Jacob Rockowitz Explores ‘Drupal Mode’ for AI Agents

A frustrating AI-assisted coding session prompted Drupal developer and Webform maintainer Jacob Rockowitz to consider a broader question about how artificial intelligence should work with Drupal. Writing on 8 September 2026, Jacob describes what he informally calls “Brat mode,” after a coding assistant repeatedly reversed recent changes while he was trying to resolve a relatively small development problem. Starting a new session with a revised prompt resolved the issue, and Jacob uses the experience to introduce the contrasting idea of a “Drupal mode” for AI agents.

Jacob connects the idea to a wider discussion about Drupal functioning as an AI harness. He points to Martin Anderson-Clutz of Acquia, who has presented and written about Drupal’s potential role as an AI harness. Jacob identifies openness, stability, and scalability as three qualities that originally drew him to Drupal and argues that they could also provide a foundation for AI agents working with the platform.

The idea also connects with work underway through the Drupal AI Initiative, including its Inside AI and Outside AI directions. Inside AI concerns AI capabilities within Drupal, while Outside AI addresses interactions between Drupal and external AI systems. Jacob presents “Drupal mode” as his own extension of that discussion, imagining an agent that understands Drupal’s code and is shaped through community collaboration to use the platform responsibly. For the full discussion, read Vibing Drupal: Switching from “Brat mode” to “Drupal mode”.