This document outlines the benefits of using Drupal as a content management framework (CMF) for projects, highlighting its security, scalability, and flexible content handling. It discusses features of Drupal, including automated code testing, ready-made distributions, and customization options through modules, as well as the advancements in Drupal 8 such as mobile compatibility and built-in web services. The presentation also provides a guide on setting up a Drupal site, including choosing between distributions and core setups, alongside development and theming considerations.

1. Choosing Drupal
as a CMS Framework
for your next project
By: Kendall Totten
Add conference
logo here
05.01.2014

2. Kendall Totten
Drupal Theme Manager
at Mediacurrent
@KendallTotten

3. ● What is Drupal and what
makes it great?
● How to get a Drupal site
up & running quickly!
● What is involved with
building & theming a
Drupal site from
scratch?
Agenda

4. What is Drupal?
It sounds like a Danish cookie, no?
http://buytaert.net/happy-sixth-birthday-drupal

5. Drupal is not a CMS, it’s a CMF!
● Drupal is a Content Management Framework (CMF)
● Benefit from sharing the same platform as others because
the building blocks are the same = recycle code.
● Less time spent “re-inventing the wheel”

6. Drupal means…
● Security
https://www.whitehouse.gov

7. Drupal means…
● Security
● Scalability
● Flexibility

8. Come for the Code,
Stay for the Community!
● Access to the open source
support community
● Ready availability of
Drupal-savvy talent
● Freely available
documentation
● Collaborate with others to
push Drupal forward!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/drupalassoc/8774101979

9. Drupal Features
http://www.wunderkraut.com/blog/the-human-druplicon-at-drupalcamp-stockholm-2009/2009-06-01

10. Drupal Features
● Flexible content
Create a node, or piece
of content once, and
display it different ways
on your site, a feed
reader, or a mobile app.

11. Drupal Features
● Flexible content
● Dynamic handling of images
and files
Upload your image once,
and Drupal can create
different “slices” of that
images for different
uses or devices.

13. Drupal Features
● Flexible content
● Dynamic handling of images
and files
● Automated code testing -
over 30,000 built in tests
Plus a whole community
of smart people fixing
security holes so you
don’t have to!

14. Drupal Features
● Flexible content
● Dynamic handling of images
and files
● Automated code testing -
over 30,000 built in tests
● Ready-made distributions
Distros make it easy to
quickly set up a complex,
use-specific site.

15. Drupal Features
● Flexible content
● Dynamic handling of
images and files
● Automated code testing -
over 30,000 built in tests
● Ready-made distributions
● Extendable:
Modules are like widgets
or plugins that help you
add customizable
functionality to your site.d.o/project/project_module

16. DRUPAL 8
(we’re letting the
cat out of the bag)
https://drupal.org/drupal-8.0

17. ● Mobile in its DNA
What’s Awesome about D8?

18. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
What’s Awesome about D8?

19. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
● New Configuration
Management
What’s Awesome about D8?

20. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
● New Configuration
Management
● Built-in Web Services
What’s Awesome about D8?

21. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
● New Configuration
Management
● Built-in Web Services
● Authoring made easy
What’s Awesome about D8?

22. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
● New Configuration
Management
● Built-in Web Services
● Authoring made easy
● Theming with Twig!
What’s Awesome about D8?

23. ● Mobile in its DNA
● Multilingual Capabilities
● New Configuration
Management
● Built-in Web Services
● Authoring made easy
● Theming with TWIG
● Industry Standards
What’s Awesome about D8?

24. ● Better Markup with HTML5
What’s Awesome about D8?
● (and Views is in core now too!)

25. http://nedhardy.com/2012/12/01/if-you-like-cute-kittens-youve-come-to-the-right-place-25-pics/

26. In many cases, the CMS you need has
already been built. Drupal calls these
"distributions"
and they are ready-made content
management systems built with Drupal.

27. Distributions
● Drupal Commons - social business software for orgs
● Open Academy - for schools
● Open Church - for religious orgs
● Open Enterprise - Businesses & Orgs
● Open Public - government and
public policy orgs
● Open Outreach - for nonprofits
and community orgs

28. Distributions
● Commerce Kickstart - fully-featured demo store
● Open Deals - for sales, coupons, deals
● Open Folio - a visual web portfolio
● Open Publish - for news or publishing
● Open Atrium - a project case tracker
https://drupal.org/project/project_distribution

29. Not sure which one is right for you?
http://simplytest.me
@Mediacurrent

31. Let’s Build a Drupal Site!
1. Begin by downloading Drupal 7 core from
drupal.org

32. Let’s Build a Drupal Site!
1. Begin with a Drupal 7 core.
2. Site Building 101:
a. Content Types & Views

33. Let’s Build a Drupal Site!
1. Begin with a distribution, or Drupal 7 core.
2. Site Building 101:
a. Content Types & Views
b. Modules

34. “Don’t Hack Core”

35. In Drupal 7, you
should only modify
the contents of the
sites directory!

36. Contributed Modules
Organize your
modules by contrib,
custom, or features
directories

37. ➔ Do you want social media sharing capabilities ?
◆ Try d.o/project/sharebar
➔ Did you want users to rate content?
◆ Try d.o/project/fivestar
➔ Do you want to add a photo gallery?
◆ Try d.o/project/media_gallery
➔ Do you need a WYSIWYG editor?
◆ Try d.o/project/ckeditor

38. Enable modules at /admin/modules

39. Let’s Build a Drupal Site!
1. Begin with a distribution, or Drupal 7 core.
2. Site Building 101:
a. Content Types & Views
b. Modules
c. Themes

40. Drupal Themes
Use base themes as
a springboard to
build your custom
theme quickly!

41. Drupal Themes
You can create a sub-theme which can
inherit resources from a base theme such
as CSS, Javascript, templates and more.

42. ➔ Interested in using a RWD base theme?
◆ Try d.o/project/zen
◆ Try d.o/project/omega
◆ Try d.o/project/aurora
◆ Try d.o/project/adaptivetheme

43. Drupal Themes

44. Let’s Build a Sub-Theme!

45. Theming Module Helpers
● Panels
● Display Suite
● Fences
● Semantic Panels
● RDF module
</div>

47. http://www.wunderkraut.com/blog/the-human-druplicon-at-drupalcamp-stockholm-2009/2009-06-01

48. Design/Theming
● Usability Testing
● Responsive Design
● Drupal Theming
● Wireframing
@Mediacurrent
Development
● Custom Modules
● Large Scale Systems
Integration
● Security & Performance
Expertise
Mediacurrent can help you build a highly impactful,
elegantly designed Drupal website that gets results.
Digital Strategy
● Content Strategy
● Content Generation
● Result Metrics
● Marketing Automation

49. Thank You!
Questions?
@Mediacurrent
slideshare.net/mediacurrent
@KendallTotten