simonbaese - blog: Drupal: Asynchronously send emails with Symfony Mailer Queue

Recently, we built a queue worker to send emails asynchronously, meeting a client's unique requirements to ensure email delivery. There is a lot of movement in the Drupal contribution space to innovate on the mailer. Traditionally, Drupal uses a plain PHP mailer to deliver transactional emails such as sign-up confirmation or password reset instructions. Nowadays, many websites rely on the contribution module Drupal Symfony Mailer to use the framework mailer by Symfony and leverage the flexible setup of mailer policies, transport, and HTML theming with templates. What needs to be added to the mix are easy-to-implement ways to send emails asynchronously. Today, we announce the first stable release of the new contribution module Symfony Mailer Queue.

LN Webworks: How to Improve Drupal SEO with the Help of a Global Module

Image removed.

The person with the most trouble with duplicate material is the content writer. The hardest task is having to start over and make the necessary corrections after spending hours writing something and discovering that your content is plagiarized. 

This not only gives you a lot of work to do, but it may also interfere with the SEO of your website. Further, we’ll discuss the main problems brought on by duplicate content and discuss how the Drupal SEO module might assist in resolving this issue. 

Drupal Association blog: Introducing the Local Associations Initiative: Empowering Drupal Communities Worldwide

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new initiative led by Programs Manager, Joi Garrett. This program is designed to support the success of Drupal Local Associations by engaging directly with community leaders who work to promote the Drupal project in their global regions.

Connecting Communities

The heart of the Local Associations Initiative lies in fostering meaningful connections. We recognize the efforts of local leaders and the unique challenges they face. By hosting a series of virtual meetings, we aim to create a platform for leaders to share their experiences, successes and challenges. These sessions will not only provide valuable insight to the state of various local associations but help to strengthen our global community. 

Identifying and Addressing Common Needs

Understanding the diverse needs of our local associations is crucial. Through open dialogue in our virtual meetings, we will identify common needs and prioritize them. We hope by facilitating a collaborative environment the Drupal Association can support efforts for the most pressing issues faced by community leaders. The Drupal Association is committed to finding solutions that drive success. 

Join Us on This Journey

We invite local association leaders to participate in this initiative and attend the virtual meetings. Your insights and contributions are invaluable as we work together to strengthen our global Drupal Community. Stay tuned for announcements about the upcoming virtual meetings. Through this initiative, we aim to foster a collaborative environment where our global community feels more connected and supported. Once we have concluded the meetings, we will discuss the findings and future plans during DrupalCon Barcelona 2024. 

We have been collecting contact information of Local Association leaders for the past few months, if you would like to be included please fill out the following form.

Thank you to our local leaders for being an integral part of our community. We look forward to collaborating with you to make this initiative a success!

Continent Expected Start Europe April (working with Network of European Drupal Associations)  Asia June Australia July North America July South America August Africa August

Drupal Core News: Announcing Drupal Starshot sessions

A few weeks ago at DrupalCon Portland, I announced Drupal Starshot, a project to create the new default download of Drupal. Built on Drupal Core, Drupal Starshot will include popular features from the contributed project ecosystem. It focuses on delivering a great user experience right out of the box. Drupal Starshot builds on recent initiatives like Recipes, Project Browser, and Automatic Updates to elevate Drupal to new heights.

The response has been incredible! Hundreds of people have pledged their support on the Drupal Starshot page, and many more have asked how to get involved. Over the past few weeks, we have been planning and preparing, so I'm excited to share some next steps!

We're launching a series of sessions to get everyone up to speed and involved. These will be held as interactive Zoom calls, and the recordings will be shared publicly for everyone to watch at their convenience.

The main goal of these Zoom sessions is to help you get involved in each area. We'll cover details not included in my keynote, update you on our progress, and give you practical advice on where and how you can contribute.

