drupal

Imagine a marketer opening Drupal and with a clear goal in mind: launch a campaign for an upcoming event.

They start by uploading a brand kit to Drupal CMS: logos, fonts, and color palette. They define the campaign's audience as mid-sized business owners interested in digital transformation. Then they create a creative guide that outlines the event's goals, key messages, and tone.

With this in place, AI agents within Drupal step in to assist. Drawing from existing content and media, the agents help generate landing pages, each optimized for a specific audience segment. They suggest headlines, refine copy based on the creative guide, create components based on the brand kit, insert a sign-up form, and assemble everything into cohesive, production-ready pages.

Using Drupal's built-in support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the AI agents connect to analytics tools and monitor performance. If a page is not converting well, the system makes overnight updates. It might adjust layout, improve clarity, or refine the calls to action.

Every change is tracked. The marketer can review, approve, revert, or adjust anything. They stay in control, even as the system takes on more of the routine work.

Why it matters

AI is changing how websites are built and managed faster than most people expected. The digital experience space is shifting from manual workflows to outcome-driven orchestration. Instead of building everything from scratch, users will set goals, and AI will help deliver results.

This future is not about replacing people. It is about empowering them. It is about freeing up time for creative and strategic work while AI handles the rest. AI will take care of routine tasks, suggest improvements, and respond to real-time feedback. People will remain in control, but supported by powerful new tools that make their work easier and faster.

The path forward won't be perfect. Change is never easy, and there are still many lessons to learn, but standing still isn't an option. If we want AI to head in the right direction, we have to help steer it. We are excited to move fast, but just as committed to doing it thoughtfully and with purpose.

The question is not whether AI will change how we build websites, but how we as a community will shape that change.

A coordinated push forward

Drupal already has a head start in AI. At DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, I showed how Drupal's AI tools help a site creator market wine tours. Since then, we have seen a growing ecosystem of AI modules, active integrations, and a vibrant community pushing boundaries. Today, about 1,000 people are sharing ideas and collaborating in the #ai channel on Drupal Slack.

At DrupalCon Atlanta in March 2025, I shared our latest AI progress. We also brought together key contributors working on AI in Drupal. Our goal was simple: get organized and accelerate progress. After the event, the group committed to align on a shared vision and move forward together.

Since then, this team has been meeting regularly, almost every day. I've been working with the team to help guide the direction. With a lot of hard work behind us, I'm excited to introduce the Drupal AI Initiative.

The Drupal AI Initiative builds on the momentum in our community by bringing structure and shared direction to the work already in progress. By aligning around a common strategy, we can accelerate innovation.

What we're launching today

The Drupal AI Initiative is closely aligned with the broader Drupal CMS strategy, particularly in its focus on making site building both faster and easier. At the same time, this work is not limited to Drupal CMS. It is also intended to benefit people building custom solutions on Drupal Core, as well as those working with alternative distributions of Drupal.

To support this initiative, we are announcing:

• A clear strategy to guide Drupal's AI vision and priorities (PDF mirror).
• A Drupal AI leadership team to drive product direction, fundraising, and collaboration across work tracks.
• A funded delivery team focused on execution, with the equivalent of several full-time roles already committed, including technical leads, UX and project managers, and release coordination.
• Active work tracks covering areas like AI Core, AI Products, AI Marketing, and AI UX.
• USD $100,000 in operational funding, contributed by the initiative's founding companies.

For more details, read the full announcement on the Drupal AI Initiative page on Drupal.org.

Founding members and early support

Over the past few months, we've invested hundreds of hours shaping our AI strategy, defining structure, and taking first steps.

I want to thank the founding members of the Drupal AI Initiative. These individuals and organizations played a key role in getting things off the ground. The list is ordered alphabetically by last name to recognize all contributors equally:

• Jamie Abrahams (FreelyGive) – Innovation and AI architecture
• Baddý Breidert (1xINTERNET) – Governance, funding, and coordination
• Christoph Breidert (1xINTERNET) – Product direction and roadmap
• Dries Buytaert (Acquia / Drupal) – Strategic oversight and direction
• Dominique De Cooman (Dropsolid) – Fundraising and business alignment
• Marcus Johansson (FreelyGive) – Technical leadership
• Paul Johnson (1xINTERNET) – Marketing and outreach
• Kristen Pol (Salsa Digital) – Cross-team alignment and contributor engagement
• Lauri Timmanee (Acquia) – Experience Builder AI integration
• Frederik Wouters (Dropsolid) – Communications and outreach

These individuals, along with the companies supporting them, have already contributed significant time, energy, and funding. I am grateful for their early commitment.

