News Roundup

Nominees for the inaugural DrupalCon Singapore Splash Awards will be announced on November 18, 2024, highlighting top Drupal projects from Asia and the Asia Pacific region. Winners will be revealed at a gala on December 9 at PARKROYAL Collection Marina Bay, with Drupal founder Dries Buytaert presenting the "Best in Show" award. The event celebrates innovation, creativity, and technical excellence in Drupal-based digital experiences.

The 2024 Web Almanac reveals both progress and persistent challenges in web accessibility. Mike Gifford’s chapter on Accessibility highlights moderate gains, such as increased use of media queries for user preferences and improved performance in Google Lighthouse audits. However, significant issues remain, with 30% of mobile sites lacking proper color contrast and limited use of valid language tags, essential for screen reader accuracy.

Join DrupalNYC’s virtual Lunch & Learn for an hour of discussions on "Asymmetric Visibility for PHP Properties," "Community-Driven Development," and "Automattic’s Open Source Approach." Open to all Drupal enthusiasts, this event fosters learning, collaboration, and networking within the Drupal community.

The Drop Times is the official media partner for DICTU's Drupal Developers Day 2024, happening on December 9 in Assen, Netherlands. Hosted by DICTU, this event offers hands-on contributions to Drupal core, modules, and patches, along with workshops for newcomers and mentorship opportunities. It highlights open-source innovation and networking within the vibrant Drupal community.

DrupalSouth Melbourne 2025 extends session submission deadline to November 17, 2024. Prospective speakers are invited to present insights in sessions ranging from 15 to 45 minutes at the event, taking place March 11-13 at ACMI. Selected speakers will be notified by December 2 and awarded complimentary or discounted tickets.

The deadline for session submissions to DrupalSouth Melbourne 2025 is today, closing at 23:59 AEDT. Scheduled for March 11-13 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the event invites experts in the Drupal ecosystem to contribute on diverse topics, with selected speakers receiving complimentary tickets. Applicants will be notified by December 2, 2024.

GovCMS, a custom Drupal distribution, is designed to meet the stringent web standards of the Australian government. Built on Drupal Core, it includes tailored themes, modules, and security policies that align with governmental compliance needs. GovCMS offers a secure, scalable, and cost-effective platform, making it ideal for public sector web management while adhering to Australian security standards.

A new blog post on Drupal Sapiens examines effective URL creation and management in Drupal, focusing on the versatile Drupal\Core\Url class. The article outlines methods for generating URLs from various sources, handling redirects, and customizing options like absolute paths and query parameters. This guide is a valuable resource for developers looking to streamline URL management in Drupal projects.

An e-book by Acquia and ImageX explores how Drupal is transforming digital experiences in higher education. Titled 'Meeting the Complex Needs of Higher Education Institutions,' the guide highlights Drupal's strengths in personalization, integration, and scalability for academic environments. Featuring case studies and actionable strategies, the resource demonstrates Drupal's role in boosting engagement and streamlining information across campus communities.

A Third and Grove blog by Nathaniel Catchpole examines persistent legacy issues in Drupal, from outdated APIs to redundant hooks, that obstruct seamless development. The piece highlights unresolved transitions like the Batch API and Entity module limitations, urging for high-impact upgrades and early deprecation planning. Inspired by the Bug Smash Initiative, the proposed roadmap aims to phase out these legacy elements to create a cleaner, modernized Drupal experience.

LibreOffice's Month of Contributions, running through November invites participants worldwide to support and improve the open-source office suite. With roles like Handy Helpers, Code Crunchers, and Drum Beaters, contributors of all skill levels can get involved in everything from user support to code development. Participants can earn rewards, including sticker packs and exclusive LibreOffice merchandise, as they connect with the global LibreOffice community.

FOSS United, a non-profit in India, is pushing to elevate the country's FOSS ecosystem with grassroots projects, community events, and initiatives like City Communities and FOSS Clubs. Their flagship events, including the IndiaFOSS conference and FOSS Hack hackathon, aim to inspire open-source development and collaborative innovation. Through these efforts, FOSS United hopes to drive a vibrant culture of FOSS across India, bridging community and industry for social good.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 returns to Asia for the first time in 8 years, promising a dynamic agenda for the global Drupal community from December 9-11. Key sessions include insights on peer code review, sustainable digital marketing, and the much-anticipated Starshot project, setting the stage for Drupal's future. Attendees can also look forward to hands-on training, networking, and the inaugural DrupalCon Splash Awards at Marina Bay's PARKROYAL COLLECTION hotel. Early bird tickets are available for this limited-space event.

Florida DrupalCamp 2025 is set for February 21-23 in Orlando, offering three days of sessions, workshops, and networking for Drupal enthusiasts worldwide. The event’s updated website boasts a new design, enhancing accessibility and ease of registration. Session proposals are now open, inviting contributions from speakers across the Drupal community.

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has launched the Open Source AI Definition to promote transparency, collaboration, and accountability in AI. This new definition ensures AI systems labelled "open source" grant the freedom to use, study, modify, and share their code, data, and model parameters. OSI encourages organisations to endorse this definition, advocating openness as AI becomes increasingly influential in society.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 offers a limited-time 20% discount on “Standard” tickets until November 17 with code “LASTCHANCE.” Scheduled for December 9–11, this event marks Drupal’s first return to Asia in six years, featuring training, networking, and the inaugural DrupalCon Splash Awards. Visit the DrupalCon website to secure discounted tickets before the deadline.

