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Jan 31 2024
Jan 31

DrupalCon is the most significant open-source tech event in North America. Mark your calendars, as DrupalCon Portland is returning to the City of Roses this 6-9 May 2024! Whether you're a seasoned Drupal pro or just starting your open-source journey, DrupalCon Portland 2024 has something for everyone.

You might wonder why you should attend DrupalCon. Read on to learn why DrupalCon Portland 2024 is a must-attend event!

Elevate Your Skills

Power up your expertise! DrupalCon Portland will gather the brightest minds in the Drupal ecosystem. Attend mind-bending sessions, interactive workshops, and cutting-edge keynotes to amplify your skills. Elevate your Drupal game and bring a competitive edge to your projects. You’ll also have access to job fairs and opportunities to develop your resume. Students and recent alums of universities, colleges, high schools, trade schools, and Drupal training programs can take advantage of $50 student-priced tickets!

Forge Powerful Connections

Connect and conquer! DrupalCon isn’t just about code; it's about connections. Network with industry leaders, fellow developers, and creative minds. Forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and immerse yourself in a community that fuels success. Your next extensive collaboration might just be a handshake away.

Ride the Wave of Drupal Trends and AI

Stay ahead of the curve! DrupalCon is your gateway to the latest trends in Drupal. From groundbreaking features to emerging technologies, ride the wave of innovation. Gain insights into the future of Drupal and position yourself as a pioneer in the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Unleash the Drupal Spirit

It is more than an event – it's a celebration! DrupalCon is where the Drupal spirit comes to life. Engage in fun activities, socialize with like-minded individuals for robust conversations, and celebrate the strength of our community. Let's make memories together at DrupalCon Portland 2024!

Vibrant social after-hour events

Unwind and celebrate with the community at after-hours gatherings and explore the charming city of Portland. This year’s event will have a revamped Welcome Reception party with interactive elements and an exciting Trivia night on Thursday! There are also sponsored events from our partners for attendees to enjoy.

For more details on DrupalCon Portland 2024, register for the event on 6 February! We can’t wait to see you in the City of Roses.

Jan 24 2024
Jan 24

Drupal's contribution recognition system is a key part of the way we recognize and incentivize contribution in the Drupal project. It's a system that needs constant care and feeding, both to ensure that we're recognizing the many kinds of contributions people and organizations are making, and to ensure that the system itself is proportional and fair for the effort being put in.

Event Sponsorship credit

We're about to introduce a new way for organizations to improve their marketplace rank. Drupal.org/community/events has allowed organizers to feature their sponsors since the beginning. Now, those sponsors listed will automatically receive contribution credit as well. To start, this will be a fixed amount for small events and a larger one for DrupalCon, but in the future, in collaboration with event organizers, we'd like it to scale to each sponsor's level of support.

We hope this will encourage companies to do the important work of financially supporting the grass roots events that help our community thrive. (And reward those who already do!). 

Reducing redundancy

We're also making a small tweak to the system this week related to how we recognize Contributor Roles. Contributor Roles are community submitted, and represent all of the many ways contribution happens in our community. However, we want to avoid double counting credit for certain types of roles. For example, issue credit is a fundamental pillar of our contribution recognition system, and some of our community roles such as 'Project Contributor' are also organically receiving credit from issues. 

We will no longer be granting marketplace rank to organizations sponsoring roles that are already represented in other ways, and we'll update the contributor role descriptions to reflect when this restriction applies. 

We expect this change to help level the playing field between some organizations who've made extensive use of the role system, and others who have kept a laser focus on contribution and innovation directly in issues.

Jan 22 2024
Jan 22

2023 has been an eventful year, full of ideas, discussions and plans regarding innovation, where Drupal is heading, and, in our case, how the Drupal Association can best support. On top of that, you may have already heard, but innovation is a key goal for the Drupal Association.

Drupal is nothing but a big, decentralized, community. And before we can even think of how we can innovate, we need to understand how contribution actually happens and evolves in our ecosystem. And one of the things we agreed early on was that, without numbers, we don’t even know where we are going. 

For that reason in 2024 we want to introduce you to part of the work we’ve been doing during the last part of 2023 to make sure that we know where we are coming from, we understand where we are going and how the changes we are doing are affecting (or not) the whole contribution ecosystem. I want to introduce you to the Contribution Health Dashboards (CHD).

The CH dashboards should help identify what stops or blocks people from contributing, uncover any friction, and if any problems are found, help to investigate and apply adequate remedies while we can as well measure those changes.

One thing to note is that the numbers we are showing next are based on the contribution credit system. The credit system has been very successful in standardizing and measuring contributions to Drupal.  It also provides incentives to contribute to Drupal, and has raised interest from individuals and organizations.

Using the credit system to evaluate the contribution is not 100% perfect, and it could show some flaws and imperfections, but we are committed to review and improve those indicators regularly, and we think it’s the most accurate way to measure the way contribution happens in Drupal.

