News Roundup

Drupal continues to be a leading CMS for enterprises and government institutions, valued for its flexibility, security, and scalability, according to a Salsa Digital report. Powering around 0.9% of global websites, Drupal is especially popular among organizations like Tesla, Pfizer, and over 150 government entities. Its modular structure enables integration with enterprise systems like Salesforce and SAP, making it a cost-effective, adaptable choice for managing complex, high-traffic websites.

Tag1 Consulting’s latest blog by Mauricio Dinarte offers a comprehensive guide for migrating essential configurations from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10. The post emphasizes using configuration "recipes" for text formats, editors, and user roles instead of full migrations, allowing for selective setup of roles and permissions. With step-by-step examples, the guide provides Drupal developers with practical tools to leverage Drupal 10's enhanced content and role management features effectively.

Opencentric’s recent blog post compares Drupal and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), focusing on their distinct strengths for different business needs. Drupal, an open-source CMS, excels in flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, ideal for organizations needing high customization and multisite management. In contrast, AEM’s integrated Adobe Experience Cloud tools and user-friendly design make it a powerful choice for enterprises focused on digital marketing and personalization, despite its higher cost.

Raquel Nunes Fialho from NTT Data presented an innovative approach to managing closed-scope Drupal projects with agile practices at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024. She shared strategies to integrate flexibility, handle feedback efficiently, and curb scope creep using her "3 Rs" technique—Reduce, Reuse, Replace. Emphasizing the importance of communication, Raquel highlighted how a collaborative agile-waterfall mix can build trust, meet client needs, and deliver successful Drupal websites.

Drupal Jedi Master introduces a non-destructive installation technique for Drupal using Drush that preserves the existing database. By leveraging the `drush site:install --existing-config` command, developers can avoid database resets, maintaining data integrity for collaborative and CI workflows. This approach supports streamlined setups while securing consistent configurations across development environments.

Drupaladicto has launched a quick tutorial video, "Headless Drupal with Nuxt 3 | Installation in 6 Minutes," guiding users through setting up a Headless Drupal project using the Lupus Module template. The video offers an accessible, step-by-step installation for both beginners and advanced developers, highlighting the flexibility of Drupal and Nuxt 3 integration. Part of a larger course on CursoDrupal.com, this resource supports the increasing interest in decoupled Drupal solutions.

Systems76 and Tier IV collaborate to accelerate Japan’s autonomous driving technology using open-source innovation and System76’s new Thelio Astra arm64 workstation. This high-performance Arm-based system allows Tier IV to bypass previous hardware bottlenecks, enhancing productivity and enabling Level 4 autonomous software development. Thelio Astra’s compatibility with Linux and cloud-native containers supports critical processes like driving simulations and machine learning training, making it a powerful tool for advancing self-driving tech.

A recent Drupal Helps blog post by Rod Martin explores using ChatGPT to generate functional Drupal modules, achieving promising results. Martin tested ChatGPT on two modules—the “FPS” module for multi-homepage selection and the “Custom Taxonomy Title” module for custom taxonomy page titles. While the AI-produced code saved time and provided structured components, Martin underscores that developers’ foundational knowledge is essential for effective use, especially in debugging and complex tasks.

The Fluent module's latest release for Drupal enhances developer experience with simplified dot notation for accessing fieldable entities like Nodes, Media, and Paragraphs. It enables efficient data retrieval, streamlining code and improving readability with intuitive hierarchical field access. New features include data type conversion and Laravel Collections integration, making field handling more precise and reducing complexity in multi-value data manipulation.

AssistiveTechHub.com has launched a gamified tool to make learning Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) more engaging, especially for users with ADHD or those who find traditional methods dull. Created by developer Ashley Peacock, the free tool introduces interactive challenges to simplify complex WCAG standards. Users are invited to share feedback, helping to improve the tool for others tackling accessibility concepts.

AlmaLinux releases "Kitten 10," an early preview of AlmaLinux OS 10, as a response to Red Hat’s shift away from traditional RHEL betas. This new pipeline allows AlmaLinux to support over 150 previously dropped device frame points and enhances compatibility with IBM Power systems. Although not yet production-ready, Kitten 10 offers users a testing platform and is available on AlmaLinux's official site.

The London Drupal User Group will host a meetup on November 20th, focusing on Test-Driven Development (TDD) and the new Drupal Recipe Autocomplete feature in VSCode. Led by Oliver Davies and Marcelo Vani, the session will guide developers on using automated testing for reliable code and streamlining Drupal workflows with recipe-based coding suggestions. The event, held at The Children’s Society in East London, starts at 6:00 p.m., followed by networking.

Florida DrupalCamp 2025 is set for February 21-23 in Orlando, featuring sessions and workshops for Drupal enthusiasts worldwide. Featured speakers include Lauri Timmanee, Martin Anderson-Clutz, and Kat Shaw, covering topics from accessibility to core Drupal innovations. The event has opened its call for session proposals to enrich its diverse program.

