Did you ever think about starting a tech company that builds websites? Do you already have a tech company that builds websites? Join me for an introduction to using Drupal as a content management system (CMS). What are the benefits, what is the downside? How much do you need to know before you can build? Drupal is free software built and created by a large and vibrant global community. We will take a look at how you can get started building sites with Drupal and how you can become a member of the Drupal community and travel the world! There are DrupalCamps and events in many countries http://drupical.com will show you where a lot of them are happening. Drupal is built for novices as well as experienced coders, there is a bit of a learning curve if you want to do something very customized, but you can build a beautiful site - right out of the box too!

1. Using
A Content Management System
To Build a Company
and
A Community
Presented by: Micky Metts ~FreeScholar

2. My name is Michele Metts, some people call me
Micky and I am known as FreeScholar in the
Drupal Community.
I am a member of Agaric, a tech cooperative
and LibreBoston a sub group of Boston Linux
User Group.
I speak to groups about the realities of using
FREE software, and I facilitate discussion on
building cooperatives and collectives. I am a
Drupal Hacker.

3. It is a wonderful time to start a company based on free software.

4. The home page for Drupal, where your journey will start!

5. The home page for Drupal Groups, where the virtual Drupal community lives!
Sign up! Join the community.

6. Download Drupal core to run it on your own machine if you are a developer.

7. NOTE: There are options for hosting your Drupal site that have many built-in
features that will be beneficial to non-developers. You do not need to know
any programming to build your site with Drupal, but if you do have
programming skills, you will be able to do more advanced things with Drupal.
Getpantheon.com – good for building and experimenting, but expensive for hosting
GreenGeeks.com - Has been a reliable host for me over the past 10 years
Drupal Hosting Options

8. Jitsi - http://meet.mayfirst.org/agaric – A FREE tool hosted on mayfirst.org
IRC - freenode.net channels #devs-r-us and ##showandtell
Shared notes - Riseup.net or Etherpads
https://pad.riseup.net
https://public.etherpad-mozilla.org
Secure Instant Messaging:
GNU/Linux and Windows:
Pidgin - https://pidgin.im/ (OTR is a plugin for Pidgin)
for mac:
Adium - https://trac.adium.im/wiki/InstallingAdium
OTR – the plugin for mac:
https://www.calyxinstitute.org/education/howto-encrypted-instant-messaging-with-osx-adium-and
The tools we use to communicate with the team and with clients.
***Encryption:
Slides on “Staying Safe”: http://www.slideshare.net/DrupalConnection/staying-safe-overview-of-
free-encryption-tools

9. How much do you
need to learn about
Drupal to run a
Drupal based
company?
How much do you want to learn about Drupal?

10. 1. You should be invested in Drupal enough to want
to learn more about it as you progress, not less.
2. You should be invested in the Drupal community
enough to get to know the values, the CMS parts
and some of the members. Being able to form
relationships with many different people is key.
3. You should want the Drupal community to grow,
and seek ways to support this.

11. Download Modules and Themes – Intuitive and user friendly

12. Just a few resources and links (there are many!):
Lullabot video:
https://drupalize.me/videos/understanding-drupal
Recording of Mauricio Dinarte's: Understanding
Drupal session at BADCamp in 2016 is available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhlD4jrKGEY
Slide deck - http://bit.ly/understanding-drupal
Training videos -
http://ostraining.com
http://drupalize.me
Introductions to Drupal

13. Business
Traditional
Non-Profit
Cooperative
Some Business Models
Advertising
Customization
Building New Software
Maintenance and Support

14. Opportunities in Traditional Companies
Many companies are hiring Drupal developers right
now. I get at least 3 inquiries a week from companies
seeking Drupal talent.
Two key areas that have adopted Drupal as their first
choice -
Academia
Government

15. Opportunities in Non-Profit Companies
Many non-profit companies are hiring Drupal developers
right now. Non-Profit companies receive grants and
funding to build projects and often choose Drupal
as their CMS.
Structuring your company to service non-profits and using Drupal as a CMS
can work well as a strategy. When intending to work with any sector, it is
wise to educate yourself on their best practices for operation. This will give
you an advantage over a tech company that does not know how a non-profit
company works and what their basic needs are.

16. Collaboration Opportunities for Cooperative Development

17. Collaboration Opportunities for Cooperative Development
Tech Co-op Network is the network of North American tech worker co-ops:
worker cooperatives that provide media, communications, and computer
technology goods and services. All are welcome!
We catalyze collaboration and mutual support among our members, while
educating, encouraging, and supporting would-be cooperators and the
general public. We subscribe to the International Co-operative identity,
values, and principles. Many of us work primarily with progressive,
nonprofit, and social change organizations as a part of our individual
commitments to environmental, economic, and social justice and
sustainability.
With a blend of partnership, federation, and friendly co-opetition, Tech Co-
op Network makes visible and strengthens the vertical and horizontal
connections among tech worker co-ops in North America (US, Canada,
Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean).

18. My Path:

19. Giving back to the community
Getting involved with a community means that it is a two-way
street and there will be things you will gain and there will be
things you give back. How does that work?
Get into the issue queue and provide feedback. If
you are a developer get involved maintaining
modules as part of a team. If you are not a
developer you can help with things like
documentation that is much needed!
GNU.org is a great place to start finding out
what software projects are being developed.
Join a project and if you are not a developer,
fsf.org will give you the information you need to
help with outreach in free software awareness.
Look into local cooperative efforts and activism in your
home town to get involved. See http://usworker.coop
for information on worker-owned cooperative
businesses.

20. Articles about cooperatives
http://www.thenews.coop/
The Guardian - http://bit.ly/1s83iyE
The ecologist - http://bit.ly/1oaxYyt
http://shareable.net/blog/how-to-start-a-worker-co-op
Worth a listen: "Tech Cooperatives: A Better Way to Make a Living"
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_IAP9313 with Jack Aponte of
http://palantetech.com
Starting a cooperative
http://banyanproject.coop/starting-a-news-co-op
tech-coop@npogroups.org - A tech-worker-coop-related mailing list
http://npogroups.org/lists/info/tech-coop
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/workercoop/info
http://www.techworker.coop/
My Projects and Interests: Agaric.com, LibreBoston.org, PowerToConnect.org,
VoipDrupal.org

21. Thank You for Attending!
Micky Metts ~ FreeScholar
On Drupal.org - https://www.drupal.org/u/freescholar
Contact: micky@agaric.com