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- Flashman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+40When Drupal can plant crops and filter water in third-world countries, maybe THEN it can save the world.
- jeffeb3, on 10/11/2007, -5/+23That's just what we need, more amateur webpages...
- angusm, on 10/11/2007, -2/+16About once every three months, I get it into my head that Drupal is just what I need for some of the sites that I manage. I go to the Drupal site, full of enthusiasm, and start looking for something that will give me a clear enough idea of how Drupal works and what you can do with it that I can start figuring out how I'd turn my designs into a working Drupal architecture.
I haven't found it yet. The answer to "what you can do with it" seems to be "just about any damn thing you want", but as far as I can tell from the documentation on the site, 'how' is a closely guarded secret. You can find any amount of documentation on the minutiae of customizing the login screen, of course, but I still haven't found a high-level overview that tells you "If you want to build this kind of site, you're going to need to do these things ...". Part of the problem may be that I seem to have ADD where reading documentation is concerned, but Lord knows, they're not making it easy.
It'll be easier to convince me that Drupal is the answer to the world's problems if I didn't think that the Nigerians were likely to run into the same difficulties. - Jimgress, on 10/11/2007, -1/+13"I can foresee a time when a small village in Nigeria will be able to open their $100 laptop, connect to the $100 server ...."
yes cause things like a steady food and clean water supply are not as important as a $100 laptop. - Ryosen, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10By looking FAAAAABULOUS!!
- weeeezzll, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, blah, blah, blah, blah-*****, blah...
Your not saving the world with a ***** CMS...get over it... - Dumbledorito, on 10/11/2007, -6/+12How will a black drag queen diva save the world?
- Ahnteis, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Why can't they set up a free page on a free website (like Google fex) instead of needing their own server? Why are we using a sledgehammer like a flyswatter?
- digboy99, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7And what if you could combine the super powers of both superman AND spiderman? That would be the best super hero EVER.
Sorry, I thought it was the immature exuberance hour. Guys, Drupal is a computer program that helps make websites. Its not going to save the world of anything, or help you get dates. - 21chrisp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Drupal is awesome!!! I get to point click, click point, click, click, click my way to someplace where I can add a piece of code and I don't really know how it will interact with the rest of the application. A love digging through the database to find 'nodes' Calling everything a node and sub-node was such an awesome idea! Now I can look at my database and have absolutely no idea what is going on. It's perfect. Everything is the same thing so there are no differences between them! Now everything is nothing and nothing is everything! This particular node is part of a sub-node node node. Don't you know how to find the node node sub-node node? What? It's real easy man! Everything is a node don't you get it!
Drupal is fast too. It can serve entire tens of pages at a time! I only need dual 4-core processors to run the database. It's not even maxed out either! It's only at 85%!! Wow that's efficient! Drupal has great caching. It can cache your entire site indefinitely, just as long as no one is actually using it. Then it doesn't cache.
I love Drupal - pbgswd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5dude you have drank the KOOL AID on this one. So many like you. we are happy for you, but you overestimate your significance. Also, there are lots of choices in web cms software, yours is only one. Your software has endless layers of abstraction and obfuscates things that could be just done so much more simply sometimes. Its a whole new language to learn, on top of php. And save the world?
The people who pay you to make websites have no clue what Drupal is. Have a little more perspective please, and a little less KoolAid. - GarySinise, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Well, it does have a catchy theme song. http://www.lullabot.com/audiocast/the_drupal_song
- Theipolicy, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Drupal is the easiest CMS I've ever used, and I've used plenty. To get those great-looking sites mentioned, you need to learn php, which is slightly more difficult, but you can still make a good looking, working and functional site with little knowledge of any type of code.
The documentation on Drupal is overflowing as well, I've gotten plenty of help from the drupal site alone.
I'm not sure how it's going to save the world, but I know it made it a lot more easy and fun for me to make my site. If you can't figure out how to use it or don't want to take the time to, then you probably shouldn't make a website. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4FTA:
"Drupal's user interface and configuration system need to be overhauled with the guidance of usability and user interface experts. In Drupal-fashion, any new interface conventions need to be flexible and available to all modules. An interface style guide should be written to provide guidance and recommendations to developers as they create new modules."
and
"api.drupal.org should be maintained, easier to use, and benefit from Drupal's strengths as a community-building platform. PHP.net makes its developers feel like they have all the development information they need right at their fingertips. There are comments and guidance on almost all of its functions. There is no reason that our site couldn't offer many of these same features. It might even be possible to extend the site to encompass some, if not all of Drupal's contributed modules."
I've used ye olde Drupal on a few projects, and it's not so bad if you can get past a lot of the "WTF is that? How in the eff did I even cause that to happen!?!" moments. As I see it - from the development/deployment perspective - the problem is two-fold: freely available documentation is ***** (the book that you can BUY isn't half bad, though) and much of the time (when getting started) it's like grabbing at friggin' straws and/or throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.
