Reflections on OpenDevShop and the hidden costs of open source maintainership. Jon Pugh Mon, 09/16/2024 - 09:34

#OpenDevShop failed because it tried to solve too many problems at the same time.

This directed the energy away from designing for the future. When the future arrived, it was wholly unprepared.

I saw the potential to make #Aegir an all-in-one management console for all your web tech, so I created server management things, and local CLI things, and other silly, not so useful things.

DevShop became a huge burden. Unmaintainable. Un-upgradable. Working untold unpaid hours, self-funded travel and speaking took a major toll on my life, financially and personally.

This is the third article in a series of articles about the Batch API in Drupal. The Batch API is a system in Drupal that allows data to be processed in small chunks in order to prevent timeout errors or memory problems.

So far in this series we have looked at creating a batch process using a form and then creating a batch class so that batches can be run through Drush. Both of these examples used the Batch API to run a set number of items through a set number of process function callbacks. When setting up the batch run we created a list of items that we wanted to process and then split this list up into chunks, each chunk being sent to a batch process callback.

There is another way to set up the Batch API that will run the same number of operations without defining how many times we want to run them first. This is possible by using the "finished" setting in the batch context.

Let's create a batch process that we can run and control using the finished setting.

Setting Up

First we need to create a batch process that will accept the array we want to process. This is the same array as we have processed in the last two articles, but in this case we are passing the entire array to a single callback via the addOperation() method of the BatchBuilder class.

Read more

This week, I spoke with Eirik Morland again on the Beyond Blocks podcast about recent improvements to violinist.io, such as team/multi-user subscriptions.

Listen to the episode now.

I was great to speak to Eirik again and for him to be the first returning guest on the podcast.

Listen to the first episode with Eirik.

A new record week: 26 MRs merged! :D Too much to cover, so going forward, I will only write about the most notable changes.

The simplified zoom interface landed thanks to Jesse “jessebaker” Baker and Gaurav “gauravvvv” — with not only better controls, but also a much smoother UX:

Smooth zoom with pinch and using the slider!
Issue #3464025, image by Jesse.

Bálint “balintbrews” Kléri, Jesse and Ben “bnjmnm” Mullins integrated the existing “undo” functionality with the component props form, resulting in the UX you’d hope:

Your browser does not support playing videos. You can download it instead.

When undoing, the component props form on the right-hand side updates and the preview updates in real-time.
Issue #3463618, video by Bálint.

Now that many fundamental pieces exist, it’s time to build upon the foundations that we have. Five weeks ago, Ben added Redux integration to the component props form, resulting in live updates. That started out with a limited set of form elements supported. Harumi “hooroomoo” Jang added support for one more this week: <select>.

SDC prop shapes using enum now work thanks to expanded Redux integration. For example, you can now change the column width.
Issue #3471083, image by Harumi.

(By the way: Bálint’s epic video showing undo/redo above? That’s also powered by the Redux integration!)

Bálint and Gaurav improved the UX by removing six lines of CSS: instead of an abstract placeholder being dragged and visualized in the currently hovered drop target, now a ghost of the component being moved is visible:

Ghost of the component at the drop target: better visualization of what is about to happen.
Issue #3469895, image by me.

Two weeks ago, we gained support for actual trees. This revealed a number of bugs in the UI that had up until that time, been ahead of the back end. Another one of those was squashed this week by Bálint, Ted and I: you can now actually drag components into empty slots :D

Missed a prior week? See all posts tagged Experience Builder.

Goal: make it possible to follow high-level progress by reading ~5 minutes/week. I hope this empowers more people to contribute when their unique skills can best be put to use!

For more detail, join the #experience-builder Slack channel. Check out the pinned items at the top!

Empowering SDC developers

Less visible, but equally important because it boosts the productivity of the fine folks working on the Starshot Demo Design System by making XB be more explicit about what Single-Directory Components (SDCs) prop shapes it provides a complete UX for. Since last week, a sibling Component config entity is auto-generated for every SDC meeting the minimum criteria. This week, Feliksas “f.mazeikis” Mazeikis expanded the list of criteria:

1. Since #3469461, any SDCs that we know for sure won’t work well in XB (yet!) no longer show up in the XB UI. (In more detail: when we have no way to store a particular prop shape yet: XB does not yet support type: array prop shapes yet, for example.)
2. Since #3470424, SDCs marked as obsolete won’t get a Component config entity auto-created. But if it already exists (and hence may be in use), the config entity is not deleted, just disabled.

Evidently that could lead to surprising situations, especially while developing SDCs. So, he’ll be adding a UI that lists the reason for an SDC not being available in XB next.

In the background, back end folks empowering the front end

Ted “tedbow” Bowman helped the back end race ahead of the front end: while we don’t have designs for it yet (nor capacity to build it before DrupalCon if they would suddenly exist), there now is an HTTP API to get a list of viable candidate field properties that are able to correctly populate a particular component prop. These are what in the current XB terminology are called dynamic prop sources 1 2.

Travis “traviscarden” Carden and I made XB’s use of OpenAPI go much further than it did when it landed 3 weeks ago): rather than only validating API response bodies, it now also validates request bodies — hence catching an entire category of bugs on the client-side automatically. Clearer errors = faster iteration!

Week 16 was August 26–September 1, 2024.

1. Dynamic Prop Sources are similar to Drupal’s tokens, but are more precise, and support more than only strings, because SDC props often require more complex shapes than just strings. ↩︎

2. This is the shape matching from ~3 months ago made available to the client side. ↩︎

• Drupal
• Acquia
• Experience Builder

• Smooth zoom with pinch and using the slider!
• Real-time updates of the props form and preview when undoing.
• Ghost of the component at the drop target: better visualization of what is about to happen.
• SDC prop shapes using `enum` now work thanks to expanded Redux integration.