We've scheduled six sessions, and we invite everyone to attend. The first one will be on this Friday on participation, funding, and governance! You can find the latest schedule online at https://www.drupal.org/starshot#sessions and the core calendar in the sidebar of the Drupal core news page.

We look forward to seeing you there and working together to make Drupal Starshot a success!
 

Specbee: How CKEditor 5 is transforming content authoring experience in Drupal 10

When the editing tools are intuitive, content creators can channel their energy into what truly counts-producing great content. User-friendly content management systems help them save time, reduce frustration, and streamline their editing process. Drupal strives to enhance user experience for both technical and non-technical users with every new update. With the latest version, Drupal 10, content authors can now focus on enhancing their productivity and creating better content for their audience. A standout feature in this release is CKEditor 5, now integrated into the core. This means it's available right out of the box!   In this blog, we're diving into the content editing powers of CKEditor 5 in Drupal 10. So buckle up, because we're about to take your content creation game to the next level. Redefining Content Editing Experience with Drupal 10’s CKEditor 5 CKEditor 5 has brought in many new additional features and abilities compared to CKEditor 4 which not only offers a streamlined content editing process but also gives you the power to make your content more engaging and appealing. Adding links, media, creating tables, etc. is now quicker and easier with CKEditor 5 in Drupal 10. Here's an overview of what the upgraded CKEditor module brings to the table: Revamped WYSIWYG Editor - A contemporary and user-centric interface, Drupal 10’s latest WYSIWYG editor prioritizes intuitiveness, featuring enhanced toolbar options, a more adaptable layout, and a streamlined interface. Streamlined Inline Editing - Edit content directly from the front end of your website without having to navigate to the back end. Collaborative Work Features (Premium Feature) - You can collaborate among multiple users on the same content now. With the collaboration features, you can track changes, comment on the content, check content revision history, and more! Now, let’s understand what are the content editing benefits of the additional features in CKEditor 5 in detail. Modern User Interface Compared to the somewhat outdated interface of Drupal 7, Drupal 10 offers a sleek and intuitive user interface where you can streamline content editing workflows. While new users may find using Drupal 7 overwhelming, Drupal 10 offers a more user-friendly UI, making content creation and editing more accessible and efficient. You now get a refined user experience with simplified improvements to interface colors, icons, toolbar items mechanics, and the theme. You can select among three UI options: Classic - It allows you to edit with a fixed toolbar without any interference in content editing. Balloon - This option offers a floating toolbar to allow you to edit content in any location. Inline - The inline display option displays the toolbar when you focus the editor. Media Widgets and Dedicated Toolbar With CKEditor 5 in Drupal 10, you get to experience enhanced media management with new media widgets and a dedicated toolbar. These tools provide a streamlined interface for adding and managing media content, making it easier to embed images, videos, and other media directly within content. New Styles Dropdown The new styles dropdown feature in CKEditor 5 allows content editors to apply predefined styles to text and elements seamlessly. This dropdown is integrated into the text editor toolbar, offering a user-friendly way to ensure consistent styling across content without requiring HTML or CSS knowledge. Easy Tables with Quick Dropdown CKeditor 5 in D10 simplifies table creation and management with an easy tables feature. This includes a quick dropdown menu within the text editor, enabling users to insert, customize, and format tables efficiently. This