Don't even get me started on module upgrades...sweet something of somewhere, it makes the Joomla/Mambo system look refined... - robertDouglass, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7More from the article... "I can foresee a time when a small village in Nigeria will be able to open their $100 laptop, connect to the $100 server they have set up in their town hall, click "make a website" and effortlessly put the pieces together to communicate with the world and with each other. Or a third grade teacher in Indiana, working right in front of her students, will be able to plug Drupal modules into the school website that allow her class to exchange messages with a third grade class in India. We have most of the modules already. Our techies are developing more daily. What we are missing is the "effortlessly" part."
- guppergoo, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3A Middle School Teachers Perspective
I totally agree with the learning curve related to to Drupal. I have been in a love/hate relationship with it for a few years on and off. I play with it every summer hoping to make the switch from wordpress for my class website and personal use, but I just cannot get the details nailed down and the site working as I want it.
I need a site that not only I understand, but the 6th graders are able to interact and adopt as well. Wordpress is not nearly as scalable, but I can easily just do another install each year and archive the previous years posts.
I am a tech geek. I love the web and empowering the kids. The results I have seen so far are miraculous. However, I cannot endorse drupal for an average user wanting to create a place for their voice to be heard. It is just too too big to understand. That is a travesty. We are setting the bar and expectations about what these kids can do too low. I have kids that want to implement their videos, artwork, blogs, etc in wordpress but I need x plugin with y widget etc. so we all get frustrated and move on. I know drupal can do it already - but I don't even know where to start in doing so.
I have turned to the message boards and have felt defeated. I can, and do, search the message boards. I search the web and even have a book on drupal. However, my time does not meet my passion for all things techie, unfortunately.
I would love to be part of writing tutorials, creating screen casts, etc but I need to get my head around things first. This is where I hope the leadership of the drupal project can step in and bring some tools and info to the motivated geek, such as myself, so they can be empowered to help others via a lessened learning curve. - dbase, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I have used many CMS's. None are really that great. I personally hate drupal. It is hodgepodge. Joomla and mambo are just as bad. Creating a new site with a cms is bloat and inefficient. Most of you who will dig me down are not devs and need spoonfeeding.
- fkr3, on 10/11/2007, -3/+5People in third world countries can already do all of that with a variety of tools including drupal, mambo, joomla and whatever web based "instant website" tools.
- magnusdopus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I just built a social network on top of Drupal. I had to rewrite about 25% of the module code and made about 10 fixes to the core. The biggest weakness of Drupal is the Drupal.org site. Too much effort is currently on creating new modules, major revisions, etc. They should really focus on building 5 or so standard sites with a rich set of modules. And all those modules should follow a strict development standard. They should deprecate all previous versions to another site - drupal-archives.org. Currently finding the right module for your purpose is extremely difficult burdened in part by Drupal.org being ass-slow.
Recommendation #1 - kill Drupal search and replace with Google site search. I'm sure Drupal search is eating up half their cpu cycles. - speechpoet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Jeff's right - functionality without usability can usually achieve only a stunted fraction of its potential.
Yes, Drupal's flexibility and power necessitate complexity... but that doesn't have to mean dropping every new user into the deep end. For instance, Views didn't diminish Drupal one whit just because it made it dramatically easier to generate custom presentations of data that no longer relied on the ability to write (or at least edit) PHP snippets and MySQL queries.
Good, user-centered design offers layers of interaction that allow a newcomer to develop a degree of comfort with basic features before demanding that they embrace new, more arcane (or powerful) ones. Drupal has improved greatly on this front (major, major props to everyone who worked on those changes in version 5, by the way), but there's still a long way to go. - rectagon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I agree with this article. Overhaul the interface.. NOW! Heck, even a backend might solve many of the problems. I run Joomla, and Mambo and Drupal and, even though I cut my teeth on Mambo I really really think Drupal has got moxy... but it confuses the heck out of me!! How about checking to see if I have the current version of the silly thing!!! ARGH.
Joomla 1.5 is going to be a serious contender though. - drmessano, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Uck.. Typo3
- Ryosen, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3WordPress is already single-handedly destroying the Web in a way that GeoCities could only have dreamt of. What makes you think that Drupal is going to make things any better?
- speechpoet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1(By the way, wtf with digging Roland's comment down?)
- mrfish, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@21chrisp - Awesome!
My Opinion: Make a web builder that is easy for non developers to use (i.e. only features they use), but still built for the developer (i.e. Simple to understand and customize with their own framework!). Build that and your utopia will be met. - johngf2, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Cobia needs a web server/Drupal module... http://cobia.stillsecure.com
Still a new platform but has what is needed to accomplish a lot of this, if the modules are built. - MikeonTV, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5I no ... I just realized I'm an idiot
- speechpoet, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Heh... next to figuring out how to connect to the Net on my Motorola, taxonomy would be a breeze!