It must be noted as well that the data is hidden, deep, in the Drupal.org database. Extracting that data has proved a tedious task, and there are numbers and statistics that we would love to extract in the near future to validate further the steps we are taking. Again, future reviews of the work will happen during the next months while we continue helping contributors to continue innovating.

You can find the dashboards here, in the Contribution Health Dashboards, but keep reading next to understand the numbers better.

Unique individuals and organisations

Jumping to what matters here, the numbers, one of the most important metrics to understand in the Drupal ecosystem is the number of contributions of both individuals and organisations.

Unique individual credits and credits year over year

As you can see, the number of individuals has stayed relatively stable, while their contribution has been more and more significant over the years (except for a slide in the first year of the pandemic). In a way this is telling us that once a user becomes a contributor, they stay for the long run. And, in my opinion, the numbers say that they stay actually very committed.

The number of organisations on the other hand displays a growing healthy trend. This shows that organisations are an important partner for Drupal and the Drupal Association, bringing a lot of value in the form of (but not just) contributors.

Unique organizational contributors and their credits year over year

It definitely means that we need to continue supporting and listening to them. It’s actually a symbiotic relationship. These companies support and help moving forward, not just Drupal, but the whole concept of the Open Web. And their involvement doesn’t end up there, as their daily role in expanding the reach, the number of instances and customers of every size using Drupal is as well key.

In practical terms in 2023 we have been meeting different companies and organisations, and the plan is to continue listening and finding new ways to help their needs in 2024 and beyond. One of the things we are releasing soon is the list of priorities and strategic initiatives where your contributions, as individuals as well as organisations, are most meaningful. This is something I have been consistently asked for when meeting with those individuals and organisations, and I think it’s going to make a big difference unleashing innovation in Drupal. I recommend you to have a look at the blog post about the bounty program.

First year contributors

The next value we should be tracking is how first time users are interacting with our ecosystem.

While the previous numbers are encouraging, we have a healthy ecosystem of companies and a crowd of loyal individuals contributing to the project, making sure that we onboard and we make it easier and attractive for new generations to contribute to the project is the only possible way to ensure that this continues to be the case for many years to come.

That’s why we are looking at first time contributions, or said differently, how many users make a first contribution in their first 12 months from joining the project. During 2024 I would like to look deeper into this data, reveal contribution data further on time, like after 24 and 36 months. For now this will be a good lighthouse that we can use to improve the contribution process.

New users with a contribution in the first 12 months

Although last year's numbers give us a nice feeling of success, we want to be cautious about them, and try to make sure that the trend of previous years of a slight decline does not continue.

That is the reason why my first priority during the first months of 2024 is to review the registration process and the next step for new users on their contribution journey. From the form they are presented, to the documentation we are facilitating, to the messages we are sending them in the weeks and months after.

The changes we make should be guided as well by the next important graph, which is the Time To First Contribution. In other words, the amount of time a new user has taken to make their first contribution to Drupal.

/files/average-time-to-first-contribution-by-registration-year.png

You’ll see that the Contribution Health Dashboards includes other data that I have not mentioned in this post. It does not mean that it is not equally important, but given the Drupal Association has a finite amount of resources, we consider that this is the data that we need to track closely to get a grasp of the health of our contribution system.

For now, have a look at the Contribution Health Dashboards to get a grasp of the rest of the information that we have collected. If you are curious about the numbers and maybe would like to give us a hand, please do not hesitate to send me a message at [email protected]

Jan 18 2024
Jan 18

The Drupal Association is excited to announce the DrupalCon Portland 2024 t-shirt design contest! For this year's DrupalCon North America, we want to see the Drupal community's design ideas for the official DrupalCon Portland t-shirt. Do you have a fantastic idea in mind? Let’s see your creativity!

The winner will get THEIR design on the front of the official t-shirt for DrupalCon Portland 2024!

Make your mark at DrupalCon Portland! Enter our t-shirt design contest.

Now, for the finer details…

Your design must include the DrupalCon Logo and will only be featured on the front of the t-shirt. Sponsor logos will be added to the t-shirts sleeves after the design is finalized. Specs: PNG or PDF preferred, 16 inches tall, and graphics need to be 300 dpi. All designs must be submitted by 12 February 2024 at 24:00 UTC, after which the submission form will close.

The top four designs as chosen by the Drupal Association will then be voted upon by the public, with voting closing on 28 February. The winning design will be on the front of the official DrupalCon Portland 2024 t-shirt and will be announced during the Driesnote at the conference! The winner will receive a complimentary ticket to their choice of either DrupalCon Portland 2024 or DrupalCon North America 2025.

How do I enter?

To enter: Simply create your design, then fill out our submission form by 12 February to submit your final design. We also ask that you include a sentence or two describing why you chose your design and how it represents the Drupal community.

So, what are you waiting for? Submit your design now, and please help us spread the word throughout the Drupal community!

Good luck to all of our participants!

** Drupal Association staff will not be permitted to enter this contest.

Jan 17 2024
Jan 17

This post is brought to you from our partners at Skynet Technologies.

Uplifting the digital experience of your Drupal website by making it accessible is inevitable.