enhancement helps you maintain data organization and presentation quality. Balloon Panels Balloon panels are a new addition that provides contextual tooltips and editing options directly within the text editor. These panels appear as floating, interactive elements, making it easier to access relevant tools and information without navigating away from the content. Plus, it’s much more intuitive and mobile-friendly. Insert Links and Special Characters When you select the “link” button on the toolbar, a balloon panel for inserting links will appear, resembling the one used for adding alternative text. This panel features a clean and contemporary design, with a green checkmark to confirm the link entered in the “Link URL” field and a red cross to cancel the action. The updated special characters dropdown allows content editors to insert various symbols, including special letters, mathematical symbols, currency signs, copyright symbols, trademark symbols, and more. The Material Icons Module Google's Material Icons collection offers a range of simple, contemporary icons. The Material Icons module allows you to choose from style families like Baseline, Outlined, Two-Tone, Round, and Sharp. Baseline style is activated by default, but you can enable other styles in the module settings at Configuration > Content Authoring > Material Icons. To include the Material Icons button in the CKEditor 5 toolbar, navigate to Configuration > Content authoring > Text formats and editors, select your preferred format, and drag the Material Icons button from “Available” to “Active.” Once added to the toolbar, you can search for icons by name, choose the style family from the dropdown, and apply optional classes. The autocomplete feature and a link to the full icon list simplify the process of finding the desired icons. The Editor Advanced Link Module The Enhanced Link Editor module enriches the CKEditor 5 link dialog box with additional options for incorporating link attributes. Version 2.1.1 is compatible with CKEditor 5. Following installation, navigate to Configuration > Content authoring > Text formats and editors. Choose the input format and locate the CKEditor 5 plugins list. Activate the "Enhanced links" plugin and designate attributes such as: ARIA label Title CSS classes ID Open in a new window (target attribute) Link relationship  Activate these attributes by ticking the boxes and then, save the configuration. Subsequently, these attributes become accessible during the creation or modification of links within the content editor. Better Lists Feature The lists feature improves the creation and management of ordered and unordered lists. Enhanced list formatting options allow for more control over list appearance, making it easier to create structured and visually appealing content. Autoformatting & Transformations Autoformatting allows content editing without needing to use toolbar buttons. You can swiftly create lists or format text by using simple typing shortcuts. Transformations enable the automatic creation of symbols using shortcut text, like generating a copyright symbol by typing (C). You can also set up auto-correct rules using this feature. TypeScript The new CKEditor will soon support official TypeScript for its entire API. This setup will offer content admins several benefits, such as producing clean, high-quality, maintainable code and providing code autocompletion and type suggestions for CKEditor APIs. Final Thoughts Drupal 10 introduced a range of improvements, like an upgraded content editing experience with CKEditor 5, a more modular architecture, better performance, and scalability. For content creators, Drupal 10’s CKEditor 5 is a game-changer. You can whip up killer user experiences quicker and slicker than ever before. Thinking about migrating to Drupal 10? That's not just a good idea-it's a strategic move! Your audience will thank you for it with faster load times, smoother navigation, and a website packed with more features than a Texas barbecue. Did you know we’re Certified Drupal Migration Partners? Reach out to us today to find out how we can help you.

