In previous posts, we’ve covered our Kubernetes framework for an alternative back-end to Aegir5, as well as the front-end Tasks and Operations and Clusters, Projects, Releases, and Environments. We also discussed the Queue architecture that ties the front- and back-ends together. This time, let’s consider the planned feature parity between Aegir 3 and Aegir 5. Clusters, Projects, Releases, and Environments In Aegir3, Servers only have a “verify” task. This ensures that the front end can connect to the server over SSH.

Acquia will continue to keep our platform compatible with Drupal 7 through November 2025, including support for PHP 7.4.

I am happy to share that Lauri Eskola has accepted our invitation to become a Drupal Core Product Manager.

The Core Product Managers communicate with different types of users, gather data about how Drupal is currently being used, and represent Drupal's end users (like site builders and content authors). They help determine the core feature set and work to holistically improve Drupal's out-of-the-box experience.

Lauri has been working with Drupal for almost 13 years. Not only is Lauri a subsystem maintainer of the theme system, Claro, and CKEditor 5, but he has also been a Frontend Framework Manager and a Drupal Core Committer since 2017.

Throughout the years, Lauri's enthusiasm for driving user-facing improvements has grown. In light of this, we have decided to transition Lauri's role from being a Drupal Core Frontend Framework Manager to becoming a Product Manager.

Lauri is looking forward to helping the project by prioritizing and supporting efforts to make Drupal an even more powerful tool for ambitious site builders.

You must be caught up in the debate between proprietary and open-source platforms. This debate has captivated the minds of industry leaders and enthusiasts alike while sparking confusion and hindering informed decision-making. But let’s face it: There’s a lot of misinformation floating around.

Choosing the right platform becomes even more important in this fast-moving digital landscape, as it can impact everything from innovation to security and cost. Uncover the truth through this article as it dispels the top three myths about proprietary and open-source platforms, empowering you to make a well-informed decision for your organization's progress.

DrupalCon Pittsburgh kicks off with an inspiring keynote by Dries Buytaert, focusing on innovation and the future of Drupal. Attendees are excited about the upcoming sessions, networking opportunities, and the latest updates. Watch the keynote on YouTube to learn more about the state of the Drupal project and its visionary founder's insights. Stay tuned for more highlights from DrupalCon Pittsburgh.

It’s time to transform and improve the Layout Builder UI experience. What if we could rewrite it using React? Check out our video pitch (made using React), which received the highest average rank in the Pitch-burgh contest at DrupalCon!

by lee.rowlands / 6 June 2023

At PreviousNext, we enjoy getting curious, tackling challenges and finding innovative solutions for our clients and the wider Drupal community. This constant drive for the future is why we’re such prolific contributors to the Drupal project. 

What if we used our curiosity and expertise to explore the concept of a decoupled Layout Builder?

 

The Pitch

Simply put, we believe creating a better experience for the Layout Builder user interface is possible. Getting there would mean leveraging a modern Javascript framework, like React, that communicates with Drupal over JSON.

We would plan to design an API that describes the future state of how a Decoupled Layout Builder could work, dramatically enhancing the content editor experience and bringing Drupal into the modern era of web UX. It would also strengthen Drupal’s reputation with marketers.

 

The case for an improved Layout Builder user experience

What if Layout Builder could move forward? It’s currently built with Drupal technologies that haven't significantly progressed in ten years.

Page edits use Drupal's AJAX API, which requires a round trip back to the server to perform UI updates. The server updates state on the server side and then returns a series of Javascript commands to update the page state.

This round trip is inconsistent with the instant experience users expect from the modern web. 

 

Our solution

Applications that leverage modern Javascript frameworks perform optimistic updates. They update the UI immediately and then update state on the server in the background.

We want layout retrieval and updates to happen in real time for more dynamic editing. To achieve this, we would rebuild the Layout Builder UI using React and identify the pain points.

This would be a significant jump, similar to the change to the block-based editor in WordPress.

Rather than starting from scratch, we could leverage a lot of prior art from the WordPress community. However, we would also bring our strengths into play, retaining our uniquely Drupal focus on structured data instead of serialising to HTML. 

 

Proof of concept

React is the best and most obvious option for the proof of concept. It was selected as the framework of choice for Drupal core development and has a large ecosystem. It was also successful in helping set WordPress up for the future. 

What if it’s Drupal’s turn next?

To retain structured data, it would be necessary to provide React versions of our existing formatters and widgets and a way for developers to create their own.