The reason behind digital evolution is its easy availability for all. But unfortunately, the web is still full of inaccessible experiences, which become a hindrance for users with any sort of disability. And that is the reason why Drupal incorporated various accessibility features with time to ensure its website accessibility.

Along with accessibility features, Drupal has accessibility modules as well that are contributed by its active community. The modules improve Drupal website accessibility without having to put much effort into coding.

Let’s know which are those modules that enhance Drupal website accessibility.

Top Drupal web accessibility modules!

#1 All in One Accessibility

Drupal All in One Accessibility is an AI based accessibility module to enable Drupal websites to be accessible among people with hearing or vision impairments, motor impaired, color blind, dyslexia, cognitive & learning impairments, seizure and epileptic, and ADHD problems. It manages website UI and design related alteration as an accessibility interface.

Drupal All in One Accessibility module installs in just 2 minutes. PRO version reduces the risk of time-consuming accessibility lawsuits.

This module improves accessibility compliance for the standards WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, WCAG 2.2, ADA, Section 508, European EAA EN 301 549, Canada ACA, California Unruh, Israeli Standard 5568, Australian DDA, UK Equality Act, Ontario AODA, France RGAA, German BITV, Brazilian Inclusion law LBI 13.146/2015, Spain UNE 139803:2012, JIS X 8341, Italian Stanca Act, and Switzerland DDA.

It is a cornerstone of improving web accessibility through its ease of use for companies of all sizes. Top features of the module:

  1. Accessibility statement
  2. Accessibility interface for UI design fixes
  3. Dashboard Automatic accessibility score
  4. AI based Image Alternative Text remediation
  5. AI based Text to Speech Screen Reader
  6. Keyboard navigation adjustments
  7. Content, Color, Contrast, and Orientation Adjustments
  8. Supports 53 languages
  9. PDF / Document Remediation Add-On
  10. White Label Subscription
  11. Live site translation add-on
  12. Custom widget color, position, icon size, and type
  13. Dedicated email support

#2 Monsido Tools

Monsido tool helps to optimize Drupal websites easily and swiftly. The tool ensures that the website is validated for the de facto international standard, which is WCAG 2.1. So that website will be accessible to everyone in each region.

Monsido scans your Drupal website to identify all persisting accessibility issues and gives you suggestions on addressing the issues to rectify them. It also finds SEO errors and helps you optimize every page of your website.

#3 Editoria11y Accessibility Checker

Editoria11y (editorial accessibility ally) is supported by Princeton University. It is made focusing on content quality and accessibility.

The module checks content automatically, authors are not required to get trained to use it. It detects issues that appear after Drupal assembles the pages by testing rendered content.

Editoria11y prioritizes content issues by inserting alerts and tooltips to help authors fix the problems without troubling them with complex code. It majorly supplements the accessibility issues and does not replace the elements.

#4 Civic Accessibility Toolbar

The Civic Accessibility Toolbar has a block with accessibility utilities which is an aid for end-users if they wish to switch between theme versions with higher color contrast and update text font sizes as well.

The module enables its users to create a block with both or at least one of the utilities to make your Drupal website accessible for visually impaired users. It is tested with Garland, Bartik, Zen Starterkit, Stark, and Olivero themes.

It uses colourContrast and fontSize cookies to remember user selection. The cookies only use functional or necessary details and don’t keep the user’s personal information.

#5 Accessibility toolkit

Basically, Accessibility Toolkit helps Drupal developers with reusable tools so that they can fulfil the requirements of people with disabilities by making websites compatible with assistive technologies. It is tested for Drupal 7, 8, and 9. It does this through aggressive CSS additions and remembers the setting using Drupal's built-in usage of jQuery Cookie.

It provides a block with all little settings to allow for –

  • High contrast mode
  • Dyslexic font support
  • Text scaling
  • Inverted colors mode
  • Keyboard navigation (only for D8/D9)

#6 Fluidproject UI Options

The module is maintained by Ukrainian developers. It helps users to modify a web page’s line height, font size and style, contrast, and link style. All changes are retained using cookies for a longer span. Fluidproject UI options integrate Drupal libraries into non-admin pages.

To use this module, you need to have Grunt and NPM installed for compiling the infusion library, and a jQuery 1.7 version is required.

However, the module cannot do internationalization through the Drupal interface, JSON files within the module folder can perform this function. This Drupal accessibility module is tested with its most popular themes successfully. Please note here that some of its themes require additional CSS to adjust font size and line heights. Also, Contrast settings don’t work properly for website elements that use CSS gradients.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: PDF Document Accessibility Remediation

#7 High contrast

High contrast provides a quick solution for users to switch between an active theme and its high-contrast version.

It only needs to install it and press the tab from the keyboard, then click on the ‘Toggle high contrast’ link. You will find yourself in high contrast mode, returning to normal view is possible via following the same steps.

#8 Style Switcher

This Drupal website accessibility module enables every website visitor to select the stylesheet they want to view the site content with. They only require clicking on its link to get the new look of the website.

Style Switcher reduces the duplication of work since developers don’t need to create themes for alternative stylesheets. Themer has the capacity to provide a theme with alternate stylesheets and the Site builder can add alternate stylesheets in the admin section.

