drupal

Ever wondered why software projects take longer than estimated? Join Sarah and Mike in their office as they unravel the mystery of software estimates, explained in a way that everyone can understand.

Secure and stable Drupal websites are critical for protecting sensitive data and maintaining your organization’s reputation. Yet, navigating potential security pitfalls can be overwhelming without the right knowledge. With these actionable guidelines, you can fortify your Drupal webpage against vulnerabilities and ensure robust protection.

DDEV v1.24.3 Release

Today we released DDEV v1.24.3 ahead of schedule because of a wonderful set of open-source interactions. (There's other important stuff in the release, but I'll cover that later.)

We would appreciate it if you could upgrade soon, especially if you're on macOS or traditional Windows, so that we don't have to answer questions about this when it starts to hit users.

Mutagen Problem Report

On Monday, two days ago, @LoganHornbuckle reported a problem (apparently with Mutagen or Docker) we had never seen before. They helped extensively with followup, and it turned out that they had done a colima update and as a result gotten the new Docker/Moby Engine version 28.0.0.

The update exposed an incompatibility between Mutagen and Docker 28, which showed up as a fatal error, completely breaking DDEV's Mutagen support for Docker 28.

Once we understood the situation, we were able to reproduce the problem, and assumed it was a problem with Docker 28.

The Fix to Mutagen

We contacted @xenoscopic (Jacob Howard), the maintainer of Mutagen (now with Docker), and he was able to reproduce it immediately. By the end of the day, he had diagnosed it and provided a new release! (It turned out to be a place where Mutagen had worked around a Docker Engine quirk, and the Docker quirk got fixed, breaking Mutagen.)

So here we are just two days later with a pre-emptive DDEV release v1.24.3 that should prevent most people from ever seeing the Mutagen problem.

THANKS!

Thanks to @LoganHornbuckle and the community for keeping in touch, reporting, and helping to sort out problems. Amazing thanks to @xenoscopic for the quick diagnosis and fix. And thanks to Docker, Inc. for the wonderful open-source Docker project that underlies all of the available Docker providers, not just Docker Desktop. And of course thanks for supporting @xenoscopic's ongoing maintenance of Mutagen.

Open source software is amazing!

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The Open Source community has been through some interesting times over the last five years. COVID19 created a situation where many of our community who were at greater risk of its effects were effectively denied access to in person events. The community did a lot, frankly not enough at times, to facilitate access with things like mask mandates, remote participation etc. Now, we find another barrier to participation – extreme politics.

Tags

• Drupal
• OpenSource
• Politics

• Read more about Denied entry?
• Log in with GitHub or Google to post comments. Or, if you came across this post via Mastodon, just reply there!

This year the Drupal Association celebrated Black History Month by recognizing achievements of Black Americans in the fields of technology and computing. We chose the landmark innovators featured in our social media because their impact on our sector was significant. Their accomplishments have directly impacted the ability of Drupal to have been conceived in the first place, for it to have an online space to exist, for it to evolve, for the Drupal community and the Drupal Association to communicate and collaborate, and the way technology itself has transformed our global society.

Today, we take computers, coding, and the internet for granted, seamlessly integrating them into our daily lives. However, the digital world as we know it would not exist without the imagination, brilliance, and determination of early innovators. These visionaries—scientists, engineers, business leaders, and developers—pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible, creating technologies that shaped the modern world.

In the realm of technology, boldness and creativity are essential. Developing something entirely new requires not only technical expertise but also the courage to challenge conventional wisdom and take risks. The individuals who laid the foundation for computing did so in an era when access to resources, education, and opportunities was far more limited—especially for those from marginalized communities.

These pioneers also faced systemic racism, discrimination, and exclusion, yet they persevered. Despite encountering barriers that sought to inhibit their progress, they made groundbreaking contributions that revolutionized computing. Their resilience and dedication not only changed the course of the internet and personal computing, they helped open doors for future generations, ensuring that technology would become a more inclusive and expansive field.

For your reading pleasure, here are each of the posts compiled into a single blog:

Known as the 'Godfather of Silicon Valley,' Roy Clay Sr. was a pioneer in early computing. He played a crucial role in leading Hewlett-Packard’s entry into the computer market, helping shape the industry’s future. Beyond his technical achievements, he was a strong advocate for diversity in technology, mentoring and opening doors for Black engineers in Silicon Valley. The importance of Silicon Valley itself cannot be understated - it is the site of the precursor to the internet in 1969. Clay had been recruited by Packard five years earlier and he wrote the software for the first HP commercial computer. HP was a major player in Silicon Valley, solidifying it as the epicenter of computing at the time.