I also want to thank the staff at the Drupal Association and the Drupal CMS leadership team for their support and collaboration.

What comes next

I'm glad the Drupal AI Initiative is now underway. The Drupal AI strategy is published, the structure is in place, and multiple work tracks are open and moving forward. We'll share more details and updates in the coming weeks.

With every large initiative, we are evolving how we organize, align, and collaborate. The Drupal AI Initiative builds on that progress. As part of that, we are also exploring more ways to recognize and reward meaningful contributions.

We are creating ways for more of you to get involved with Drupal AI. Whether you are a developer, designer, strategist, or sponsor, there is a place for you in this work. If you're part of an agency, we encourage you to step forward and become a Maker. The more agencies that contribute, the more momentum we build.

Update: In addition to the initiative's founding members, Amazee.io already stepped forward with another commitment of USD $20,000 and one full-time contributor. Thank you! This brings the total operating budget to USD $120,000. Please consider joining as well.

AI is changing how websites and digital experiences are built. This is our moment to be part of the change and help define what comes next.

Join us in the #ai-initiative channel on Drupal Slack to get started.

The Drupal IXP program officially launched a couple of months ago, marking a significant step in our community's effort to build future talent. Modeled after traditional apprenticeship approaches (with the Drupal-y twist of 250 contribution credits,) the program aims to connect newcomers at the beginning of their Drupal journey with organizations willing to hire and mentor them. While the initiative is poised to address a critical talent gap, its launch occurs during a challenging period for the Drupal community, prompting a reflection on the timing and rationale.

A challenge, and an opportunity

The primary challenge is the current landscape where many experienced Drupal developers are suddenly seeking employment. It is not unreasonable to assume that some percentage of these people will find non-Drupal jobs. Combine this potentiality with the fact that the Drupal developer community is getting older and that fewer and fewer new Drupal developers have been joining us suggests a long-term need for new talent. The single goal of the IXP program is to cultivate new Drupal developers so that we can maintain a community hearty enough to carry Drupal Core and Drupal CMS into the future.

Despite the external market conditions, the decision to launch the IXP program now was driven by the significant volunteer effort and organizational support from the Drupal Association. It just didn't make sense to not launch the program with the pending need so great, and while it had momentum. The program has reached a stage where it is ready to provide tangible opportunities for newcomers and benefits for participating organizations.

Advantages for new developers and businesses

The IXP program focuses on individuals with less than three months of paid Drupal experience, specifically targeting that crucial transition point between learning and professional practice to bridge the gap between learning Drupal and securing the first professional role. It serves as a structured pathway and a "safe learning environment" to help new developers navigate this complexity and build their skills under the guidance of experienced mentors. By providing paid experience in real-life use cases with structured mentorship (at least one hour of mentorship for every ten hours worked,) the program directly addresses the difficulty newcomers face in gaining practical experience.

IXP developers are expected to have knowledge about Drupal (either gained on their own or via courses like Drupal Career Online or Professional Module Development) - the program isn't asking hiring organizations to provide basic Drupal knowledge.

For businesses, hiring new Drupal developers through the IXP program presents potential advantages including the fact that they are not entering the workforce with the same level of expertise or salary expectations as seasoned developers. The program allows organizations to shape talent according to their specific practices and needs, representing a strategic investment in future talent. IXPs gain paid work experience and build a portfolio, while organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and enthusiasm.

IXPs can also be a low-cost way for organizations to invest in learning about and leveraging new developments in the Drupal community, including Drupal CMS as well as Drupal AI modules and techniques. Other potential tasks that IXPs can perform for hiring organizations include Drupal core and module updates, Drupal site-building, and quality assurance. These tasks can be foundational for various projects, including those potentially for smaller clients.

Make the choice

Yes, launching the Drupal IXP program now comes at a time with challenges. However, we really can’t afford putting off such a sound solution to address the long-term health of the community by creating structured pathways for new talent. Supported by a dedicated community of volunteers as well as the Drupal Association, we reached a point where launching was the necessary step to start building the future talent pipeline, offering paid experience and mentorship to new developers while rewarding organizations for their investment in the ecosystem.

If you're a hiring organization and want to get involved, start here.