This approach would require a Javascript way of declaring layouts. Again, we could take a lot of this from existing layout plugins but would require a React component for the HTML representation.

We would also need to incorporate a Javascript way of declaring blocks. Much could be derived from our existing structured content modelling. However, assuming there would be a build step where this data is used for scaffolding Javascript code is reasonable.

JSON:API could be leveraged where possible, but we envisage needing to make new JSON endpoints for data that doesn't map to entities.

Once we had achieved a non-twig way of rendering widgets, formatters, blocks and layouts, we could keep the layout state in the browser, mutate it immediately and persist to the backend in the background.

 

Is a decoupled Layout Builder feasible?

There are a number of hard problems we'll need to solve here, such as how we allow modules to ship Javascript that relies on bundling, how we ensure there's only one version of React loaded into the page, and how we allow modules to rely on other packages from npm. Solving those will be a big part of this work, and even if a React-powered Layout Builder doesn't make its way from experimental to stable, the lessons learned in the process could solve some long-standing hard problems for Drupal in the front end space.

 

React in video

We decided it would be a fitting way to demonstrate how powerful React is by using it to make our Pitch-burgh video submission. 

We received the highest average rank when the video was shown during the Driesnote address at DrupalCon Pittsburgh, and look forward to the next steps for this exciting concept. 

Huge shout out to the team who worked on creating the pitch video especially the wizard of words Fiona, frontend Guru Jack and the excellent QA and GIF selection from Kim and Tina.

Enjoy!

The How and Why of AI: Drupal Modules for OpenAI/ChatGPT Integration amanda Mon, 06/05/2023 - 18:57

ChatGPT, one of the most well-known innovations by OpenAI, captivated the world’s attention from the first day of its release. It can have human-like conversations and assist people with various tasks from generating content ideas or drafting business plans to writing code. 

/sites/default/files/styles/original/public/2023-06/opened-ai-chat-laptop.jpg.webp?itok=AYvHNpPi Tags Drupal Planet Drupal Drupal Modules Feature as an event Off Service Category Develop Custom Web Apps APIs IsGated 0 IsDownloadable 0

Today we are talking about The ECA Module with Jürgen Haas.

For show notes visit: www.talkingDrupal.com/402

Topics

• What does ECA stand for
• What does ECA do
• Is ECA a replacement for Rules
• Team
• Hardest feature to implement
• Performance
• What is BPMN
• Using the module
• When wouldn’t you use the module
• Roadmap
• Helping with ECA

Resources

• Bpmnio
• BPMN
• Camunda
• HTTP Client Manager
• ECA Video Stream/Library
  • Sessions and link to the live stream will be pre-announced in the #ECA channel on Drupal Slack, at the latest an hour prior to the event. It is held on Fridays 3pm CEST/1pm UTC/9am EST/6am PST
• ECA Guide

Guests

Jürgen Haas - www.lakedrops.com @jurgenhaas

Hosts

Nic Laflin - www.nLighteneddevelopment.com @nicxvan John Picozzi - www.epam.com @johnpicozzi

I have had an idea for a few years. It is the greatest yet worst idea I’ve had for four years. Some 400,000 Drupal 7 sites report to Drupal.org through the Update module. Drupal 7's end-of-life is coming on November 1, 2023, and has been a continual topic of discussion. 

DrupalCon Pittsburgh starts today. The much-awaited event is hosted by the ‘Steel City,’ Pittsburgh. DrupalCon Pittsburgh 2023 comes with a bunch of hitherto unseen events and programs. From budding developers to pros, Drupal enthusiasts will converge in Pittsburgh to learn, relearn and contribute to Drupal.

Pitch-burgh is, of course, one of the most awaited events at DrupalCon. As per the reports, 35 submissions have been made to this shark-tank-inspired investment drive. The submitted ideas have demanded $507,500 in total. Also, the submissions came from all over the world, including Vietnam, Netherlands, Germany, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Peru. Let us wait for the winners and their winning pitches.

A team from TheDropTimes (TDT) is there to cover the DrupalCon. If you see any of them wearing a tee with the TDT logo, stop them and ask them to feature you. Follow TDT for exciting stories from the DrupalCon venue.

That said, let us look at the most essential stories from the past week.

TDT has a few interviews coming through to you in connection with DrupalCon. As the first among them, Alethia Braganza, sub-editor, TDT, spoke to Renato Gonçalves, software engineer at CI&T. Renato is a speaker at the event. In the interview, he talks about his Drupal journey, career, and his contribution to the community. Follow this link to read the complete interview.