The module gathers and presents all the styles as a list of links in a block for site visitors. Thus, all visitors can easily choose their preferred styles. And the module uses cookies, so, if a user returns to the site, they get the same chosen style.

#9 Text Resize

The text resize accessibility module offers a block to end-users that helps in changing the font size of text on Drupal websites. The block includes a button to increase or decrease the text size, which is an aid for visually impaired users. Text resize uses JavaScript with jQuery and jQuery Cookie to bring accessibility.

#10 Automatic Alternative Text

The Automatic Alternative Text accessibility module uses the Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services API or Alttext.ai to generate alternative texts for images if the alt text is missing.

The module provides algorithms to process images. It can be used to understand if the image has relevant content or not. It also has features like categorizing the content of images, describing the images in human-readable language, and estimating the dominant and accent colors of the image.

P.S. All above-mentioned modules have free and premium versions available. You can select the best suited version.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Voluntary Product Assessment Template (VPAT)

Some more contributed modules to fine-tune the Drupal website’s accessibility!

  • CKEditor Abbreviation
  • HTML Purifier
  • Siteimprove
  • htmLawed
  • Block ARIA Landmark Roles

Read more for detail information.

Wrapping up

Having an accessible website is crucial and the need of an hour. All in One Accessibility is a quick and comprehensive solution with AI based features to improve your website accessibility compliance at next level. The cherry on top is its 2 minutes installation and 10 days free trial. Not limited to this, the dashboard add-ons and upgrades like PDF / document accessibility remediation, white label subscription, and live site translation helps in increasing digital accessibility.

Jan 16 2024
Jan 16

As part of my role in the Drupal Association, we are trying to find new ways to unleash innovation. Innovation as it happens is a key goal for the Drupal Association. What surprised me when I started with the Drupal Association was to meet companies that were contributors, (some of them known for being long-time contributors) or that are very interested in contributing, but then not knowing how they could maximize their contributions or even where they should be contributing to.

I don’t think that these are a few isolated cases, as it’s not the first time I've seen this trend. Back when I was working for a 100+ developer consultancy firm there was a big corporate push to increase our contribution to open source. And contribute we did. We started “Pizza Fridays”, which meant we were spending Fridays contributing, doing presentations between us, and having pizza for lunch. We had fun, but we lacked structure, purpose, and higher goals (and a healthy diet on Fridays). Our plan was not aligned with anything other than our own appetite to experiment or learn something.

If we had a structure that aligned us to the project we were contributing to, our contributions would have been more impactful, business would have benefited in a more meaningful way, and the whole team would have probably been allowed to contribute even further and longer in time. We did amazing things, don’t get me wrong, but the impact of those could have been much bigger.

That’s why, today, we are introducing the credit bounty program. The idea is to do an initial experiment, and if it has an impact on Drupal moving forward, we’ll tweak it if needed and continue with new iterations.

I expect that the issues and projects that we are promoting will change over time, so we’ll share soon how you can get updated information.

If you are a maintainer and you would like us to include your issues in this pilot program, that may be a possibility as well, so please send me an email: [email protected]. Depending on how this first phase goes, we may start promoting contributed module issues as well based on the popularity of the modules, usage on sites, complexity, how innovative they are, etc, etc

For now, this is the list of issues where (core for now) maintainers need your help. The reward will be a boost to marketplace rank equivalent to 5 times the normal amount for these issues. Sounds good?

Maintainers will grant credit as normal on these issues, and the contributing organizations that the maintainers credit will receive the full bounty

Make sure to read Drupal Core's Issue Etiquette for core contribution, and the Contributor Guide. 

Have questions or ideas? Please ping me: [email protected]
 

Jan 11 2024
Jan 11

We're thrilled to share that the Sovereign Tech Fund (STF), based in Germany, has generously entrusted the Drupal Association with a $300,000 USD service contract for work done to benefit the public. This funding is set to fuel two crucial projects that promise to strengthen security for Drupal and enhance the Drupal ecosystem.

The Sovereign Tech Fund (STF) supports the development, improvement, and maintenance of open digital infrastructure in the public interest. Its goal to strengthen the open source ecosystem sustainably, focusing on security, resilience, technological diversity, and the people behind the code. STF is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and hosted at and supported by the German Federal Ag-ency for Disruptive Innovation GmbH (SPRIND).

The Drupal Association, along with the Drupal community, support Drupal with core support, community support, flagship programs, and new innovation. The Drupal Association is a unicorn in the software sector in terms of structure and true community - and is a leader for open source collaboration and an open web.

Project 1: Developer Tools Acceleration

This project will optimize GitLab CI, streamline user authentication with Keycloak, migrate Drupal contribution credits from the old issue queue to a new GitLab integration, create a seamless opt-in process for Drupal.org hosted projects to transition to GitLab issues, and develop an accessible learning guide. The guide will be a valuable resource for project maintainers looking to shift from Drupal.org's custom tooling to GitLab.