Talking Drupal: Talking Drupal #452 - Starshot & Experience Builder

Today we are talking about web design and development, from a group of people with one thing in common… We love Drupal. This is episode #452 Starshot & Experience Builder.

For show notes visit: www.talkingDrupal.com/452

Topics
  • What is Starshot
  • What is Experience builder
  • How will Starshot build on Drupal Core
  • Will Experience builder be added to Core
  • Listener thejimbirch:
    • When will people hear about their pledge
  • Listener brook_heaton:
    • Will experience builder be compatible with layout builder
  • Will Experience builder allow people to style content
  • Listener Matthieu Scarset
    • Who is Starshot trying to compete with
  • Listener Andy Blum
    • Does the DA or other major hosting companies plan to set up cheap, easy hosted Drupal
  • Listener Ryan Szarma
    • Who does this initiative serve in the business community
  • How can people get involved
Resources Guests

Lauri Eskola - lauriii

Hosts

Nic Laflin - nLighteneddevelopment.com nicxvan John Picozzi - epam.com johnpicozzi Matthew Grasmick - grasmash

MOTW Correspondent

Martin Anderson-Clutz - mandclu.com mandclu

  • Brief description:
    • Have you ever wanted to have your modules create content when they’re installed? There’s a module for that.
  • Module name/project name:
  • Brief history
    • How old: created in Oct 2015 by prolific contributor Lee Rowlands (larowlan) though the most recent releases are by Sascha Grossenbacher (Berdir), also a maintainer of many popular Drupal modules
    • Versions available: 2.0.0-alpha2, which works with Drupal 9 and 10
  • Maintainership
    • Security coverage: opted in, but needs a stable release
    • Test coverage
    • Documentation
    • Number of open issues: 105 open issues, 29 of which are bugs against the current branch
  • Usage stats:
    • Almost 20,000 sites
  • Module features and usage
    • Provides a way for modules to include default content, in the same way that many modules already include default configuration
    • The module exports content as YAML files, and your module can specify the content that should be exported by listing the UUIDs in the info.yml file
    • It also provides a number of drush commands, to export a single entity, to export an entity and all of its dependencies, or to bulk export all of the content referenced in a module’s .info.yml file
    • There is also a companion project to export default content using an action within a view, which also makes me think it could probably be automated with something like ECA if you needed that
    • Exported content should be kept in a content directory in your module, where it will imported during install on any site that has the default_content module installed
    • I thought this would be a good module to cover today because Drupal core’s recipe system also includes support for default content, so when you install a recipe it will similarly import any YAML-encoded content in the recipe. In fact, I used this module for the first time exporting taxonomy terms I wanted a recipe to create as default values for a taxonomy it creates. Since Recipes will be a big part of Starshot, I expect default_content to be getting a lot of use in the coming months

ADCI Solutions: Field mapping when integrating Drupal with Salesforce

<p>The existing module for Drupal integration with Salesforce was not a good fit for this client's needs. For this integration, we had to <a href="https://www.adcisolutions.com/work/field-mapping?utm_source=planetdrupal%26utm_medium=rss_feed%26utm_campaign=field-mapping">set up field mapping</a>.</p><img data-entity-uuid="92901548-1f79-4601-b01e-c10cbea1ab6e" data-entity-type="file" src="https://www.adcisolutions.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/salesforce-drupal-integration_0.png" width="2100" height="1336" alt="field mapping"><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The Drop Times: Closing Chapter: Reflecting on My Time with The DropTimes

Dear Readers,

As I write my The DropTimes newsletter, I'm filled with a bittersweet blend of gratitude and nostalgia. When I first joined The DropTimes, my understanding of Drupal was minimal, but stepping into this expansive world, I was not only educated but deeply inspired by the robust spirit of our community. Throughout my tenure, I've had the unique privilege to connect with many of you—talented individuals from across the globe, each sharing the same passion and dedication.

Over these months, The DropTimes has stood as a never-fading testimony to the vibrant and ever-evolving Drupal world, chronicling its achievements, challenges, and the incredible community that drives its success. Today, I am sharing not just another update, but a personal farewell. May the coming chapters of my life lead me towards new beginnings, filled with personal and professional growth.
As I close this significant chapter at The DropTimes, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you—my colleagues, our readers, and the entire Drupal community—for the support, inspiration, and camaraderie. It has been a profound journey, one that has enriched me beyond words, and I look forward to carrying these memories and lessons with me into my future endeavors.

So, with that said, let me, for the last time, take you through the stories we covered last week.

Kazima Abbas, a sub-editor at TDT, unveils insights from two significant events. Acquia Engage London 2024, which took place from May 21 to 22 marked the first European stop of the 2024 Digital Freedom Tour. It convened digital leaders who shared their expertise, insights, and practical tips on crafting impactful customer experiences. Learn more here. The next event is, Evolve Drupal Montreal 2024, organized by Evolving Web following the success of EvolveDrupal Atlanta. This upcoming summit, set for June 14, 2024, marks its return to Montreal where it debuted in May 2023. Read about this in detail here.

A few other important updates are; Drupal has launched the IXP Fellowship Initiative survey to bolster support for inexperienced developers looking to kickstart their careers in the Drupal ecosystem. By defining core competencies and gathering community input, this initiative aims to bridge the gap between training and practical experience, ultimately nurturing new talent within the community. Participate in shaping the future of Drupal development and read more about the initiative here.