The Palermo Drupal community is launching its first official meetup on November 14, organized by Vincenzo Gambino and Francesco Maria Battaglia. The event will feature expert-led sessions, including Giuseppe Piazza's presentation on new features in Drupal 11, a remote session by Acquia UK's Marcelo Vani on the VS Code extension for Drupal Recipes, and a demonstration from Gambino on the Drupal AI module, showcasing advanced AI integrations. The meetup is expected to foster a dedicated space for Drupal developers and enthusiasts in Palermo, marking an exciting step for the local tech community.

Morpht has developed GovFlix, a new proof-of-concept project designed to improve content delivery through personalised recommendations. Built on the GovCMS SaaS platform, GovFlix uses Recombee and Convivial Profiler to create unique content experiences for each user, adapting suggestions based on browsing behaviour. Murray Woodman, Morpht’s co-founder, will present the project at DrupalSouth Community Day, explaining how content recommender systems like GovFlix can transform user engagement across government and other sectors.

The New England Drupal Camp (NEDCamp) is back on November 15-16, 2024, uniting the Drupal community for workshops and knowledge-sharing. With sessions tailored to all levels, the highlight event on Saturday, November 16, will feature 10 key sessions covering the latest in Drupal. Attendees can look forward to in-depth learning on the newest trends, tools, and techniques in Drupal development.

DrupalCamp Chattanooga 2024 featured James Candan's talk on "Why A Career in Drupal?" sharing insights on the benefits of a Drupal career and CMS choice. Candan, a self-taught PHP and Drupal developer, highlighted his journey and encouraged newcomers through the "Drupal In A Day" training session. The session, now available on YouTube, offers a complete view of Drupal’s potential for beginners.

A career in free and open-source software (FOSS) brings both personal and financial rewards, with a high demand for skilled professionals, especially in cloud technologies. The Linux Professional Institute’s recent article outlines essential steps, from mastering Linux to learning community conventions, for building a successful FOSS career. Engaging with FOSS communities offers professionals opportunities to develop in-demand skills and contribute to globally impactful projects.

Pasan Gamage’s latest blog post delves into functional JavaScript testing for Drupal within DDEV, focusing on realistic user interaction tests in a new Drupal setup. Highlighted tests include an Address Field User Create Form Test, allowing anonymous users to use autocomplete features during registration, while authenticated user tests examine similar fields in content types. The article also guides readers on observing tests visually with Selenium in DDEV, offering a practical approach to advanced Drupal testing setups.

LocalGov Drupal Week 2024, running from November 11 to 15, offers a virtual gathering for digital professionals focused on public sector innovation. The event includes sessions on best practices, case studies, and solutions for improving digital governance in local councils. Designed for council members, suppliers, and digital experts, it’s a prime opportunity for learning, collaboration, and networking across the public service digital landscape.

NEDCamp 2024, set for November 15-16 at Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island, is a hub for Drupal enthusiasts to share knowledge, sharpen skills, and connect. This year’s event includes the Higher Education Summit, led by Ivan Stegic, focusing on leadership in academic digital transformation, and a keynote by Karen McGrane and Jeff Eaton on modular CMS challenges. Training sessions cover essential topics like Agile workflows and design tools, while Contribution Day invites attendees to collaborate on projects like Project Browser and Recipes. The camp closes with a Community Social, fostering connections in a relaxed setting.

DrupalCamp Chattanooga has published videos from its November 2nd event on YouTube, showcasing sessions on Drupal, WordPress, and open-source technology. At Chattanooga State Community College, the camp gathered web developers to learn and network. These recordings extend the camp's educational impact, allowing a broader audience to benefit from expert insights.

Drupal 7 will reach its end of life on January 5, 2025, ending official support and security updates. Morpht advises site owners to treat this as a chance to rebuild, optimize, and secure their websites, offering migration, UX, and information architecture support to ease the transition. For simpler needs, WordPress may be an option, but complex sites can leverage Morpht's tools like Convivial CXP for a smooth migration path within Drupal.

Agiledrop's October 2024 roundup highlights key updates in the Drupal community, including Dries Buytaert’s thoughts on solving the Maker-Taker problem with a contribution credit system. Donna Bungard announced the opening of nominations for the 2025 Aaron Winborn Award, while Michael Anello praised the upcoming object-oriented hooks in Drupal 11.1 for improved performance. Other highlights include insights on Drupal’s versatility, market adoption, and user-friendly CMS features for non-technical users.

Drupal Developer Days 2025 will gather Drupal enthusiasts and developers in Leuven, Belgium, from April 15 to 18. Hosted by Drupal User Group Belgium, this in-person event will offer sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities for skill-building and community engagement. A prime event for Drupal professionals, it promises insights and updates on the latest in Drupal development.

DrupalCon Singapore 2024 will offer hands-on training sessions on December 11 at the PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, covering Site Building, Module Development, and Headless Drupal. Led by experts, these sessions cater to all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned developers, with courses by Pixel Onion, DrupalEasy, and Axelerant. Discounted bundled tickets are available for early registrants, with a special rate for students if purchased by November 10.

With just a day until the GovCMS 2024 Mega Meetup at Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, anticipation builds as the GovCMS community prepares for sessions on digital transformation. Highlights include a keynote from Possum Michael Hodgkin on content personalization, a 2025 content reuse initiative from the Digital Transformation Agency, and insights on digital identity by Penelope Jones. The event will wrap up with the Community Awards, celebrating standout contributions in GovCMS.

The New England Drupal Camp (NEDCamp) 2024 kicks off November 15-16 at Rhode Island College, gathering Drupal enthusiasts from across New England for training, collaboration, and networking. The event features a Higher-Ed Summit, training sessions, and keynotes by industry leaders Karen McGrane, Jeff Eaton, and Ivan Stegic. Sponsored by Oomph and other contributors, this year’s NEDCamp promises valuable insights and community-driven experiences for all attendees.