Drupal CMS 2.1 Adds Site Templates to Speed Website Setup

New Site Templates in Drupal CMS 2.1.0 give organisations a pre-configured starting point for Drupal websites, according to an Acquia blog post by Martin Anderson-Clutz. The feature is intended to reduce the early setup work associated with content models, roles, workflows, permissions, design foundations, and sample content.

The post frames Site Templates as a response to Drupal’s traditional blank-slate starting point, where teams often configure modules, content types, taxonomies, permissions, workflows, and theming before stakeholders can evaluate a working site. Martin argues that pre-configured templates can shorten that initial phase and allow content and project teams to review a functional foundation earlier in the build process.

Drupal.org release notes for Drupal CMS 2.1.0 confirm first-class support for free and premium site templates, including a redesigned installer with a template selection step. The release also adds drush site:export support and a Blank site template that can export an existing site as a template recipe. The Acquia post presents this Recipe API-based approach as an alternative to older distribution models, allowing sites to keep a standard Drupal foundation after the template has been applied.