drupal

Most people don't love their content management system. 

In my experience, the number one complaint of organizations looking to replace their current CMS is, simply, “Our editors hate it.” (link)

Have you ever wondered why the websites you visit frequently offer products or services that might interest you? For example, an online movie cinema website shows different combinations of movies that usually suit your tastes well. The same can be said about online stores. Whenever you return to the website, it suggests items you'd like to buy. Most of the time, predictions match your tastes. This indicates that such Drupal websites use machine learning to personalise the customer experience.

Passing the Torch to the Next Generation of Drupalist

This Friday, on September 8th, in Atlanta, Georgia, we’re bringing together a gathering of Drupal enthusiasts to discuss the world’s best content management system. We extend a warm invitation to you to join the festivities at DrupalCamp Atlanta.

Since its inception in 2009, DrupalCamp Atlanta has stood as one of the most significant gatherings, uniting web developers, designers, executives, and educators passionate about Drupal. The event was initiated and supported by Dave Terry, then President of Mediacurrent, and swiftly became a cornerstone in the Drupal community. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of hosting renowned keynotes, including Dries Buytaert, David Cummings, Kyle Mathews, Mike Anello, Josh Koenig, Ryan Szrama, Jacob Rockowitz, and more.

My first attendance was in 2011, and I was profoundly impressed by the professionalism and the plethora of opportunities to learn from top contributors. It was an incredible environment to be part of.

In 2014, a dedicated group of volunteers rallied to rejuvenate the Atlanta Drupal Users Group (ADUG). We established bylaws and commenced organizing DrupalCamp Atlanta at Kennesaw State University. However, due to the university’s distance from the airport and the absence of public transportation, we made the strategic decision to relocate to downtown Atlanta. For the following five years, we continued to host the event, always aiming to provide a top-tier experience in a city hotel. Once again, I had the privilege of collaborating with some of the brightest and most enjoyable individuals I’ve ever known, resulting in lasting friendships.

As life evolves, so do our priorities. While my passion for Drupal remains unwavering, perhaps even stronger than ever, the time has come for me to step back and allow the next generation of Atlanta’s Drupal enthusiasts to carry this community to new heights. Therefore, this Friday, September 8th, marks my final DrupalCamp Atlanta as an organizer and I would love to see you join us.

In my last plea to the Drupal Community, I am asking the Drupal Association, Dries Buytaert, Acquia, and Drupal agencies across the nation to reach out to their clients, partners, and employees residing in the Atlanta area and encourage them to get involved in revitalizing this community. Atlanta, as the Southeast’s largest city, boasting esteemed colleges, universities, and multinational corporations, should always be home to a thriving DrupalCamp Atlanta!

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the love and support you’ve shown me throughout the years. 🙏🏾

This isn’t a farewell; it’s a “see you soon.” 😢 🤗

Kaleem Clarkson
DrupalCamp Atlanta, Project Lead, 2014–2023

My Last DrupalCamp Atlanta As Organizer, Join the Party This Friday. was originally published in Drupal Atlanta on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Currently, the world is gravitating toward no-code development solutions. Lesser development time, negligible requirement of coding knowledge, cost-effectiveness, enhanced productivity, ease of use, enormous scalability, and incredible customization possibilities are some factors responsible for the massive adoption of these no-code tools. As a cutting-edge content management system (CMS), Drupal has always centered itself around no-code/low-code development. 

It has made itself available to support anyone from a non-technical background who aspires to create fabulous websites and apps. In this blog, we’ll discuss why availing Drupal development services is the best option for no-code development despite the availability of a plethora of other platforms.

Having received many compliments and accolades upon its 10th major release, Drupal continues its seamless journey to the future. Fresh on the scene this June is Drupal 10.1, a minor version that showcases the present strides. Meanwhile, the road ahead promises further innovation.

Who are you? (biography/background

Brad Jones is a 14+ year member of the Drupal community and a regular contributor to both core and contrib codebases and initiatives. Professionally, he is founder/CTO at Not Vanilla, Inc., a dating-industry startup with a Drupal and open-source technology stack. He has previously worked in state and local politics, investigative journalism, technology consulting, and served as CTO at a Drupal web development agency. A full-time digital nomad living primarily in his RV throughout the mountain American west, he also serves as a part-time paramedic in a rural Colorado county every summer.

Drupal.org profile: bradjones1

Why are you running for a board seat at the Drupal Association? (mission/motivation)

Drupal was recently recognized as a “digital public good,” and this distinction sums up well the important place Drupal has carved out in both the open-source ecosystem as well as the core global tech infrastructure. As Drupal matures from scrappy roots to a longer-term legacy, so should its caretaker organization. The Drupal Association has grown also, from early conference sponsor to infrastructure caretaker to policy advocate. As the association grows and matures – especially with a new CEO - it is important for its board to carefully craft and guide its strategic vision with care. I believe the Drupal Association can serve as a model for open-source project governance and longevity, but we must stay vigilant to balancing many competing pressures (both internal and external) on its mission.

Why should members vote for you? (qualifications)

My experience as the chairman of the supervisory (audit) committee at a nonprofit $2bn credit union, as well as an agency executive and now startup founder provides me a unique perspective on nonprofit governance and cooperation with corporate partners and individual contributors.

As a board member, I pledge to be open and accessible to stakeholders as we take on important issues of the association’s mission, vision and program execution. While our visions and beliefs may not always overlap, it is important for a strong diversity of ideas to flourish in boardroom discussions with the shared goal of building a stronger and more effective organization. Building on the strong work of the DA to date, I believe the Drupal project’s best days are still before us.