AI was used for the initial outline of this blog post.
 

We've secured a new developer contract to support LocalGov Drupal, strengthening our ongoing commitment to the project and its community.

Discover how accessible local government websites really are. Learn why digital accessibility is essential for public sector services and inclusive online access – and the main issues that affect their accessibility.

DrupalCon isn’t just about attending, it’s about participating.

Open source is more than a licensing model, it’s a culture, a movement, and a global force driving innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. At DrupalCon Vienna 2025, this spirit takes center stage as we gather to celebrate not just Drupal, but the vibrant community and ecosystem that make it thrive.

Why Open Source Matters Now More Than Ever

In a digital world dominated by proprietary platforms and walled gardens, open source empowers organizations to build with freedom, transparency, and long-term sustainability. From local governments to multinational enterprises, Drupal is trusted because of its flexibility, security, and active community.

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is your opportunity to see how open source continues to shape the future, not just of web development, but of digital transformation at large.

 A Global Community, United in Purpose

One of the most powerful aspects of DrupalCon is the people it brings together. Developers, designers, marketers, strategists, and decision-makers from all corners of the world come to Vienna to:

• Share their knowledge and experience
   
• Collaborate on solutions to common challenges
   
• Celebrate their contributions and milestones
   

Expect contributions from leading open source advocates, inspiring stories from underrepresented communities, and honest conversations about the future of Drupal and open technology.

The Power Behind the Code

Open source isn’t just about using free software, it’s about building it together. DrupalCon Vienna will spotlight the often unsung heroes behind modules, patches, translations, documentation, and testing. These contributions are the backbone of the Drupal ecosystem.

Through contribution sprints, mentoring sessions, and initiative updates, attendees will get a front-row seat to Drupal’s continuous evolution and learn how to play a part. Whether you’re fixing bugs, writing new features, mentoring newcomers, or documenting, every contribution counts, and DrupalCon is where it all comes together.

Cross-Industry Innovation, Open by Design

Drupal’s open architecture enables seamless integration with cutting-edge tools  from CRM platforms and marketing automation to AI personalization and multilingual content workflows.

Sessions at DrupalCon Vienna 2025 will highlight use cases across industries:

• Healthcare: Delivering accessible, privacy-compliant patient portals
   
• Higher Education: Managing complex, decentralized content across departments
   
• Government: Building scalable and secure citizen-focused platforms
   
• Retail & Commerce: Leveraging personalization and automation to boost engagement

Open source means freedom, the freedom to build what your organization truly needs.

Voices That Represent the Future

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 will elevate diverse voices from across the community including first-time contributors, veteran maintainers, and those pushing the boundaries of open source for social good.

Sessions will explore:

• Ethical technology development
   
• Inclusive and decentralized collaboration models
   
• Accessibility and sustainability
   
• Non-traditional pathways into open source

Open source thrives when it reflects the diversity of its users, and DrupalCon is a place where every voice can be heard and valued.

Talks That Inspire, Inform, and Ignite Change

Whether you’re new to Drupal or a long-time contributor, the session lineup at DrupalCon Vienna offers something for everyone:

• Keynotes from influential voices in open source and digital freedom
   
• Deep dives into real-world implementations of open source at scale
   
• Panels on diversity, accessibility, and responsible technology
   
• Hands-on contribution sprints and Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions
  
   

Join the Celebration

If you’ve ever built with Drupal, contributed to an open source project, or simply believe in the power of community-built technology DrupalCon Vienna 2025 is where you belong.

This isn’t just a conference. It’s a celebration of shared values, collaboration, and the endless possibilities of open source.

By Iwantha Lekamge

Technical Lead
WSO2

Why Drupal's Global Community Needs More Than Good Intentions

I've heard it countless times in Drupal community discussions: "I like that idea," "We need this," "This can really help." The enthusiasm is genuine, but here's what I've learned through my experience with community initiatives. Good intentions without action don't move the needle.

When we launched the IXP (Inexperienced developer) Initiative, the response was overwhelming. So many people reached out saying they wanted to help. Then we get busy, life happens, and the follow-through disappears. I've been guilty of this myself. In the end, it was just a few of us (Mike Anello, Ana Laura Coto, myself, and Tim Lehnen from the DA) who did the actual work of defining the program.

This pattern isn't unique to the IXP Initiative. It's something I see across our global Drupal community, especially when it comes to regional representation and authentic global participation. For our community to thrive globally, we need systematic change that benefits everyone.