Frank Greene Jr., was a pioneer whose contributions continue to shape the tech industry. Greene revolutionized semiconductor technology in the 1960s and later founded a venture capital firm to support minority- and women-led startups. His impact bridges both technology and equity, opening doors for future generations. Without his contribution, it is unlikely that computers would have moved as quickly from commercial to personal use.

Lisa Gelobter is a computer scientist known for pioneering internet technologies like Shockwave, which sparked web animation. She contributed to online video and helped launch Hulu. Lisa's diverse experience also includes working at the White House's U.S. Digital Service and as Chief Digital Service Officer for the Department of Education. She is now CEO and Founder of tEQuitable, a platform promoting inclusive workplaces. Her work promoting the ascent of online video directly allows Drupalists to easily share visual context.

Photo from: Teen Enterprise

A key figure in modern computing, Dr. Mark Dean was instrumental in developing IBM’s early personal computers, holding three of the company’s original PC patents. Dr. Dean, now in his 60s, was the first African-American to become an IBM Fellow, which represents the highest level of technical excellence. He also led the team that created the first 1-GHz microprocessor, revolutionizing computing power. With over 20 patents to his name, his innovations continue to shape the technology we use today. 

 Clarence “Skip” Ellis led the team that developed Officetalk—the first system to use graphical icons and ethernet for workplace collaboration. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern tools like Google Docs, shaping the way we work and communicate online. The Drupal Association and the Drupal community frequently use collaborative technologies to share ideas and work together across space and time.

We sourced the ideas for these specific pioneers from: https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/celebrating-black-history-black-leaders-in-tech

The CKEditor AI Writing Agent is a transformative tool that seamlessly integrates into the Drupal ecosystem, enhancing the content creation experience with cutting-edge artificial intelligence. This innovative module empowers users by providing intelligent assistance during the writing process, from generating content ideas to refining text structures for improved clarity and engagement.

Note: To show exactly how this module works in real-time I created a YouTube video of the creation of this blog post: https://youtu.be/tF7hN8hlzfQ

By directly integrating AI commands into the text editor, this module enhances user experience, offering seamless interaction without the disruption of modals, popups, and sidebars. This AI-first approach ensures intuitive functionality, setting it apart from competitors and empowering content creators with efficiency and immediacy.

With the state-of-the-art models supported by our plugin you have the combined knowledge at the tip of your finers, right inside your Drupal editor

Integration with Drupal is straightforward ( Setup tutorial: https://youtu.be/B9gzOk4vztU ), allowing content creators to easily implement the AI Writing Agent alongside existing workflows. This compatibility ensures that content creators can harness the full power of AI without needing to overhaul their current systems. By combining CKEditor's robust editing capabilities with AI-driven insights, the Writing Agent transforms the content creation process, allowing creators to focus on what they excel at: developing content ideas and fine-tuning text for their audience. Meanwhile, the AI manages the repetitive tasks, making the entire process more efficient and streamlined.

This tool represents a significant leap forward for content creators within Drupal, providing a unique advantage in crafting high-quality content with greater efficiency. Its adaptability to diverse writing styles and contexts makes it an invaluable asset for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and enhance the quality of their output.

By integrating the CKEditor AI Writing Agent into their workflows, Drupal users can unlock new possibilities in content management, setting a new standard for innovation and productivity in the digital landscape.

Enhancing Content Creation: A New Era for Drupal Users

The CKEditor AI Writing Agent ushers in a new era of content creation for Drupal users, combining the robust capabilities of AI with the flexibility of CKEditor to transform writing processes. At the heart of this transformation is the agent’s advanced contextual understanding, allowing it to generate relevant content suggestions that enrich the creative process. This contextual insight enables content creators to produce high-quality material that resonates with their target audience, effortlessly aligning with style guides and thematic requirements.

• Boosted Speed and Efficiency: Streamline content development by automating tasks such as brainstorming and draft refinement.
• Intelligent Automation: Receive immediate feedback and suggestions to enhance your editing process.
• Multi-Channel Adaptability: Generate multiple text versions to tailor content for different audiences and channels.
• Collaborative Creation: Enable simultaneous contributions from multiple users for a dynamic creative process.
• Strategic Focus: Save time on repetitive tasks, allowing for concentration on high-level content strategies.

One of the significant advantages of integrating the AI Writing Agent is the enhanced speed and efficiency in content development. Tasks that once consumed considerable time, such as brainstorming ideas or refining drafts, are now expedited through intelligent automation. The module provides immediate feedback and suggestions, streamlining the editing process and freeing up valuable time for more strategic tasks. For instance, content teams can swiftly generate multiple versions of a text, adapting it for different channels and audiences with ease.