Project 2: Community Supply Chain Security

This initiative aims to enhance the security of the Drupal ecosystem by securing the signing prototype, conducting a third-party security audit of the PHP-TUF client and Rugged server, and performing a third-party security audit of the Drupal integration code. Additionally, the project will deploy secure signing in a production environment, further bolstering the security measures in place.

This funding aligns perfectly with the Drupal Association's strategic priorities. It enables us to make significant strides towards our goals, particularly in terms of optimizing our workflows through GitLab and enhancing our security measures with secure signing. Both projects will conclude before 31 March 2024.

The partnership with STF allows us to make a positive difference in the Drupal community and advance the open source platform for all users. We are grateful to the Sovereign Tech Fund for their generous support. Their funding shows dedication to open source and their belief in the Drupal Association and the community's ability to innovate and ensure the future of web development.

Jan 10 2024
Jan 10

DrupalCon Portland 2024 is approaching soon, and you can’t wait to head to vibrant Portland. If this is you, you also must be stressed about persuading your boss to invest in your attendance at the Drupal event of the year. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This article is your go-to resource, where you’ll find all the ammo you need to make your case. Let’s get started!

But First, Are You Convinced About Attending DrupalCon?

Naturally, your organization has various factors to weigh, with the primary concern being whether sending you to DrupalCon Portland is worth their investment. But the pivotal question is the value you see in it. Explore our list of strong reasons to attend DrupalCon 2024.

  • For everyone - DrupalCon, the biggest open-source event in North America, offers a unique experience for all Drupal enthusiasts—whether you're diving into Drupal for the first time or have been a community member for years. The benefits of attending are vast.
  • Training - Learn specific skills relevant to your role through targeted training at DrupalCon. Develop a deep knowledge of Drupal directly relevant to your career, ensuring a direct and positive return on investment. (Can we mention some of the Training sessions lined-up for DCON 2024?)
  • Sessions - Dive into sessions led by the Drupal experts at DrupalCon. These are not just classes; they're conversations with the thought leaders who know their Drupal inside out. It's not just learning; it's getting hands-on wisdom from the best in the biz. (Can we mention some of the sessions lined-up for DCON 2024?)
  • Keynotes - Want a front-row seat to the State of Drupal and the future of the web? Then you cannot miss out on DriesNote. Plus, there are other keynotes that'll fire up your imagination about what's possible in the digital world.
  • Networking - Imagine being in a room with thousands of Drupal enthusiasts at DrupalCon. It's a community buzzing with passion. Got Drupal questions? Tap into a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm at one of the largest open-source communities. Hallway Tracks and Exhibition areas are the heart of networking at DrupalCon. Who knows, you might just score a selfie with Dries on your stroll!
  • Industry Summits - It's not just about networking—it's about conversing with peers who've been there, done that. Learn the nitty-gritty of industry best practices at industry summits like Higher Education Summit, Nonprofit Summit, Government Summit, and Community Summit. Discover how to tackle business challenges head-on with Drupal solutions, giving your job skills a serious boost.
  • Peer Connection - It’s a chance to connect with folks who share the same passion as you. Swap stories, share insights, and stay in the loop about the latest in Drupal. Learn firsthand from those who get your role and challenges.
  • Contribution Sprint - If you’re new to Drupal contributions, get hands-on guidance and sprint mentoring by experts. Whether you’re a coder or a non-coder, they are ways for everyone to participate in community contribution sprints to amplify the power of Drupal together.

Sample Letter to Your Boss

Here’s a sample letter to help you convince your boss about attending DrupalCon 2024. We guarantee they'll see the light!

Dear [Boss’s Name],

I am writing to express my strong interest in attending DrupalCon 2024 in Portland, Oregon, and to request your approval for participation in this significant event. I believe that attending DrupalCon will not only benefit my professional development but also contribute to the success of our team and the company as a whole.

Here are several compelling reasons why my attendance at DrupalCon is beneficial for us:

  • Industry Insights: Networking at Industry Summits will keep us updated on best practices and innovative solutions.

  • Strategic Vision: Keynotes, especially DriesNote, offer strategic insights vital for our long-term planning.

  • Community Engagement: Networking with thousands of community members ensures immediate answers and collaborations.

  • Role-Specific Learning: Connecting with peers in our specific roles provides insights into the latest in Drupal.

  • Contribution Sprint: Active participation contributes to Drupal's strength, enhancing our company's reputation.

I am seeking approval for the associated expenditures, which include:

EXPENSE

AMOUNT

Airfare

Visa Fees (if required)

Ground Transportation

Hotel

Meals

Conference Ticket

TOTAL EXPENSE

[Add this line if you’re traveling from overseas] The Drupal Association can issue an official letter of invitation to obtain a visa for my travel to the United States.

The Drupal Association can also issue a Certificate of Attendance for the conference if required for our records.

Please accept this proposal to attend, as I'm confident in the significant return we will receive for the small investment. For more information on the event, please visit the conference website: https://events.drupal.org/portland2024.