- geuisteses, on 10/11/2007, -3/+4Jesus christ, no its NOT. I've experimented with Wordpress, Drupal, and Joomla over the last few years and by far, Wordpress is one of the simplest and most configurable CMS out there. Every 6 months or so I approach Drupal again, willing to try it again and see if the user interface has improved, and if I can actually make a website that doesn't require me to use tabs across the top. Nope, still hasn't happened. Joomla is good for running a more complicated website. It has a learning curve, but it all follows an internal logic that makes sense once you get it. Most of its complications come from being designed to run what I consider enterprise-class websites.
- echolyean, on 01/21/2008, -0/+1What's nice about Drupal, though, is it's feature parity. Certainly you'll never need ALL of the contributed modules; but having them optionally available makes it more appealing than Wordpress, IMO.
- xamox, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Drupal articles seem to be making the frontpage more and more, rock on.
- vitalityjtw, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1What would we do? Switch to django.
- SwordofKahless, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1After coding CMS's from scratch and not having time to do it myself for a new project, today I again looked a Drupal. After getting frustrated with their very slow and unresponsive site (same as the last dozen times I looked at it these last few years) I easily downloaded it and within minutes had it running. But after trying to customize it to meet the needs of my client and unable to find easy documentation to do so on the site I got fed up and went back to developing a new CMS from scratch in php.
- ArneBab, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I experienced the same hour-long search for modules, and I think I know at least two ways to make Drupal more accessible to newcomers.
A bit of background: I just setup my third Drupal page and I find new modules even now. The page where of three slightly different but very similar types:
* A newssite, needed mostly taxonomy.
* A personal site, needed book and taxonomy, as well as themes.
* A site for a free roleplaying system. Mostly needed book.
But even though the pages where quite different, I find myself reusing most modules.
And it took me hours to hunt them down.
To make the modules more accessible to newcomers, they should be more organized.
One way to organize them would be, to give them another sotring done by type of page I want to use them for (usecase). A blog, for example, needs different modules, than a newssite. But there will be much overlap.
Then users could simply check "I want a blog. Which modules do I need?"
Still they'd have far too many to choose from and the choice needs to be simplified for first-time users.
To do that, users should be able to sort modules by popularity
Ways to sort by popularity:
* Download-count: The number of times they were downloaded during the last month or six months.
* Vote: Allow users to vote for modules and show the votes.
The second way to make Drupal more accessible would be to create rich compilations. That means: Don't just offer a "general drupal, search your modules by hand" download, but also some specialized precompiled versions, best with adapted config already included.
Some ideas for downloads:
* Drupal Community Bookwriting
* Drupal Community Newssite
* Drupal Personal Webpresence
* Drupal Blog
* Drupal Webshop
* Drupal Wiki
* Drupal Forum
* Drupal Rich Community Site (Forums, Community Book, Blogs, Webshop, Wiki - the full package)
These should then be the downloads a visitor first sees, to make the Drupal site a site for users.
Examples:
* Drupal Community Bookwriting: http://1d6.eu - mine, german. If you like it, I'll gladly send you the details of the setup. http://1d6.eu/contact .
* Drupal Community Newssite, if not perfect: http://gute-neuigkeiten.de - my first drupal installation.
* Drupal Personal Webpresence: http://draketo.de - my second Drupal installation, misses Photo-Albums (since I don't yet need them) and similar to be a full fledged personal webpresence.
- All parts of the design on these sites are licensed under free licenses (one of them being the GPL). -
These two ideas still give experts the full power of Drupal, but enable newcomers to get a site running quickly.
If you like the idea, please feel free to contact me: http://1d6.eu/contact - ArneBab, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I experienced the same hour-long search for modules, and I think I know at least two ways to make Drupal more accessible to newcomers.
A bit of background: I just setup my third Drupal page and I find new modules even now. The page where of three slightly different but very similar types:
* A newssite, needed mostly taxonomy.
* A personal site, needed book and taxonomy, as well as themes.
* A site for a free roleplaying system. Mostly needed book.
But even though the pages where quite different, I find myself reusing most modules.
And it took me hours to hunt them down.
To make the modules more accessible to newcomers, they should be more organized.
One way to organize them would be, to give them another sotring done by type of page I want to use them for (usecase). A blog, for example, needs different modules, than a newssite. But there will be much overlap.
Then users could simply check "I want a blog. Which modules do I need?"
Still they'd have far too many to choose from and the choice needs to be simplified for first-time users. To do that, users should be able to sort modules by popularity
Ways to sort by popularity:
* Download-count: The number of times they were downloaded during the last month or six months.