The Numbers Tell a Story

When you look at Drupal.org's certified partners, the geographic concentration tells a story. The gap between regions is massive, with top-tier partners with 30,000+ contribution credits predominantly based in wealthier markets. There are different business models working in different regions. Some companies focus on local markets, while others depend on staff augmentation work for international clients. This dependency relationship means many regional companies may not know about partnership opportunities or can't access them.

In my February intervention at the Drupal Association board meeting, I shared some economic realities: minimum salary in countries like Colombia runs $200-300 per month, while in the United States, minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. With 40 weekly working hours, that's approximately $1,160 per month in the US. This total may exceed what many junior developers would make in Latin America. I speak about Latin America because it's what I know, but this economic reality translates to other regions as well.

As Tim Doyle noted in the board meeting, the Drupal Association (DA) does have regional pricing adjustments, but this needs to be better publicized so regional communities know these options exist.

From Franchise to Federation Support

I proposed a franchise schema for DrupalCon to the DA back in 2015. I'm glad to see elements of that concept being used now, but there's a fundamental problem: all the risk gets placed on the people interested in organizing a regional DrupalCon.

When I explored DrupalCon Latin America returning, I was told to find a fiscal sponsor. This requirement exists because of DA budget constraints - another example of the paradox.

This should be an intentional strategy from the Drupal Association or the emerging Federation initiative. During my experience helping organize DrupalCon Bogotá 2015, if we had continued building on that foundation, we'd have established regional DrupalCons by now.

The path forward requires building a cadence of regional events. Initially, organizers need well-known international speakers to attract local developers and gain government and business support. Eventually, they could become self-sustaining regional powerhouses. The goal would be genuinely regional conferences: by Latin Americans for Latin Americans, by Africans for Africans, creating local business opportunities and expertise.

In Latin America, we have trade show style events (what we call "ferias") - imagine a conference where each company booth potentially generates business revenue where companies pay for their spots and create sustainable business models around the conference itself. I believe DrupalCon should incorporate a well-balanced hybrid approach that includes some of this business-community balance. I also wish DrupalCamps could find this local business connections approach beneficial, especially if we can open the middle and bottom of the pyramid to smaller budget customers.

The Federation Opportunity

During recent community discussions about the Federation initiative, I've emphasized that we're dealing with multiple chicken-and-egg situations. Regional conferences need international speakers for credibility, the Marketplace initiative for accessible business models, the Federation for institutional support, and Drupal CMS for simplified access. Each depends on the others.

Here's the paradox: everyone is resource-constrained right now, and these initiatives might not immediately solve everyone's problems. Yet without building this interconnected system, regional communities will remain dependent on wealthier markets indefinitely. We need to build this interconnected ecosystem when resources are scarce, even though skeptical communities don't see immediate benefits. Recent Federation discussions highlighted this when community members raised concerns about representation gaps, including regions like Africa that currently lack formal inclusion.

The Federation initiative represents a historic opportunity to move beyond the "we should do this" conversations toward systematic structures that actually enable global participation. Regional DrupalCons need institutional support, not just permission to proceed.

Think about what this could look like: DrupalCon Asia, LATAM, and Africa as ongoing initiatives with proper Federation support. Regional certification pathways that make economic sense for local markets. Partnership models that work for companies serving their regional markets.

Beyond Good Intentions

When I participated in recent Federation discussions, I saw genuine enthusiasm for addressing these challenges. People acknowledge the need. The question is whether we're ready to move from recognition to action.

I've spent years working on regional community building. From helping organize DrupalCon Bogotá 2015 to participating in the Colombian Drupal Association to implementing the IXP Initiative. Each experience has taught me that community enthusiasm is necessary but not sufficient. You need systematic support, proper incentive alignment, and institutional commitment.

I'm committed to contributing to these solutions, not just identifying the problems. The community has the opportunity to shape this transition, but only if we move beyond good intentions. The community has shown it can innovate when we combine good intentions with proper structure and resource commitment. The question is whether we're ready to apply that same approach to global representation and regional development.

The Drupal community has always been about building together. Now we need to make sure "together" actually includes everyone, not just those who already have the resources to participate on terms designed for the wealthiest markets. That's going to take more than good intentions. It's going to take intentional action. Join the Federation Working Group discussions. Advocate for regional representation. Help turn good intentions into systematic change.

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