Status of DT website and prospects for improving SFTs

Nefeli Kousi (Supervisor: Danilo Piparo)

PH-SFT

• A PHP framework managing modules with a data base backend.

• One of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) on the market.

• A powerful tool for web development.• CERN’s choice for the web presence of the Organisation.

(infrastructure for hosting, backup and support)• Clear and Transparent cooperation with the CERN

infrastructure.(ENTICE forum, Indico Module, LDAP Modules, CERN-branded theme)

• Offers a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor.

24,159 Modules

1,863 Themes

29,677 Developers

Some Quanities:

(In a nutshell)

(In a nutshell)

Drupal Site

Nodes

Themes

Modules

Views

Content Types

Drupal main concepts:

How is CERN using Drupal

All

Cern.ch PH-DT.cern.ch PH-TH.cern.ch ETC

Hierarchy When any page of any CERN hosted site is to be displayed Drupal will seek for the configuration files in this fashion

Local File All File

This allows us to override anything that we need to have working differently(module, theme, css file, js file).

But at the same time anything existing in the local file is loosing the full CERN support.

All the sites inherit configuration from the main “All” folder.

Advantages of CERN support• Automatic update of supported modules and Drupal core Less work for the Administaitors

• Security is centrally managed Less work and risks for the group

• Database Backend Content flexibility

• CERN theme Beautifully represented content and correct brand

Our workflowDrupal is based on a database. So in order to duplicate one site to an other location we just need to clone the database.

Dev

Test

Prod

Dev instance : this is where we try things out. We install new modules create new Content Types and Views and install new modules.

Test instance: this is where we move changes when they are ready for testing. The users are invited to test the pages and give feedback.

Prod instance: this is the final product the only one to be visible for the public.

Flexible and fail safe procedure

PH-DT group

PH-DT groupDetector Technology (DT):

The Detector Technologies (DT) group in the Physics department participates in the development, construction and operation of particle detectors for experiments at CERN. This comprises detector consolidation and upgrade projects as well as infrastructure for

experiments.

A key asset of DT is the vast range of expertise and facilities in many different domains that are crucial for advanced detector-systems. Among these are detector research

development and system support, fine mechanics, engineering, thin film coatings, optics, silicon detectors facility with wire-bonding lab, irradiation facilities, magnet support, B-

field mapping, instrumentation and controls, gas and cooling systems for particle detectors. DT runs mechanical workshops with conventional and CNC machines and

equipment for specialized machining for scintillators, glass and ceramics.

Why this project?

• There is a great challenge to communicate the work done by and the identity of the group.

• I had the challenge as well as the opportunity to create a web site that represents the work, the unique personality and the contribution of the group in a consistent and clear way, according to the style guidelines adopted by the organisation.

Help the group to have a greater impact

PH-DT and PH-SFT cooperation

Cross group project (and student!) in PH.

• A cooperation between PH-DT (offering the financial support) and PH-SFT (offering supervision).

• It includes the porting into Drupal and update of PH-DT as well as PH-SFT sites (and more if time allows?).

The Key people

• Head of the group: Mar Capeans GarridoWe have a great cooperation with Mar that allows us to have fast feedback, content and support.

• Administrative Assistant: Veronique WedlakeVeronique cooperates with us for the creation of the group’s tools as well as for the site in general. She is also a good source of knowledge, structure and help.

What we began with

• A Dreamweaver site.• A lot of broken links and redirections to other

pages.• No automatic connection to other CERN sites.• Several scattered non uniform, non CERN

branded and old fashioned (although working!) pages.

What we began with

What we began with

What is the strategy1. PH-DT is a large group with many sub-teams and has a matrix

organisation also (cross-group activities, O(10²) people, 12 teams).

2. Every team and activity should be represented in the site. 3. The site should contribute to the smooth organisation of the

group.4. There is a great amount of equipment that the group has and

an infrastructure in order to pin-point and book-keep it is needed.

5. There is a great amount of spaces (laboratories, assembly halls, offices etc) and they change usage form time to time.

6. The site should be scalable and sustainable.

FACTS:

What is the strategy

1. Get the general specifications from the head of the group (Mar).

2. Meet with a limited amount of diverse teams and get the specifications of their needs.

3. Create the draft of the main structure(Content Types, Main Pages).

4. Implement the pages for those teams by adjusting the structure to their needs.

5. Use those pages as portfolio to help the rest build their pages.

STEPS:

Thinking ahead

FACTS:As most pages in CERN the main editor and maintainer of the site after its completion is going to be the secretariat of the group.

Every team will be responsible for the content of their pages.

Drupal 8 is going to be released in 2014. It is secure to assume that CERN will migrate at some point.

Stick to CERNPRECUTIONS:We have used mostly CERN supported tools in order to create a site that is sustainable and supported out of the box (no special cases).

It is ensured that the editing experience will be as easy as editing a Word Document (WYSWYG editor).

For the very few cases that we could not solve only with CERN modules we used only modules that are heavily supported by the Drupal community (tens of thousands of users, actively maintained or Drupal Core candidates).

What we usedCERN-Supported Infrastructure

• CERN branded theme• LDAP(CERN users database) users

aggregation• Indico events aggregation• CERN – Maps automatic redirection• CERN Profile

CERN-Supported community

Ensuring Sustainability

Drupal-Supported Modules Drupal-Supported community• Date• Devel generate

• Media• Superfish

Management tools

Jira: tracking and organising work https://its.cern.ch/jira/browse/PHWEBDRU

Twiki: Material, Instructions, Documentation, Minutes of all meetings

https://twiki.cern.ch/twiki/bin/viewauth/DtDrupalMigration/WebHome

Where we are

http://new-ph-dep-dt-test.web.cern.ch/• The site is almost

finished• CERN branded• Automatic connected

to Indico and LDAP• Automatically assigned

rights to the members via E-groups

Where we are

Every team has a customised page reflecting the unity of the group as well as the unique character of the team.

12 Teams and 10 Projects Currently in DT

Where we are

Valuable and multi-use content

Infrastructure for the administration of the offices has been created. It has a

flexible representation and organisation in order to cover the future needs of the

Group.

Where we are

The equipment of the group is presented in the

page of the team currently using it and at

the same time aggregated in the main

group’s Equipment page (functionality provided by the database backend).

Tools to ease everyday group life have been provided

Where we are

The site is almost complete and waiting for content.

It will be finished before the end of the year.

Effort by SFT is ramping down.

Lessons learned• Drupal experience: manipulation of content,

creation of consistent structures, easing the work of the editors.

• CERN related Drupal experience: CERN modules, hosting service, ENTICE, troubleshooting.

• Group image: how to represent the identity of a CERN group which is supporting experiments and drives innovation of technology.

The new SFT web site• SFT group is smaller than DT but very active• 4 main activities:

– Root – Geant4– Concurrency Forum– CERN VM

• R&D– GeantV– Concurrent Gaudi– Numerical Computing

• Many other satellite activities such as:– Participation and organisation of conferences, workshops, trainings and

educational activities.

Ready for a new challenge.

Ideas for the new site• “Under the spotlight”• Good publicity of all the activities:(CERN School

of Computing, E-planet program, Google summer of Code, Workshops, Conferences)

• Updated list of the members as profile. (image, expertise, interests)

• Major releases • Inventory• Educational activities in Universities and

research Centres• Cooperation with other CERN groups,

departments or industry