If you've experienced issues or are worried about deploying changes to production, on a Friday or another day, when did you last deploy something?

Can you make deployments smaller and more frequent?

Deploying regularly makes each deployment less risky and having a smaller changeset makes it easier to find and fix any issues that arise.

I'm much happier deploying to production if I've already done so that day, or at least that week.

Any time more than that, or if the changeset is large, the more likely there will be issues and the longer it will take to resolve them.

Discover how DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 is prioritizing sustainability with eco-friendly initiatives and practices. From reducing food waste to promoting mental well-being, attendees are encouraged to participate in creating a more environmentally conscious event. Join the movement towards a greener future at DrupalCon Barcelona.

Note: This article has been reviewed by Level Access Senior Accessibility Consultant Mickey Williamson.   Takeaway: Streamline Section 508 compliance with proven strategies and DUSWDS, a tool designed to modernize federal websites while ensuring accessibility—saving time, reducing complexity, and meeting legal requirements efficiently. Ensuring equal access to information is not just a moral imperative—it's a legal requirement for federal agencies.

Gamification on Drupal Websites Editor Fri, 09/13/2024 - 13:26

Gamification is the integration of game elements into non-gaming environments like websites to enhance user experiences. Its purpose is to make the user's experience more fun, motivating, and rewarding. Like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, where players explore a big landscape full of problems and prizes, gamification adds excitement and advancement to typical digital platforms.
Drupal provides an excellent setting for incorporating gamification elements because it can adapt to changing needs. Like in the game, developers using Drupal can encourage users with rewards such as badges, points systems, and interactive tasks that create a feeling of accomplishment while also promoting involvement within the community.
This article provides a detailed look into combining gamification with Drupal's strong features. Grab a coffee, and let's begin our adventure utilizing Drupal's gamification.

Do you deploy changes to production on Fridays?

Some people don't as they're worried about potential issues occuring over the weekend.

When's the last time you did a deployment which caused a issue 24 or 48 hours later?

In my experience, most issues are visible immediately or shortly after a deployment and not days later.

Deploying on a Friday may not be as risky as you think.

Yuvania Castillo

Backend Engineer

A graduate of the University of Costa Rica with a passion for programming, Yuvania is driven to constantly improve, study, and learn new technologies to be better every day.

January 1, 1970

Preparing for Drupal 11 is crucial to ensure a smooth transition, and we’re here to help you make it easy and efficient. This guide offers clear steps to update your environment and modules, perform thorough tests, and use essential tools like Upgrade Status and Drupal Rector.

Don’t fall behind! Making sure your site is ready for the new features and improvements Drupal 11 brings will make the upgrade work quick and easy.

Read on to learn how to keep your site updated and future-proof.

Ensure your environment is ready

• Upgrade to PHP 8.3: Ensure optimal performance and compatibility with Drupal 11
• Use Drush 13: Make sure you have this version available in your development or sandbox environment
• Database requirements: Ensure your database meets the requirements for Drupal 11:
  • MySQL 8.0
  • PostgreSQL 16
• Web server: Drupal 11 requires Apache 2.4.7 or higher. Keep your server updated to avoid compatibility issues.

Upgrade to Drupal 10.3. Before migrating to Drupal 11, update your site to Drupal 10.3 to handle all deprecations properly. Drupal 10.3 defines all deprecated code to be removed in Drupal 11, making it easier to prepare for the next major update.

Update contributed modules. Use Composer to update all contributed modules to versions compatible with Drupal 11. The Upgrade Status module will help identify deprecated modules and APIs. Ensure all modules are updated to avoid compatibility issues.

Fix custom code. Use Drupal Rector to identify and fix deprecations in your custom code. Drupal Rector automates much of the update process, leaving “to do” comments where manual intervention is needed. Perform a manual review of critical areas to ensure everything functions correctly.

Run tests in a safe environment. Conduct tests in a safe environment, such as a local sandbox or cloud IDE. It’s likely to fail at first, but it’s essential to run multiple tests until you achieve a successful result. Use:

• composer update --dry-run to simulate the update without making changes
• composer why-not drupal/core 11.0 if there are issues, identify which dependencies require an earlier version of Drupal

Compatibility tools. Install and use the Upgrade Status module to ensure your site is ready. This module provides a detailed report on your site’s compatibility with Drupal 11. Check for compatibility issues in contributed projects on Drupal.org using the Project Update Bot.

Back up everything. Before updating, ensure you have a complete backup of your code and database. This is crucial to restore your site if something goes wrong during the update.

Considerations for immediate upgrade

You may wonder if you should upgrade your site to Drupal 11 as soon as it’s available. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

• Maybe no: Sites can wait up till when the Drupal 10 LTS (long term support) ends (mid-late 2026) and then upgrade. This allows contributed modules to be fully ready for the update.
• Maybe yes: Upgrading early lets you take advantage of new features and improvements but may introduce new bugs. Additionally, if everyone waits to upgrade, it could delay the readiness of contributed modules for the new version.

While Drupal 10 will be supported for some time, it’s advisable to stay ahead with these updates to use the improvements they offer and ensure a smoother, optimized transition.

By following these steps and considerations, your Drupal site will be well prepared for the transition to Drupal 11, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience. Get ready for the new and exciting features Drupal 11 has to offer!

References

• Are You Ready for Drupal 11?
• Drupal 11 on Acquia
• YouTube: Preparing for Drupal 11
• Getting Ready for Drupal 11 – Slide Deck

The post Get ready for Drupal 11: An essential guide appeared first on Four Kitchens.