DrupalCon took to Twitter to announce the number of entries and amount received for DrupalCon Pitch-burgh. A total of 35 submissions with $507,500 was requested. Apart from learning valuable lessons from the sessions, the event offers a chance to gain Acquia certification. The attendees can test their knowledge and skills and earn an Acquia Certification credential at the DrupalCon venue.

Promet Source has published a new blog post that lists the important DrupalCon sessions connected with governments. Read the article to know more. ImageX has curated a selection of intriguing DrupalCon sessions specifically for Drupal developers.

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, WordPress hosted a private event on May 17, where co-founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little sat down with Drupal founder Dries Buytaert on stage at the Royal Society of Arts in London. Read our report about the interaction.

As the US celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month in June, Drupal Association has issued a statement restating its commitment to the rights of the community.

The Drupal Association has announced the addition of Alex Moreno to its team, a significant step in the organization’s ongoing commitment to becoming more globally diverse. An article published by Lullabot sheds light on why Lullabot actively contributes to the Drupal community and the benefits it brings to their organization.

A new community initiative launched by Drupalize.me aims to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals involved in learning and working with Drupal, regardless of their membership status with Drupalize.me. A blog post published by Four Kitchens discusses how Yale University tackled the challenges of managing many websites and outdated Drupal 7 by implementing a new digital platform called YaleSites. In a recent blog post, ImageX examines how an open-source CMS like Drupal is bound to improve the website’s security.

The ‘Digital Experience Podcast,’ launched by Dropsolid, is a series of podcast episodes that cover topics like digital experiences, strategy, and technologies like Drupal, Mautic, Apache Unomi, and DXP ecosystems. Read more about it here.

In a significant new development, adding a new feather to Drupal’s cap, Syngenta and Genero have developed a web application to support the usage of agricultural drones. Acquia has released certification exams for Drupal 10 in Japanese. The Japanese version of the tests is available from May 30, 2023.

A recent article by Web Asmek discusses the uses and functions of PHP operators. Read our report on it. A blog post published by SystemSeed provides tips and tricks for finding the right Drupal maintenance partner. A recent blog post by Altudo puts forward a headless content management system (CMS) to solve the problem of website speed.

A recent blog post by Drupal Commerce Solution Architecture explored the complexities surrounding editing “placed” orders in Drupal Commerce websites. Tech blog iSpectra recently published a compelling blog post highlighting the top five reasons why Drupal should be considered a robust tool for mobile app development.

The June edition of A11yTalks is scheduled for the 14th Wednesday. This month’s topic will be ‘Accessibility First Thinking for Developers.’ A range of training programs from Promet Source is to commence from June 12 onwards. Drupal enthusiasts in Concord, North Carolina, and surrounding areas are to attend the monthly Drupal meetup, which will take place on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. The Drupal User Group Hamburg & Schleswig Holstein has scheduled the next of its monthly meetings for Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Sincerely,

Thomas Alias K,
Sub Editor, TheDropTimes

Drupal is often chosen by large organizations for several reasons. Here are some key factors that make Drupal a popular choice: Scalability: Drupal is highly scalable, allowing organizations to handle large amounts of content, traffic, and user interactions. Its flexible architecture and robust performance capabilities enable it to accommodate the complex needs of large-scale websites and applic

In this video, I cover how to get the very best editorial experience from Layout Builder.

by daniel.veza / 5 June 2023

Layout Builder can be intimidating, but without it, editors can struggle to build dynamic layouts. And paragraphs just won't cut it.

Some people may think twice before using Layout Builder. Sometimes that's because handing over control of the presentation layer of a website poses a barrier for them.

But Layout Builder has evolved, and in fact, I would argue, should be embraced. It's an immediately improved experience that, for instance, lets you preview your page as you're editing it.

In the video below, I cover the modules that can be used to enhance and control the Layout Builder experience. Specifically, Layout Builder Claro, Layout Builder Lock, Layout Builder Restrictions, and Layout Builder Browser. 

I also talk about approaches we have taken to empower the content editorial experience while keeping the front end consistent, such as removing the need for editors to know how field formatters work by implementing custom blocks.

For an example of how we've used Layout Builder to improve the editorial experience, check out the summary of our work on the Bond University.

Watch the video

You can also check out my slides from DrupalSouth in Wellington. 