I'm available to discuss this further at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Contact Information]

Dec 18 2023
Dec 18

When I joined the Drupal Association in July, I underestimated how moved I would be by the collective power of the community. A throwback to my organizing roots, I reveled in the eclectic excitement surrounding the innovation and collaboration of the application, evolution, and marketing of Drupal.

I remember discovering open source software myself, over 10 years ago. The worker’s center I worked for housed an instance of CiviCRM in Drupal and we used it to track our members — as we served a vulnerable population, it was paramount to keep the data safe and away from clandestine subpoenas and prying eyes.

Drupal responds to a fundamental need in the nonprofit sector – the ability to own, control, and share data. Joining the Drupal Association as the Director of Philanthropy allows me to work within the nonprofit sector to leverage the power of Drupal for greater impact, and I yearned for an opportunity to collaborate with others with the same perspective.

The Drupal Association was remiss to let the Nonprofit Summit lapse at DrupalCon Pittsburgh, but… I am thrilled to reintroduce the Nonprofit Summit at DrupalCon Portland!

The network of nonprofits in the Drupal Community is strong and vibrant and has been a joy to work with and learn from. Judging by the extraordinary talent represented by its organizers, Jess Snyder and Johanna Bates, the Nonprofit Summit will be a dynamic and inspiring one-day event bringing together passionate professionals from the nonprofit sector to delve into the transformative potential of Drupal.

Join us for a day of discovery, collaboration, and inspiration as we collectively unlock the full potential of Drupal for social good. Facilitated discussions, round table group sessions, and an opportunity to learn and inspire one another are just a few of the features we plan to bring to the summit this year.

The Nonprofit Summit will be on Thursday, 9 May, the 4th day of DrupalCon, after three days of expert speakers, networking, and contribution. Tickets go on sale 6 February. And we’re especially pleased to announce that the Drupal Association will subsidize the cost of tickets for those in the nonprofit sector, offering special pricing for the conference and summit! The conference rate for nonprofits is $395 and includes the summit.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready to be part of a community dedicated to making a lasting impact. The Nonprofit Drupal Summit is back and ready to shape the future of digital philanthropy. See you there!

Dec 14 2023
Dec 14

The year is coming to a close and activity is already ramping down as we approach the Christmas festivities, so this month my PitchBurgh update will cover November and December.

But, before I jump into those updates, and as we are reaching important milestones and PitchBurgh is proving its value to Drupal and the community, let me highlight the importance of the companies that have made PitchBurgh possible with their funding, without whom anything of this would have been possible. Those companies are:

As I mentioned, PitchBurgh projects are crossing some important milestones, reaching midpoint and important milestones, and some are even getting to the end of the projects themselves. Let’s cover some important updates from the past weeks:

Access Policy (Kristiaan Van den Eynde / Factorial)

Original goal: Convert the Flexible Permissions module into core code. This will allow for any access policy to be translated into a set of permissions so that access checks can run

Kristiaan’s work on Access Policy API got merged https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal/issues/3376843

This was a relatively complex project, not just because of the technical side, but also because of what it did imply, in terms of communication and coordination with the different people involved, and the fact that it needed approval from the core team to get this work committed into Core.

The big concern with this PitchBurgh project, as well as the JSON API one, was preventing the work from getting stuck waiting for approvals and merges for months, having the investment and all the work done and sitting there for those long months.

So, seeing how this project is the first to cross the line and get merged to core, is not just a relief, but proof that we can get complex things done as a community. It just takes a little bit of organization and communication between all parties involved, in this case the Drupal Association was the one ensuring that this communication and updates were happening often.

This project was finally committed on 17 November 2023 and will be in Drupal 10.3. You can watch a video/demo of the project here. We are now working to ensure that Drupal core itself also implements the new API by the time 10.3 is released.

Decoupled Layout Builder (PreviousNext)

Original goal: By rewriting [Layout Builder] using React. We’ll design an API that describes the future state of how a Decoupled Layout Builder could work, dramatically enhancing the content editor experience and in turn, bringing Drupal into the modern era of Web UX

Decoupled LB reached project mid point, so right now the work is being reviewed before the funds get released for this part of the project.

You can read all the updates and the rest of the information of the project on their Drupal.org issue:  https://www.drupal.org/project/drupal/issues/3375422  

You can also read the project wrap up here.

Drupal API (Brian Perry / Pantheon)

Original goal: [...] combine the best of existing Drupal API clients into a set of utilities that can both address common use cases with little configuration, and also be extended to support the needs of a diverse JavaScript ecosystem

It has been an eventful month for the Drupal API Client. 

Reaching a big milestone for the project, we’ve published a 0.1.0 release on npm which represents our Vertical Slice POC. Now that we have a small sample of the client out in the real world, we’ve created an issue for soliciting feedback from the community. Any feedback small or large would be extremely helpful for the project. We’ve also been spreading the word through an ‘Update on the Drupal API Client’ blog post and a session at New England Drupal Camp.

We are also happy to announce that coby.sher and pratik_kamble have joined the project as maintainers. They both played a critical role in making our POC a reality and we’re excited to have their leadership going forward.

