The MIE Toolbox, a
Case for Drupal as an
Application Framework

What is the Toolbox?
• CMS for distributing viral widgets around
the web
• distributed by inserting a javascript tag on a
web page
• returns javascript which manipulates the
DOM adding the toolbox content, CSS,
images, scripts, etc

Components
• Toolbox
• Toolbox Theme
• Basic Item
• Feed Item
• Resource Locator Item

Backstory
• First version developed using CakePHP
• Decision to start from scratch and switch
to Drupal
• Concerns

How Drupal was Used
• Keeping the footprint light (go small core!)
• Contrib modules: admin_menu, CCK,
Views, colorpicker, feedapi, imageapi,
imagecache, node_clone, wyisiwyg
• Custom modules: feedapi_toolbox,
toolbox, toolbox_reports, toolbox_rl,
toolbox_widget

Host Website
submit zip code
Resorce Locator API
return results via http
Categories and CSS, images, and
domains via http javascript via HTTP
Custom Modules
Drupal
LAMP
Toolbox CMS

“Out of Box” Benefits
• Reuse of items and themes across
toolboxes via node reference
• Role based security model
• Basic information architecture, Zen
• Fields via CCK
• Administrative views
• Image upload and manipulation

Drawbacks
• Some square peg / round hole scenarios
• We were an experienced Drupal team, not
advised for newbies
• ????

Questions?
Lev Tsypin
levelos.com
drupal.org/user/54135
.com/loubabe