Drupal DrupalCome for the code, stay for the communityCome for the code, stay for the community

WNC Web Tech Meetup Group CMS Panel

Sheena Donnelly

June 2, 2010

WNC Web Tech Meetup Group CMS Panel

Sheena Donnelly

June 2, 2010

CostsCosts

Free. Drupal is open source software Nothing is free (time, effort)

Free modules & themes on drupal.org Typical website hosting costs

$10/month at hotdrupal.com (local company)

For-pay support available (acquia.com) Maintenance Costs: simple to upgrade

and maintain your own site

Free. Drupal is open source software Nothing is free (time, effort)

Free modules & themes on drupal.org Typical website hosting costs

$10/month at hotdrupal.com (local company)

For-pay support available (acquia.com) Maintenance Costs: simple to upgrade

and maintain your own site

Buyer Beware?Buyer Beware?

“The Developer’s CMS” Traditionally a developer-centric project - This

is changing!

Steep learning curve at first Many opportunities for help and mentoring

Clunky HTML output This can be overridden!

Too many options, depending on the project If you just need something simple, Drupal can

be overwhelming

“The Developer’s CMS” Traditionally a developer-centric project - This

is changing!

Steep learning curve at first Many opportunities for help and mentoring

Clunky HTML output This can be overridden!

Too many options, depending on the project If you just need something simple, Drupal can

be overwhelming

The Drupal Sweet-SpotThe Drupal Sweet-Spot

True separation of logic from content Powerful theme layer Robust framework for building

applications Thousands of free, supported modules

Free as in freedom

A welcoming, friendly community

True separation of logic from content Powerful theme layer Robust framework for building

applications Thousands of free, supported modules

Free as in freedom

A welcoming, friendly community

So Sweet it Needs 2 SlidesSo Sweet it Needs 2 Slides

Custom content types and custom lists of content via Views/CCK modules In Drupal 7 core!

Fine-tuned user access controls

Semantic web features - RDF in D7

Community-building features

Robust e-comm w/ Ubercart modules Drupal Commerce in D7

Custom content types and custom lists of content via Views/CCK modules In Drupal 7 core!

Fine-tuned user access controls

Semantic web features - RDF in D7

Community-building features

Robust e-comm w/ Ubercart modules Drupal Commerce in D7

End-User FriendlinessEnd-User Friendliness

Room for Improvement in Drupal 6 Lots of modules to help out with end-user

experience

Drupal 7 features vast UI improvements lead by Mark Boulton Design

Drupal Gardens (by Acquia - in beta) Drupal SaaS - great for designers who don’t

want to developer (or deal w/ a server)

Room for Improvement in Drupal 6 Lots of modules to help out with end-user

experience

Drupal 7 features vast UI improvements lead by Mark Boulton Design

Drupal Gardens (by Acquia - in beta) Drupal SaaS - great for designers who don’t

want to developer (or deal w/ a server)

Programming FriendlinessProgramming Friendliness

Drupal and programmers are the best of friends!

Drupal’s APIs and Hooks systems aid in developing custom modules

A large selection of modules geared towards testing, debugging and development

Drupal and programmers are the best of friends!

Drupal’s APIs and Hooks systems aid in developing custom modules

A large selection of modules geared towards testing, debugging and development

Ongoing MaintenanceOngoing Maintenance

Upgrading within a version (i.e. from 6.12 to 6.13) is very easy. Everything can be done easily through

command line using the drush module

Upgrading between major versions (i.e. from 6.x to 7.x) varies

Drupal.org project pages include easy-to-use issue queues for researching and reporting bugs

Upgrading within a version (i.e. from 6.12 to 6.13) is very easy. Everything can be done easily through

command line using the drush module

Upgrading between major versions (i.e. from 6.x to 7.x) varies

Drupal.org project pages include easy-to-use issue queues for researching and reporting bugs

Support OptionsSupport Options

Acquia (www.acquia.com) Major support provider for Drupal -

founded by Drupal’s creator

Fusion (fusiondrupalthemes.com) Premimum drupal themes and

support for themers using Fusion as a base theme

Acquia (www.acquia.com) Major support provider for Drupal -

founded by Drupal’s creator

Fusion (fusiondrupalthemes.com) Premimum drupal themes and

support for themers using Fusion as a base theme

Who is Using Drupal?Who is Using Drupal?

whitehouse.govwhitehouse.gov

mtv.co.ukmtv.co.uk

economist.comeconomist.com

Sony BMG ArtistsSony BMG Artists