As we gather feedback, we’ll continue work on the JSON:API Client 1.0 release meta issue. We could still use contributors. If you’d like to participate, join us in the #api-client channel in Drupal Slack.

Gutenberg in Drupal (Frontkom)

Original goal: Streamline the implementation of core Gutenberg library in Drupal Gutenberg to allow more frequent and easy updates. Improve Integration with Drupal

Gutenberg project is progressing well. After the different conversations and alignments with the team in Automattic, there is a date for the workshop and a provisional agenda. Here is a sneak peak at said agenda:

  • In depth go-through of how we built Drupal Gutenberg
  • The Wordpress build scripts
  • Handling permissions within Gutenberg
  • Short term structured data with JSON field
  • Possible long term structured Gutenberg
  • Gutenberg for single field editing
  • Collaborative editing

Mentor the Mentor

The first-time contributor workshop is scripted, templated, and ready for another round of testing. As new initiatives arise, they have been added to the template in the Drupal Initiatives section.

AmyJune has recruited a mentor to deliver the 2-hour training version at Florida DrupalCamp in February. They will test the script for timing and determine how much room should be set aside for demos.

In the last Event Organizer's Working Group Slack meetings, several camps expressed interest in using the workshop slides during their contribution events. The goal is to have documentation that explains how to tailor the slides for a specific event.

PitchBurgh so far in numbers

Across each of our projects we've paid out a total of 38,037.75 for milestones achieved, with 2 projects already finished, one that has crossed midpoint, and the rest advancing at a good pace.

Dec 12 2023
Dec 12

This post is a follow up on the collaboration between Drupal and other FOSS projects in response to the proposed CRA legislation in the EU. You can read our original joint letter here.

The Drupal Association has continued to participate in weekly calls with other open source projects leaders hosted by Open Forum Europe to discuss the proposed Cyber Resiliency Act (CRA) in the EU. 

The EU legislators are now reconciling several different draft versions of the regulation, and incorporating stakeholder recommendations into a new draft to be advanced through the legislative process.

For the past several months multiple constituent groups within the EU have shared draft versions of the text, soliciting feedback from a variety of stakeholders in government, industry, and the open source community. 

The Open Forum Europe group reviewed several of those draft pieces being reconciled by legislators and offered detailed input and recommendations. One of the major goals was to ensure that the obligations of the CRA don't fall as an undue burden on individuals, non-profits, non-commercial entities, etc., and to forestall unintended consequences that might curtail corporate participation in open source projects. 

The Drupal Association together with the other projects represented in this process strongly believes that Free and Open Source Software is more secure software, and wanted to ensure that this legislation would not stifle the growth of the FOSS movement.

Some of the many areas we focused our recommendations on were: 

Criteria for obligation under the regulation

  • Preventing redundant obligations on open source software caused by use across multiple entities, and ensuring that appropriate obligations for larger entities are not unfairly enforced on smaller ones. 
  • Avoiding tying obligations to the rate of the release cycle which could create a chilling effect on innovation. 
  • Further clarifying that individual contributors as natural persons do not invoke regulatory obligations by participating in open source projects.
  • Encouraging a process that will allow alignment of obligations internationally, so that it will be easier for global communities to meet all their regulatory obligations.

Defining commerciality

  • Improving the text's definition of 'commerciality' - to help ensure that open source projects and the non-profit foundations that support them are not unintentionally punished for the maturity of their development process or the effectiveness of their fundraising activities. 

Risk assessment 

  • Portions of the regulation depend on the concept of risk assessment and the evaluation of security issues 'low' or 'high' risk, 'known vulnerabilities', 'exploitability,' etc. We noted that these definitions must be carefully considered, transparent, standardized, and have room to be refined post-enactment. 
  • We also raised examples of why the method of remediation of known vulnerabilities might vary depending on each project’s approach, suggesting that this should not be too rigidly defined. 

Open Source Stewardship

  • The regulation introduces the concept of an Open Source Steward, a legal entity that can be said to hold responsibility and accountability for an open source project.
  • This creates a category for obligations separate from those of 'software manufacturers' with a level of flexibility appropriate for open source.
  • However, we noted some potential pitfalls in discrepancies between the definition of stewardship and the authority those steward organizations might have over their projects (see for example, collaborative/decentralized projects).

Collaborative/Decentralized Projects

  • Most regulatory language assumes a central entity with responsibility and accountability. Open source projects are often collaborative and decentralized. We provided several recommendations for defining 'collaborative' projects and flagged some concerns with use of the term 'decentralized' in their regulatory definition. 
  • The primary goal of our recommendations was to avoid inducing obligations (or the risk of fines) on entities that do not necessarily have formal legal relationships with each other nor formal 'ownership' of the software projects they are participating in. 

… and many more recommendations, as well. 

What comes next?

When the draft versions have been reconciled by the EU legislature and the new text is publicly available we'll share with the community. The legislative process will then move form the main body to the standards and implementation details created by the act. 