Specific use-cases highlight the AI Writing Agent's practicality and effectiveness. In marketing, teams use the module to quickly draft compelling copy for campaigns, benefiting from the AI’s ability to suggest emotionally engaging language that drives action. Educational institutions leverage the tool to create diverse learning materials, accommodating various learning styles and languages, thanks to the AI's adaptive capabilities.

Through these sophisticated functionalities, the CKEditor AI Writing Agent not only boosts productivity but also elevates the standard of content creation across the open source community, marking a revolutionary shift in how content is crafted and consumed. Last but not least: using it can be a lot of fun!

Standout Features of the CKEditor AI Writing Agent

The key to a successful AI user experience is streaming. When you send off a prompt and immediately, hundreds of carefully chosen, on-brand words start flowing into your editor... that's magic

At the forefront is the agent's real-time streaming and context-aware writing, which provides users with on-the-fly suggestions and edits based on the context of the document or specific paragraphs. This feature ensures content cohesiveness and relevance, facilitating seamless integration of new ideas without compromising the overall narrative.

Multilingual support is at the heart of our offering, enabling users to create and refine content in various languages with ease. This ensures a uniform voice and style, making it essential for global organizations that want to engage effectively with audiences around the world.

The agent's content moderation tools automatically flag and edit content that doesn't comply with set standards, ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines and maintaining a professional tone throughout all communications.

Customization capabilities further elevate the CKEditor AI Writing Agent, allowing organizations to tailor the AI's behavior to their brand-specific requirements. This includes adjustable settings for tone, style, and complexity, ensuring content that accurately reflects the brand's voice.

Through these standout features, the CKEditor AI Writing Agent positions itself as an indispensable tool for modern content strategies, offering flexibility and intelligence that transcend conventional writing tools.

Community and Developer Benefits

The CKEditor AI Writing Agent offers extensive advantages for both Drupal developers and content creators, enabling them to streamline their workflows and achieve superior content quality and engagement.

Developer Customization and Flexibility

For developers, the module's versatile API provides robust customization capabilities, allowing them to tailor AI behavior to specific project needs. This flexibility enables developers to adjust the AI's functionalities, such as tone and style settings, ensuring alignment with unique brand requirements or specific user scenarios. The API also facilitates seamless integration into existing Drupal infrastructures, making the AI Writing Agent adaptable to many different contexts and use cases.

Enhanced Efficiency for Content Creators

Content creators benefit substantially from the module through improved efficiency and higher levels of engagement. With AI-driven suggestions and real-time edits, creators can produce compelling content swiftly, reducing the typical workload associated with drafting and editing processes. This efficiency allows creators to focus on strategic activities, like crafting engaging narratives and developing rich multi-channel content experiences.

Real-World Use Cases

While the CKEditor AI Writing Agent is an upcoming module, there's strong anticipation about its potential impact across various sectors. Here's what organizations can potentially achieve:

The open source community plays a pivotal role in offering strong AI tools, driving innovation across the globe. It allows a diverse group of developers and organizations to collaborate and contribute to the development of AI technologies, ensuring that these tools are robust, secure, and scalable. Open source tools foster an environment of transparency and trust in AI, as users can scrutinize and improve upon the code, leading to more reliable and efficient applications in various contexts.

• Non-Profit Impact: Non-profit organizations may leverage the AI agent to streamline content production for fundraising campaigns, potentially increasing donor engagement significantly.
• Enterprise Efficiency: Multinational corporations could integrate the AI tool to automate internal communications, possibly boosting productivity by minimizing content creation time substantially.
• Educational Excellence: Educational institutions might adopt the AI Writing Agent to develop multilingual course materials, potentially enhancing accessibility and learner engagement.

In a world increasingly driven by technological advances, there is a pressing need for transparent, open-source AI tools. Such resources are crucial in bridging the gap for those who cannot afford expensive proprietary AI software, ensuring that the transformative power of generative AI is accessible to all. By democratizing access to AI tools, we can mitigate potential negative consequences of technological disparities, fostering a more equitable environment where innovation thrives without the constraints of financial barriers. 

Open-source solutions empower individuals and communities to harness AI's capabilities, driving meaningful change across diverse sectors and promoting societal well-being.

Reflecting on our journey with the CKEditor AI Writing Agent, it's evident that this tool is poised to transform content creation and management within Drupal. By integrating cutting-edge AI capabilities seamlessly, it empowers both developers and creators. We eagerly anticipate its impact on digital communication across the world!

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The penultimate installment of our Drupal 7 to 10 migration series is here! This guide dives into node migrations for venue, session, and event content types. Discover expert tips on troubleshooting missing field values, streamlining QA workflows, and mastering entity validation to ensure a smooth migration process. The finish line is just ahead!