* Vote: Allow users to vote for modules and show the votes.
The second way to make Drupal more accessible would be to create rich compilations. That means: Don't just offer a "general drupal, search your modules by hand" download, but also some specialized precompiled versions, best with adapted config already included.
Some ideas for downloads:
* Drupal Community Bookwriting
* Drupal Community Newssite
* Drupal Personal Webpresence
* Drupal Blog
* Drupal Webshop
* Drupal Wiki
* Drupal Forum
* Drupal Rich Community Site (Forums, Community Book, Blogs, Webshop, Wiki - the full package)
These should then be the downloads a visitor first sees, to make the Drupal site a site for users.
Examples:
* Drupal Community Bookwriting: http://1d6.eu - mine, german. If you like it, I'll gladly send you the details of the setup. http://1d6.eu/contact .
* Drupal Community Newssite, if not perfect: http://gute-neuigkeiten.de - my first drupal installation.
* Drupal Personal Webpresence: http://draketo.de - my second Drupal installation, misses Photo-Albums (since I don't yet need them) and similar to be a full fledged personal webpresence.
- All parts of the design on these sites are licensed under free licenses (one of them being the GPL). -
These two ideas still give experts the full power of Drupal, but enable newcomers to get a site running quickly.
If you like the idea, please feel free to contact me: http://1d6.eu/contact - drmessano, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Drupal is pretty darn simple to shape into anything you want. It's all in the config.. I use it for a lot of sites, and it's not hard to walk through. You don't need a "how-to", just do it!
- DonCarcharo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I've used Drupal, PHPNuke, Geeklog, Joomla and WordPress to build what generally amount to entry level CMS websites. These are your standard multi-page websites that would otherwise have been static websites in the age static HTML development.
Among all those solutions I'd have to say that WordPress is my favorite for simple CMS websites. It's clean, easy to skin and is fairly lightweight. I love it and I'd argue that too many developers have overlooked it simply because of its reputation as blogging software first and foremost.
The truth is WordPress is a *wonderful* CMS and while solutions like Drupal and Joomla might get more press and have better reputations I still find that the bigger, better CMS systems offer lots of things I don't need. Joomla is a huge offender here (yet everyone loves it) and Drupal isn't that far off. - maximumsteve1, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1omg, rupaul is a drag queen?! where was admiral ackbar when i needed him :-/
- spyseetuna, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1Right on, demonolos. Typo3 has a steep learning curve, but I've grown to like it. I'm eager to see version 5.
- Heembo, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2It's easy - the login screen calls a template. In your theme, you just need to override that template function (YOURTEMENAME_some_function_from_user_module.php
The trick is, you need to dig into the drupal code on a day-to-day basis to make this stuff work. The code itself is the only documentation that helps me do my job. I get paid 150/hr to do Drupal architecture. IT's hot now. - inactive, on 02/11/2008, -0/+0It's just almost a year that this great article was posted. But I can testify that Drupal is really very simple to install. The most hassling you get with ISP that do not support Drupal even it is the most secure and updated CMS in the hole world. Thanks Drupal Community,
Thanks (founder of Drupal) Dries Buytaert --> http://buytaert.net/ !!! - acqalmichael, on 03/03/2009, -0/+0For Acqal, where most of our clients are generally content publishers, TYPO3 CMS is a top choice.
Acqal offers some more information at http://www.acqal.com/cms-typo3-typo3-website-migra ... - cruxop, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1I'm not sure that its drupal's job to teach you how to build websites. That's your job. You're an experienced developer aren't you?
What drupal does have is an API listing, and a few basic tutorials showing you how to put simple things together. Once you get past that... you're on your own. - milkshake8, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Don't be fooled, Drupal is a major headache when it comes down to the nitty gritty of getting a site out the door.
Its very well architected, but bloated and crufty.
Ditching it, right after I finish this project... ;) - garbs, on 10/11/2007, -4/+3Just now?
- TheRealM3D, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1I have had awful experiences with Drupal. I definitely don't recommend it at all. It is neither fast nor efficient.
- Bobski, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2I'm sorry, but I just cannot take seriously anything with a name that so closely resembles RuPaul.
http://www.rupaul.com/ - fac3less, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Wordpress & e107 for the win :)
Both are the greatest content management systems I've ever tried. http://www.e107.org & http://www.wordpress.org
Can't go wrong! - thechristoph, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Help me out here... how is Drupal different or better than the eight hundred other CMS systems out there? One day I just started hearing Drupal this, Drupal that...what's the big deal?
- denomolos, on 10/11/2007, -8/+6The first step would be to stop using Drupal and use TYPO3.
http://www.typo3.org
Whoever thinks a website will save the world does not live in the real world anyway... -
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