Drupal 11 is set to remove several long-standing modules, such as Actions UI, Book, and Forum, in a bid to streamline its core functionality and focus on innovation. However, users need not fret as these features will still be accessible through contributed modules. This strategic move underscores Drupal's commitment to empowering site builders and ensuring a lean, efficient platform for ambitious digital experiences. Learn more about the changes and their implications here.

Michael Anello, on DrupalEasy, sheds light on the pressing need for fresh talent in the Drupal community, as evidenced by the concerning lack of new developers highlighted at DrupalCon Portland 2024. With only 9.1% of respondents under 30 in the 2024 Drupal Developer Survey, urgent action is needed to attract and retain young developers. Michael proposes several strategic measures, including modernizing Drupal's code and creating educational programs, to address this challenge. Get involved in shaping the future of Drupal development and read more about Michael's insights here.

New dates have been announced for DrupalCon Asia 2024, set to take place in Singapore from December 9th to 11th, 2024. Know more about the three-day event here. Applications are now open for grants and scholarships to attend DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 until June 28th, 2024. The initiative, led by the Drupal Association in partnership with Kuoni Tumlare Congress, aims to promote diversity and inclusivity within the open-source community.

The Drupal Brisbane meetup is scheduled to resume on June 18, 2024. This event offers both in-person attendance at Brisbane Square Library and the option to participate online, providing an opportunity for individuals to engage in discussions surrounding Drupal and contribute to the community. Interested participants are encouraged to submit their topic suggestions, fostering an inclusive environment for collaborative discourse. A complete list of events for the week is available here.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) has scheduled a final discussion on proposed changes to Drupal's coding standards for June 5, 2024, UTC. The focus of this discussion will be the coding style for PHP Enumerations, inviting community input to refine Drupal's coding practices.

The Drupal Association has appointed Simba Ndemera as its new Chief Financial and Operations Officer, effective April 2024. With nearly three decades of experience in finance and a strong background in nonprofit accounting, Simba brings valuable expertise to his role. His dedication to community service and advancing open-source technology aligns perfectly with the organization's mission, promising a collaborative effort toward progress and inclusivity in the tech industry.

Bluechip Tech Limited, headquartered in the UK, has unveiled a new training course focusing on Drupal responsive design. Geared towards educating participants on crafting responsive and adaptive designs with Drupal and its modules, the course covers essential principles and techniques. Learn more about this new training here. Additionally, Evolving Web is offering a series of in-person Drupal training sessions next month in Montreal, aimed at enhancing digital practices for teams and individuals. These full-day training sessions, scheduled for June 11 to 13, cover crucial aspects of Drupal, providing participants with expert knowledge and practical skills.

Frontkom has announced the imminent release of Drupal Gutenberg 3.0.0, promising enhanced customization options and improved support for content blocks in Drupal. This update, designed to simplify content creation with advanced style controls and user-defined patterns, aims to elevate the user experience within the Drupal ecosystem.

Introducing the Time Machine module for Drupal, crafted by Mandip Singh, offering administrators seamless site restoration capabilities to any desired point in time. With comprehensive rollback features covering content, configuration, and user data, this module ensures robust disaster recovery and facilitates safe experimentation. Read more about this new module here.

The Drupal Association has issued an update on its Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Pledge for 2024, reaffirming Drupal's commitment to accessibility standards. Led by Mike Gifford, the Drupal accessibility maintainers are actively working to align with WCAG 2.2 AA standards, aiming for inclusivity across the platform. With ongoing efforts to address accessibility issues and promote community involvement, Drupal continues its mission to ensure accessibility for all users.

We acknowledge that there are more stories to share. However, due to selection constraints, we must pause further exploration for now.

To get timely updates, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Also, join us on Drupal Slack at #thedroptimes.

For the Last Time,
Sincerely,
Elma John
Sub-editor, The DropTimes.

Subscribe to