for enthusiasts in Hokkaido, Japan.

Druid Oy has secured ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding sensitive customer and internal data. The certification, validated by KIWA Inspecta, spans software development, web services, and internal operations, reinforcing trust and compliance. This milestone highlights Druid’s dedication to integrating robust information security practices into daily operations and adapting to emerging threats.

Alex Moreno recounts his unforgettable experience at DrupalCamp Berlin, hosted at the historic Alte Münze. Highlights included sessions on Drupal's future by Baddy Winckelmann, AI innovations by Christoph Breidert and Marcus Johansson, and a deep dive into PHP’s history by Stefan Pribisch. Beyond the conference, Alex explored Berlin’s iconic C-base hackerspace, blending creativity and collaboration into a memorable event that celebrated Drupal's innovation and community spirit.

Mark Conroy launches AskAnApi: Drupal, a ChatGPT-powered tool to simplify access to Drupal APIs and documentation. Backed by The Confident, it searches trusted sources like api.drupal.org and drupal.org/documentation to provide streamlined, reliable results. Accessible at askanapi.mark.ie, it aims to boost productivity and make Drupal resources user-friendly for developers.

Axe-con 2025, the leading digital accessibility conference by Deque Systems, will be held virtually from February 25–27, 2025. The event features multi-track sessions, interactive Q&A, live captions, ASL interpretation, and IAAP certification credits. Join global accessibility leaders to explore inclusive design, best practices, and innovation.

James Royal-Lawson introduces the "Language of Parts Bookmarklet" to help web creators verify language tags on webpages, improving accessibility. The tool highlights areas with language-specific attributes, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2 and European standards. It offers a quick, user-friendly way to enhance multilingual content and assist screen readers effectively.

amazee.io releases webinar on mastering enterprise Drupal workflows and data sovereignty. Presented by Thiemo Müller and Henk Beld, the session explores scalable content management and compliance strategies. Key insights include automating updates, ensuring data sovereignty, and enhancing Drupal's publishing capabilities.

Drupal 7's End of Life (EOL) Webinar: Octahedroid's on-demand session launches December 3, offering guidance on migrating from Drupal 7 and planning next steps. Pacific Time Virtual Drupal Meetup: Set for December 4, 6–8 PM PT, this virtual event includes discussions, networking, and insights on the IXP initiative. Drupal User Group Berlin: Meet in person on December 5 at 19:30 CET at c-base, Berlin, for networking and Drupal community discussions.

Droptica's latest blog post provides a step-by-step guide for migrating from Drupal 7 to Drupal 11 before support ends on January 5, 2025. Key insights cover preparing environments, using core migration modules, and addressing challenges like module compatibility and custom design rebuilds. Upgrading offers enhanced features, security, and a modern framework—read the full guide on Droptica's website.

FOSS Meetup Delhi, hosted by FOSS United, kicks off tomorrow, November 30, 2024, at the Whizdom Club, Gurugram, from 4–6 PM. The event features talks on Python performance, open-source AI innovation, and Linux filesystem development, alongside networking opportunities. Open-source enthusiasts in Delhi won’t want to miss this vibrant gathering!

Drupal Developer Days 2025 will take place in Leuven, Belgium, from April 15–18, inviting sponsors to support this premier event. Expected to host over 200 attendees, the gathering offers branding, networking, and recruitment opportunities for organizations. With global speakers, affordable tickets, and a focus on innovation, it's a must-attend for Drupal community supporters.

UK-based Computerminds has migrated over 1,000 websites to Cloudflare in 2024, leveraging the Aegir hosting system for seamless automation. This initiative combats rising DDoS risks, reduces costs, and ensures SSL security using Cloudflare’s API. Completed within weeks, the transition has significantly reduced server loads and bandwidth usage.

A new blog by ImageX Media reveals strategies for higher education institutions to enhance their websites for recruitment, engagement, and community building. Key tips include addressing design and content pitfalls, leveraging Drupal for complex needs, and building strong stakeholder support. Explore accessibility and inclusive practices to transform your site into a digital powerhouse.

DrupalEasy's 12-week state-certified career program offers live online classes and labs for aspiring and experienced Drupal professionals. Led by Mike Anello, the curriculum covers Drupal 9 & 10, Composer, Git, module and theme development, and more. Classes begin February 10, 2025, providing hands-on learning in a collaborative environment.

The Nisramont Museum in the Belgian Ardenne has launched a Drupal-powered website, showcasing advanced SEO features and expertly crafted content by Gilles Pirlot de Corbion. The site has achieved notable online visibility, including a Google featured snippet and a highlight by Gemini, Google's AI. With strong security, schema enhancements, and rich, authentic content, the museum's site underscores the resurgence of "content is king" in the digital landscape.

WordCamp Asia 2025 releases its third batch of tickets for the premier Open Source web summit in Manila. Set for February 21-22, 2025, at the iconic Philippine International Convention Center, the event promises insightful sessions, networking, and a vibrant cultural experience. Tickets, priced at 1,800 PHP, include meals, an exclusive after-party, and access to the global WordPress community—act fast before they sell out!

Udemy's new course offers 3.5 hours of on-demand video, lifetime access, and a certificate of completion, guiding learners from setup to building professional Drupal websites. Designed for all skill levels, it covers content management, module updates, and theme customization. Accessible on mobile and TV, it’s a must-have resource for mastering Drupal.

OpenSense Labs is hosting the Drupal Delhi Meetup on November 30th, from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM IST at their office in Delhi. The event will feature discussions on the latest Drupal advancements, tailored for developers and newcomers, alongside networking opportunities. Join this vibrant gathering to connect, share knowledge, and strengthen the growing Drupal community in India.

GitHub launches the Secure Open Source Fund with $1.25 million to boost security in open source projects. The initiative supports 125 projects with $10,000 grants, security training, mentorship, and tools like GitHub Copilot. Applications are open until January 7, 2024, aiming to enhance sustainability and reduce vulnerabilities in the open source ecosystem.

Maciej Łukiański of Droptica dives into Drupal's access management in a Polish-language tutorial on YouTube. The episode covers user roles, permissions, and field-level controls, offering practical tips for tailoring CMS access. A must-watch for Polish-speaking Drupal users aiming to optimize security and content management.

A new Udemy course, Drupal For Beginners - Master Drupal Quickly, offers a step-by-step guide to mastering Drupal without requiring paid hosting. With 3.5 hours of video, articles, and lifetime access, learners can explore essential features like user roles, layouts, and menus. Participants receive a completion certificate, making it a practical entry point into web development.

MidCamp 2025 is accepting session proposals for its annual event, which will be held May 20-22, 2025, at DePaul University in Chicago. Proposals are open until January 12, 2025, and workshops will help speakers refine their submissions. The event features diverse session tracks, community activities, and sponsorship opportunities starting at $600.

DrupalCon Europe has announced The Drop Times as the official Media Partner for DrupalCon Vienna 2025, which will take place from October 14 to 17 in Austria. The Drop Times will provide exclusive updates, content, and coverage leading up to and during the event. Stay tuned for news, workshops, and networking opportunities that celebrate the future of Drupal and open-source innovation.

MidCamp 2025 returns May 20–22 at DePaul University, Chicago, blending Drupal learning and networking. Session proposals are open until January 12, with a workshop on December 12 offering tips from expert Aaron Feledy via Slack. Sharpen your presentation skills and join the Midwest Drupal community!