News Roundup

The inaugural Drupal Iberia 2024 event marks a significant collaboration between Spanish and Portuguese Drupal communities. Set to take place in Évora, Portugal, this event aims to foster unity and share knowledge across borders, offering sessions in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Organized by Associação Drupal Portugal and Asociación Española de Drupal, the event highlights include keynotes on open data and community empowerment, emphasizing diversity and accessibility.

A new study by TheDropTimes reveals a global trend of governments favouring free and open-source software for their official websites. This shift is driven by the potential benefits of FOSS solutions, including enhanced security, flexibility, and cost savings compared to proprietary systems. TDT analysed the websites of 195 countries, highlighting Drupal as a key player, especially among the top 100 most visited sites. Despite the robust data, approximately 49% of the CMS usage remains unknown, representing a substantial portion of the global digital landscape.

At DrupalCon Portland 2024, Jesus Manuel Olivas, CEO of Octahedroid, unveiled a new Headless Drupal content structuring approach improving the balance between developers, site builders, content editors, and marketers. The system called Drupal as a Composable CMS, introduces three key modules: the Composable Module for better content adaptability, a Decoupled Preview Iframe for real-time content previews, and a Visual Editor for streamlined editing. Available on GitHub, this innovative approach promises to enhance usability and functionality in content management.

Acquia is set to host a webinar on digital accessibility titled "The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Digital Accessibility: How to Win More Customers, Boost Retention, and Increase Loyalty" on May 16, 2024. The event will explore the critical role of digital accessibility in business success and feature discussions on how neglecting it impacts customer engagement. Key industry experts will provide strategies for improving accessibility, with a special fireside chat addressing technological and organizational challenges in this area.

The Drupal Advent Calendar 2024 has opened submissions early, inviting the Drupal community to submit ideas themed "People of Drupal." This initiative seeks to showcase both well-known and lesser-known contributors to the Drupal ecosystem. After a thorough selection process, final entries will be unveiled starting December 1, 2024.

DrupalCon Portland 2024 features a robust schedule of community and EOWG events, providing numerous opportunities for networking and sharing insights among event organizers. Highlights include the Community Events Booth in the Expo Hall, specialized sessions like the Event Organizers Roundtable, and Contribution Day activities. The week concludes with a Community Summit, facilitating open discussions among Drupal community members.

Dries Buytaert delivers a compelling keynote at DrupalCon Portland 2024, introducing "Drupal Starshot," a major update designed to streamline Drupal and enhance user experience. He reflects on Drupal's 23-year history, emphasizing its pioneering role in web technology and its ongoing commitment to the open web. The Driesnote discusses challenges and future directions for Drupal, aiming to maintain its relevance and leadership in an evolving digital landscape.

DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 invites artists to participate in a drawing contest, where the winner's design of Mercè, a symbol of Barcelona's famous festival, will be featured on the official event stickers. Entrants can submit their artwork via social media or email by the end of June, offering a unique platform for creative expression within the Drupal community.

The 2024 Drupal Developer Survey offers key insights into the community's composition and technological trends. With 648 developers participating globally, the survey highlighted strong language diversity and high levels of experience among respondents. Key findings include increased adoption of decoupled architectures and significant community engagement, despite a global dip in event attendance.

LagoonCon Portland 2024, a tech event hosted by amazee.io, concluded on May 6 at the Hyatt Regency Portland, focusing on developer and tech leader networking. The evening featured presentations from notable speakers including Toby Bellwood of amazee.io, Christoph Weber from Pronovix, and Bryan Gruneberg of Workshop Orange. This gathering emphasized collaboration and knowledge sharing within the technology community, promising more updates and insights.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of Drupal at the upcoming meetup in Bern on May 29th. Hosted at the iqual offices, this event promises an evening filled with knowledge-sharing, networking, and community building. From insightful presentations on energy-saving simulations to tackling SEO challenges within Drupal, attendees can deepen their understanding and engage with like-minded enthusiasts.

Mark your calendars!DrupalCon Singapore is set for November 18-21, 2024, at the Pan Pacific Parkroyal Collection, Marina Bay. Join the global Drupal community for a key event filled with collaboration, learning, and networking opportunities. Don't miss out on advancing discussions and fostering innovation in the Drupal ecosystem!

Day 2 of DrupalCon Portland 2024 is packed with excitement! Catch Alex Salkever's keynote on "Open Source AI Now," and don't miss the Drupal Association Public Board Meeting with community leaders. Dive into sessions on Drupal 11, sustainable web practices, and more. Plus, networking events like the Women in Drupal Luncheon and Acquia Social await!

DrupalCon Portland 2024 kicks off with a focus on diversity and community, hosted by inclusion champion Fei Lauren and accessibility advocate Nikki Flores. The conference introduces innovative inclusivity measures such as new lanyard colors for hidden disabilities and celebrates community contributions, including a t-shirt design contest winner Alicia Jones. Future DrupalCons announced for Barcelona, Singapore, and Atlanta, highlighting Drupal's expanding global presence and ongoing commitment to community and accessibility.

Set your sights on DrupalCon Atlanta 2025! Happening in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 24-27, this key event for developers, designers, and digital professionals will feature extensive networking and in-depth Drupal sessions. Be sure to register early and stay updated by visiting the official website for the latest news!

Michael Anello honored with the prestigious 2024 Aaron Winborn Award for his significant contributions to the Drupal community. Celebrating excellence and dedication, Michael's impact spans educational initiatives and community engagement.

DrupalCon 2024 kicks off today in Portland, bringing together tech professionals for North America's largest open-source event. The conference features the Women in Drupal Luncheon on May 7, focusing on the challenges women face in the tech industry. This session will include discussions on overcoming Imposter Syndrome, the need for more women in leadership, and the importance of advocacy and allyship in fostering an inclusive environment.

The Drop Times is set to deliver comprehensive updates from DrupalCon Portland 2024, which kicks off later today, May 6th. The coverage will include detailed reports on sessions, keynotes, and community events, focusing on major topics such as Driesnote, AI, and new features in Drupal.

Salman Haider, a veteran Drupaler from Pakistan, will attend his first in-person DrupalCon in Portland 2024. Having honed his skills through DrupalCamps in his home country, Salman has risen to become a GitHub and Acquia Certified Drupal Expert, now working in the UAE. This milestone reflects his professional growth and dedication to the Drupal community, highlighting his journey from local development to the global stage.