Most people in the Drupal Community are aware of the role the Community Working Group  (CWG) plays to support community health. For those of you who may not be, in short, the CWG is a group of volunteers from our community who come together to support the Drupal space to make it a healthy, productive environment that supports all its members. It consists of two teams: the Community Health Team (CHT) which acts as both a resource and works to develop and/or support community initiatives, and the Conflict Resolution Team (CRT) which is responsible for helping to uphold Drupal’s Code of Conduct and facilitate communication when tension arises. Read more about our charter. All members of the Conflict Resolution Team are now required to serve on the Community Health team prior to joining the CRT to ensure a well-rounded understanding of the initiatives and barriers faced within our community.

The Conflict Resolution Team members aim to serve no more than three years which means that we are frequently in need to recruit and onboarding new members to allow seasoned members to roll off into a Subject Matter Expert (SME)/advisory role.

Currently, the Conflict Resolution Team is looking to add one or two members to our team within the next three to six months or so. Do you or someone you know have a passion for sustaining the health and sense of psychological security within our community? If so, reach out to at drupal-cwg at drupal dot org to learn more. We’d love to talk to you.

Velir will be at Drupalcon Pittsburgh next week and have a couple of talks that we are presenting!

The Impact of Blockchain on Web Development Editor Fri, 06/02/2023 - 13:37

Some believe the term "blockchain" is relevant only to cryptocurrencies and NFTs. These concepts are based on this method, but blockchain has dramatically expanded in recent years, affecting many areas, including web development. Such a decentralized algorithm is set to revolutionize the digital product development industry by reducing the risks of cybercrime, illegal access, and other fraudulent schemes. Let's discuss how blockchain affects programming today and what we should expect from this platform in the long run.

Picture this: an intuitive administration toolbar, seamless configuration management, dynamic content generation, and tailored site settings—all at your fingertips. With over 40,000 Drupal modules and 2500+ themes available, the potential to enhance your digital journey and revolutionize your experience as a website administrator or owner is unparalleled.

Moreover, you can effortlessly optimize your website, personalize content and tailor the Drupal interface to match your unique requirements. From Admin tools to Site settings and labels, each module offers a unique set of features that will supercharge your Drupal experience. Read the article to learn about the top five Drupal modules you need to install right away.

DrupalCon Pittsburgh 2023 is an incredible experience you wouldn't want to miss! I have had the privilege of attending multiple DrupalCons over the past ten years both as an engineer and CEO of Five Jars. Before entering this technological carnival, let me share a few tips and findings.

As we gather in June for DrupalCon North America, we are gathering during LGBTQ Pride Month in the U.S., a celebration of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising which was a tipping point for the gay liberation movement and spurred the growth of LGBT support organizations from 50 to 1,500 during the following year.  As an important part of U.S. history, President Obama established the Stonewall National Monument on June 23, 2016. Pride is recognized in June in many countries around the world to continue the fight for LGBTQ+ equity globally.

But we are also gathering at a time in the U.S. in which transgender rights are coming under attack in many states and local communities.

For this reason, the Drupal Association felt it important to restate our values, which are the values that run through open source itself and are values that guide our internal policies and our work with the Drupal Community.  At the core of our beliefs lies the principle that every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

• We believe that supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion is important because it is the right thing to do and because it is essential to the health and success of the project.
• We seek to support diversity, equity, and inclusion and reduce hatred, oppression, and violence, especially towards our LGBTQ+ community members.  
• We will not accept intolerance towards LGBTQ+ community members. Every person is welcome (though every behavior is not).
• We acknowledge the unique experiences of our LGBTQ+ community members and commit to amplifying their voices.

The Drupal Association unequivocally supports legal protections that ensure LGBTQ+ individuals are afforded the same rights and opportunities as their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, unimpaired by personal prejudices or systems of oppression.  This includes marriage equality, right to gender affirming medical care, right to privacy and comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that encompass employment, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations.

Join industry experts at DrupalCon Pittsburgh as they explore strategies to empower and accelerate the Drupal community's progress towards its strategic goals. Discover opportunities to broaden adoption, enable experts, drive contributions, and organize better. Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of Drupal

Coming to DrupalCon Pittsburgh? Be sure to stop by our booth and say hello!

Once again, Electric Citizen is sponsoring the great Drupal get-together, and we're looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones while we're there.

Whether you are looking for an agency partner for your organization, or looking for your next job in Drupal, stop by our booth in the exhibit hall to chat.