Drupal 7 security support will officially end on January 5, 2025, marking the close of 14 years since its release. After this date, Drupal 7 sites will no longer receive security or compatibility updates, posing compliance risks for standards like FedRAMP, PCI, and HIPAA. The Drupal Association and certified partners offer migration resources, with an Extended Security Support (ESS) program available for those needing more time to upgrade.

DrupalCamp Berlin 2024 kicks off on November 8-9 at the historic Alte Münze, marking the Drupal community’s return to Berlin after a decade. The event features sessions by notable speakers including Marie Dietz on accessibility and inclusive practices, Julien Hofer on AI-driven content management in urban development, and Jürgen Haas on automating Drupal workflows with ECA and BPMN. Marcus Johansson will explore AI text-to-action agents in Drupal, while Joachim Nickel addresses analytics accuracy with Matomo.

Early Bird registration is now open for DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, offering Drupal developers and digital strategists a $100 discount for early sign-ups. This flagship event, scheduled for 2025, promises an extensive agenda of keynotes, technical workshops, and networking opportunities for professionals shaping digital experiences. Training and Summit registrations will open on November 18, adding to the event's in-depth learning opportunities.

Jay Callicot announces major updates to DrupalXS, integrating the Paragraphs module and Tailwind CSS to align with its decoupled counterpart, DrupalXD. The adoption of Paragraphs simplifies content management and reduces maintenance across both systems, while Tailwind CSS enhances styling consistency and performance. With these changes, DrupalX’s anonymous homepage CSS is now under 10KB, showcasing an optimized, efficient framework focused on streamlined user experience.

Pantheon has appointed SaaS veteran Sameer Kazi as CEO to lead its mission of enhancing digital experiences and WebOps efficiency. Kazi, with a background in scaling companies like ExactTarget and ActiveCampaign, steps in as former CEO Bill Ingram transitions to CFO. With Kazi at the helm, Pantheon aims to drive innovation for its 10,000+ customers, focusing on agile, secure web solutions for top enterprises.

DrupalCamp Berlin returns on November 8-9, 2024, marking its first appearance in a decade with key discussions on the future of Drupal CMS. Highlights include Baddy Sonja Breidert's keynote on Drupal’s evolution, Sascha Eggenberger’s insights into the Gin Admin theme, and Nils Adermann’s session on secure Composer practices. This event offers in-depth perspectives on design, security, and PHP’s role in Drupal's growth.

The DropTimes has been named the official media partner for the New England DrupalCamp (NEDCamp) 2024, set for November 15-16 at Rhode Island College. This year’s event will bring together Drupal enthusiasts for workshops, training sessions, and networking, aimed at all experience levels. Through this partnership, The DropTimes will provide in-depth coverage, including session highlights, interviews, and insights for the global Drupal community.

Hernâni Borges de Freitas reflects on DrupalCamp Spain 2024 in Benidorm, where over 250 attendees gathered for talks, networking, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Held entirely in one hotel, the event allowed participants to focus on sessions and connect without logistical worries. Hernâni’s talk, titled “It does NOT work on my computer,” highlighted cloud development environments for smoother collaboration and developer experience. The community will reunite in Cáceres for Drupal Iberia in April 2024, with DrupalCamp Spain 2025 set for Santiago de Compostela.

The October 2024 DrupalACT Meetup in Canberra saw about 20 participants, both in-person and online, gathering to discuss Drupal's latest updates and challenges in development. Key topics included DrupalSouth events, current developer challenges with legacy technology, and a session on future innovations led by Mel Stubbings. Attendees expressed optimism about Drupal’s direction, while emphasizing the need for balanced, tech-savvy project management in future projects.

The Drupal AI module has released its Beta 1, introducing enterprise-level AI tools to the Drupal platform. Announced at DrupalCon Barcelona, this release lays a stable foundation with enhancements like AI Search, Automators, and integration with Drupal’s core views and Search API. Key updates include improved provider flexibility, streamlined search capabilities, and a new AI Ecosystem Recipe that simplifies provider management, with backing from community and corporate partners like Acquia, AWS, and FreelyGive.

Disability rights advocate Chanda Hinton will headline the next A11yTalks event with her session, “Breaking Barriers: The Fight for Disability Competency + Health Equity.” Hinton will share her personal journey and discuss her work with the Chanda Center for Health, which provides integrative healthcare for people with physical disabilities. Her talk will address systemic healthcare barriers and inspire professionals toward a more inclusive approach to disability competency and equitable health practices.

"Drupal at Your Fingertips," an open-source guide by Selwyn Polit, has been updated to support Drupal 9 and 10, offering developers annotated code samples to streamline their work "the Drupal way." The guide consolidates useful code examples to reduce the need for scattered searches on platforms like Drupal.org or Stack Overflow. Developers can also contribute to this community resource via GitHub’s markdown editor, with each contributor recognized on the book's attribution page.

DICTU, the Dutch government’s largest Drupal agency, is hosting a Drupal Developers Day on December 9 in Assen, Netherlands. The free event will feature contributions to Drupal Core and CMS modules and a "First Contrib Workshop" for newcomers. Registration is open until November 25, and more details are available on Drupal.org.

