Drupal is a free and open-source content management framework and system written in PHP that allows users to create, organize, and present content as well as customize site presentation and automate administrative tasks. It offers built-in functionality that can be extended through add-on modules and has a wide range of available modules. While Drupal requires some learning and customization can be difficult, basic website installation and administration can be done with no programming experience.

1. Drupal . Bogumila Sobolewska 13.11.2008.

2. What is Drupal? Free and open source modular framework and content management system (CMS) written in the programming language PHP . Drupal CMS: allows admin to create and organize content, customize the presentation, automate administrative tasks, and manage site visitors and contributors. Drupal CM Framework: capabilities extend to enabling a wide range of services and transactions. Although Drupal does offer a sophisticated programming interface, basic web site installation and administration can be accomplished with no programming.

3. System Requirements Apache web server PHP 5.2 or higher MySQL 4.1 or higher Browsers: IE 6, Firefox 2, Opera 7, Safari 1, Camino 1

4. Functionality Built-in functionality , combined with dozens of freely available add-on modules . CORE MODULES: Access statistics and logging Advanced search functions Comments, forums, and polls Multi-level menu system Multi-user content creation and editing OpenID support RSS Feed and Feed Aggregator User profiles Various access control restrictions (user roles, IP addresses, email) Workflow tools (Triggers and Actions)

5. Functionality ADD-ON MODULES: Events calendar, subscription… Image galleries, Lightbox Newsletters Nice Menus (drop down) RSS feeds Voting Panels Views And many, many more.

6. Examples of Drupal websites I implemented www.fast50.nl www.womeninit.nl

7. Evaluation - - Difficult customization Poor usability Takes a wile to learn No OOP Cons Open source Quite clean code Modules based Easy installation of Drupal & modules Copy-paste server migration Wide range of available modules Good documentation, tutorials, forum Pros

8. Commercial version – ACQUIA Drupal Acquia Drupal: commercially supported distribution of Drupal 6. packaged collection of some of the best modules Acquia Network with several subscription plans (from free to around $4,300 ) Acquia Network includes: Network Services (documentation, spam blocking, update notification) Service Level (support types and # of hours) Support Access Chanels (web, email, phone) Issue Resolution Support Scope (installation, general troubleshooting) Advisory Support (module selection/dev advice, security/performance/arch best practices ) Long Term Software Maintanance Optional Add-on Services (account management, support…)