Dec 08 2023
Dec 08

Lenny Moskalyk headshot

We're thrilled to introduce Lenny Moskalyk, one of the newest members on the Drupal Association Board. Lenny is a Senior Project Manager at Cocomore and is involved in organizing DrupalCamp Kyiv. She's actively engaged in the Ukrainian Drupal Community and serves as an Advisory Board Member of DrupalCon Europe, among other contributions to various Drupal events. Recently, Lenny received the Women in Drupal 2023 award in the ‘Scale’ category, given to those who boost growth in Drupal—her accomplishments that led to this award represent the value of growth within the Drupal Community. 

Lenny recently joined the Drupal Association Board, and she shares her insights on this exciting journey:

What are you most excited about when it comes to joining the Drupal Association Board?
The opportunity to help and contribute back to the community in an efficient meaningful way.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the board?
I aim to build connections with underrepresented communities and make sure their voices are heard.

What specific skill or perspective do you contribute to the board?
Being the first Ukrainian on the Board, I am representing one of the biggest and most active communities in Europe. I have experience in organizing Drupal events of various scales and being an experienced project manager, I have excellent communication skills.

How has Drupal impacted your life or career?
I started to work with Drupal around 10 years ago and from the day the ideas of open source and support within the community won my heart. It inspired me to try myself in new roles, such as co-organizing DrupalCamp Kyiv. Through Drupal, I have discovered many new things about different cultures and nowadays wherever around the world I would go—I know for sure where to find like minded people :)

Tell us something that the Drupal community might not know about you.
I am a passionate traveler who recently added sailing skills! Another thing that brings me joy is cooking for my loved ones and sharing meals with them :)

Share a favorite quote or piece of advice that has inspired you.
“Fortune favors the brave.”

We can't wait to experience the incredible contributions Lenny will make during her time on the Drupal Association Board. Thank you, Lenny, for dedicating yourself to serving the Drupal community through your board work! Connect with Lenny on LinkedIn.

The Drupal Association Board of Directors comprises 12 members, with nine nominated for staggered 3-year terms, two elected by the Drupal Association members, and one reserved for the Drupal Project Founder, Dries Buyteart. The Board meets twice in person and four times virtually annually, overseeing policy establishment, executive director management, budget approval, financial reports, and participation in fundraising efforts.

Dec 07 2023
Dec 07

Here's the next part of our ongoing series dedicated to assisting Drupal 7 site owners in upgrading their websites to Drupal 10. There are many great reasons to upgrade. The modern Drupal offers powerful features for content editors including: customizable editorial workflows, a layout builder for your landing pages, a media library that makes managing and reusing media easier than ever, and more. Developers can leverage the most of these advancements.

In our previous blog post, we discussed using our questionnaire to develop a plan, understanding your budget, and deciding whether to work with a certified partner from our list or take the DIY approach for your migration. As we get closer to the start of 2024 and to Drupal 7 End of Life, it's crucial to consider the next phase. Now, you need to secure your website's future but also start to map your information architecture and enhance your content strategy. In this blog post, we'll explore what that means and why these steps are crucial as you prepare to transition away from Drupal 7.

Understanding Information Architecture and Content Strategy

At its core, these steps are vital to ensure a smooth transition to a new version. Mapping information architecture involves creating a blueprint of your website, showcasing where every piece of content is located and how it's interconnected, along with the key content types, views, and taxonomies crucial to your site. This is crucial because when you transition away from Drupal 7 to a new version, having a clear plan ensures that your website's structure remains organized. Such clarity helps prevent issues like data loss, broken links, and confusion for your website visitors.

Drupal offers tools and features empowering site builders and developers to create and manage a structured website tailored to your specific needs.

Additionally, when you assess your content strategy, you're essentially conducting a thorough review of the quality, relevance, and overall effectiveness of the content on your website. This is crucial during migration as it ensures your content remains valuable, fits the new platform's goals, improves user experience, and maintains or boosts SEO rankings. This preparation is vital for a smooth transition and to maintain the integrity of your content in the new setting.

To learn more about information architecture, explore the information architecture guide. For insights into content strategy, refer to this content strategy guide. For a comprehensive checklist when launching a website, visit the major version upgrade documentation.

Here are some recent sessions from DrupalCon worth exploring:

What does End of Life mean for you?

In software terms, End of Life means that the version of that software no longer receives feature updates, bug fixes, or security releases. This last point is the most important. If a security vulnerability is discovered after the end of life date, it may be publicly disclosed, and you will be unable to update your site to protect against the issue. For this reason, we recommend beginning to plan your migration now. 

Whether you want to take advantage of new functionalities with Drupal 10 or opt for another option, we’re here to support you. 

Visit our resource center to migrate from Drupal 7 now, and stay tuned for more blogs in our Drupal 7 End of Life series!

About Drupal Sun

Drupal Sun is an Evolving Web project. It allows you to:

  • Do full-text search on all the articles in Drupal Planet (thanks to Apache Solr)
  • Facet based on tags, author, or feed
  • Flip through articles quickly (with j/k or arrow keys) to find what you're interested in
  • View the entire article text inline, or in the context of the site where it was created

See the blog post at Evolving Web

Evolving Web