React Online emphasizes responsible AI principles in a newly published guide, highlighting human-centric design, data privacy, and freedom in technology. Reflecting on its 25-year journey, the digital agency underscores the importance of ethical AI alignment with organizational goals while controlling risks. Leveraging Drupal and open-source principles, React Online aims to build a future where AI empowers users, protects privacy, and enhances societal well-being in line with Asimov’s ethics.

Tony Barker leads the new Media Management Track for Drupal CMS, focusing on an improved media management experience set to debut in January. During DrupalCon Barcelona, Barker revealed plans to enhance media asset handling, covering images, videos, and social embeds, and prioritizing website performance, SEO, and accessibility. Through user feedback and the Starshot Product Strategy, the initiative targets a more intuitive editor experience, with the full release scheduled for early 2025.

Drupal 11.1 introduces a modern, object-oriented approach to hooks, allowing them to be implemented as classes instead of plain PHP functions. This shift enhances code organization, aligns Drupal with Symfony’s event-driven architecture, and boosts performance by treating hook classes as services. The new "no_more_hooks" module offers a backward-compatible example, highlighting this update's practical applications for developers.

The DropTimes highlights key open-source events for November 4-10, 2024, including SeaGL in Seattle, Drupal Camp Berlin, Splash Awards Germany & Austria, and Drupal Business Day—all part of Drupal Week Berlin. Also featured is MautiCon 2024 in Lisbon on November 4-5, gathering marketing professionals around open-source marketing automation.

Wellington’s Drupal community will gather on December 12, 2024, at the Southern Cross Garden Bar for their annual Summer Get Together, hosted by Alex Matthews. This event offers Drupal professionals and enthusiasts an evening of networking, project discussions, and platform updates, with a preview of the 2025 meetup plans, including bi-monthly and virtual events. Attendees can expect insights into Drupal’s evolving tools and trends, alongside collaborative planning for the community’s future.

Otter Tech is hosting a Code of Conduct workshop on December 11, 2024, at 14:00 UTC to train Drupal event contacts on handling incident reports with empathy and impartiality. The four-hour session will cover key topics like bias, power dynamics, and practical scenarios, with a $50 discount for Drupal community members. Participants will also receive contribution credits on Drupal.org, highlighting their dedication to fostering a respectful event environment.

Drupal Costa Rica has published a video of its recent online event, which focused on optimizing the development of Single Directory Component (SDC) with the SDC Styleguide module. Led by developer Alejandro Madrigal, the session covered streamlined component creation, style guide integration, and visual regression testing to boost efficiency and design consistency. The video is now available for public viewing.

The Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL) marks its 12th year on November 8-9, 2024, at the University of Washington and online, fostering free software and open-source hardware. Known for inclusivity, SeaGL welcomes all attendees free of charge and without registration, offering an open environment for connection and learning. The event will feature four keynotes and multiple session tracks, embodying the community-driven spirit of open-source collaboration.

BADCamp 2024 brought the Drupal community back together for an engaging two-day event in Oakland, California. Organizer Luke McCormick recounts the vibrant sessions, impactful keynotes, and collaborative spirit that defined the camp, alongside moments like his own presentation on simplifying Drupal project management. From insightful talks to social gatherings, BADCamp 2024 exemplified the energy and camaraderie within the Drupal world.

A recent article by Drupal Jedi Master breaks down environment variables, key tools for configuring application behavior across operating systems. Environment variables, split into system-defined and user-defined types, influence how software interacts with system settings, such as file storage or executable paths. Common examples include PATH, HOME, and TEMP, with management varying by OS, using interfaces like System Properties on Windows or shell commands on Unix/Linux.

Exemplifi has published a comprehensive guide on migrating Drupal websites from Pantheon to AWS, covering crucial steps for a seamless transition. Key tasks include code retrieval, EC2 instance setup, load balancer configuration, and secure database management via Amazon RDS or EC2. Post-launch, the guide recommends smoke testing, SEO checks, and ongoing security practices to ensure the site runs smoothly on AWS infrastructure.

Webwash has released a tutorial video on installing and using the WebProfiler module in Drupal. The WebProfiler module enhances development by adding a toolbar that displays real-time performance data, including database usage, memory, and page load times. With diagnostic tools for request profiling and block rendering, WebProfiler helps developers optimize Drupal sites efficiently.

The Wise Duck Dev GPTs has launched Drupal Ranger AI, a specialized tool designed to simplify Drupal content management with advanced automation and performance enhancements. The tool features performance optimization, automated workflows, and guided troubleshooting, aimed at streamlining complex project management. With distinct modes for general guidance, solutions, debugging, and function explanations, Drupal Ranger AI supports both new and experienced users, driving efficiency across content workflows.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024, set for December 9-11 at Singapore’s luxurious PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, promises cutting-edge sessions, networking events, and exclusive training on Drupal’s latest advancements. Highlights include the first-ever Splash Awards in Asia, keynotes on Drupal’s “Starshot” project, and dedicated networking for agency leaders. Early-bird tickets with a 20% discount are available until November 8, so secure your spot soon for this premier Open-Source gathering.