IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now!
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After years of planning and countless conversations, I'm thrilled to announce that the IXP Initiative has officially graduated to become a program that companies can use right now! This transition represents a significant milestone in our journey to open more doors for new talent within the Drupal ecosystem.
The Problem We're Solving
If you've been following my work, you know I've been passionate about addressing a fundamental challenge in the Drupal ecosystem: the difficulty new developers face in gaining that critical first professional experience. It's the classic catch-22 – you need experience to get hired, but you need to be hired to gain experience.
This challenge ties directly to what I've been writing about recently – rebuilding Drupal's ecosystem pyramid. For years, I've been working to strengthen both the Latin American community and other regions that represent the middle and bottom of this pyramid. The narrowing base of our ecosystem pyramid poses a serious threat to Drupal's sustainability.
I saw this firsthand when my son Santiago completed Mike Anello's Drupal training program. Despite his new skills, he struggled to find opportunities because companies were looking for developers with workplace experience. This sparked my idea about how we should motivate companies to hire new people, introducing the concept of "inexperienced" developers and then aligning with Mike Anello, who had been thinking along similar lines.
From Concept to Community Initiative to Program
What began as conversations with Mike and subsequent discussions with Drupal professionals worldwide has evolved into a structured program. I first started raising this issue at DrupalCon Pittsburgh, but it was in Lille where we officially established the initiative. Working with Tim Lehnen (CTO of the Drupal Association), Raul Jimenez, and Borja Vicente, my wife Ana Laura and I were at the table when the initiative page on drupal.org was created.
The IXP Program creates structured pathways for companies to hire and mentor developers who have Drupal knowledge but lack professional experience. In return for providing paid work and mentorship, these companies receive substantial contribution credits through Drupal's contribution recognition system.
It's worth noting that while we've started with developers, the IXP program can expand to include site builders as well. With Drupal CMS on the horizon, agencies might want to consider adding introductory-level site builder positions to prepare for the new market that Drupal CMS will bring.
What the Program Offers Now
What began as conversations at DrupalCon Pittsburgh and formalized at DrupalCon Lille in 2023 has now evolved into a functional program with:
- A dedicated section on jobs.drupal.org for IXP positions
- Official documentation at Drupal.org/ixp
- A structured process for companies and developers to connect
- Clear entry and exit criteria
- A robust contribution credit reward system
Companies that successfully complete an IXP engagement will receive 250 contribution credits (with a limit of four per year). To put this in perspective, bronze level Drupal Certified Partners need 150 credits, silver requires 500, and gold requires 1,000. That means just one successful IXP engagement puts a company well on their way to bronze certification!
The First Pioneers: Growing Beyond Our Initial Partners
We're excited to announce that our first wave of participating companies has grown beyond just Seed EM and Bluefly. Digital Projex from Uruguay and Digital Polygon from the US have also stepped up to become early adopters of the program. Their diverse perspectives – spanning Latin America and the US – demonstrate how this program can work across different regions and business models.
These pioneering companies understand that investing in new developers isn't just about immediate project needs – it's about sustaining the entire Drupal ecosystem for the long term.
How It Works
For those interested in participating, here's what you need to know:
For Companies:
- Register on the IXP site at the registration site (which is now ready for registrations and engagements)
- If you're looking to find an IXP in the market, post a job on jobs.drupal.org (coupon codes available, just ask!)
- If you already have trainees ready, you can simply register them directly on the IXP site
- Create an engagement in the system with your IXP hire and mentor
- Provide paid work (minimum 160 hours) with mentorship (1 hour of mentoring per 10 hours of paid work)
- Submit bi-weekly progress reports
- Ensure the IXP developer contributes back to Drupal in some way
- Complete a final report and review process
- Receive your 250 contribution credits!
For New Developers:
- Visit jobs.drupal.org and activate your jobseeker profile
- Select "IXP Developer" in your job category
- Look for positions in the IXP Developer Hub
- During your engagement, work with your mentor to contribute back to Drupal
- Document your experience in a blog post
- Complete the program to transition from "inexperienced" to your first professional Drupal experience!
Why This Matters for the Drupal Community
This program directly addresses multiple challenges we face:
- A Broader Base: As I've written about in my "Rebuilding Drupal's Ecosystem Pyramid" post, Drupal needs a stronger foundation. The IXP Program helps widen that base by creating more entry points.
- Regional Development: We want Colombian companies hiring Colombians, Brazilian companies hiring Brazilians, and so on across all regions. This program supports regional development by making it easier for companies to invest in local talent.
- Contribution Culture: By requiring IXP developers to contribute back to Drupal, we're building contribution habits from day one.
- Recognition for Investment: Companies that take the risk and invest time in mentoring new developers deserve recognition, even if those developers eventually move on to other opportunities.
Get Involved
We need your help to make this program a success! Here's how you can contribute:
- Companies: Register on the IXP site at the registration site and consider posting an IXP position.
- Developers: Update your jobs.drupal.org profile to indicate you're an IXP developer.
- Volunteers: We need help managing workflows, reviewing engagements, and developing resources. Look for us at drupal slack #ixp-fellowship.
- Everyone: Share your experiences with internships or mentoring programs as case studies.
Find more information about the initiative at drupal.org/ixp.
Looking Forward
This is just the beginning. With our pioneering partners leading the way, we're creating a model that can be replicated across regions and companies of all sizes. As we learn from these initial implementations, we'll continue refining the program to better serve both new developers and the organizations that support them.
I want to especially thank Sarah Lorensen for her outstanding work on UX and theming for the IXP site, which is ready to receive registrations and begin engagements right now.
I've always believed that Drupal's strength lies in our community's ability to identify challenges and build solutions together. The IXP Program represents another step toward a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem where talent can flourish regardless of experience level or geographic location.
What experiences have you had with bringing new developers into your organization? What challenges did you face, and what strategies worked well? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
About Building the Bridge: How Drupal CMS and IXP Could Empower Digital Agencies Author Carlos Ospina Abstract The IXP Fellowship has officially evolved from an initiative to a functional program, creating structured pathways for companies to hire and mentor inexperienced Drupal developers. Companies completing engagements receive 250 contribution credits per hire, strengthening the Drupal ecosystem's sustainability. Seed EM, Bluefly, Digital Projex, and Digital Polygon are the first participating organizations. The program addresses the catch-22 of needing experience to get hired while broadening Drupal's talent base. Registration is now open at drupal-ixp.site. Tags Drupal Planet drupal drupal community IXP Program Drupal Future Rating Select ratingGive IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! 1/5Give IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! 2/5Give IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! 3/5Give IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! 4/5Give IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now! 5/5Cancel rating No votes yet Leave this field blank