Shows the community building the Drupal ecosystem pyramid

Community First, Business Second, Build Everything with Drupal

After DrupalCon Atlanta's packed BOF on Drupal's economic future, it's time for community-led solutions. This post proposes three initiatives: regionalized business-focused DrupalCons, positioning Drupal.org as the expertise hub, and creating a community-driven certification system based on educational standards frameworks. The Drupal Association must focus on current revenue priorities while the community builds this foundation – putting community first, business second, to truly build everything with Drupal.

Estimated read time: 6 minutes
A digital illustration shows a symbolic bridge made of Drupal logos and code snippets connecting two cliffs. On the left cliff labeled “Training,” several people stand observing. On the right cliff labeled “Professional Experience,” office buildings and development teams are depicted. Mentors walk alongside individuals crossing the bridge. The scene is bathed in sunrise light, with pyramid-shaped mountains in the background, all using a Drupal blue color palette.

IXP Graduates from Initiative to Program: Companies Can Start Using It Now!

The IXP Fellowship has officially evolved from an initiative to a functional program, creating structured pathways for companies to hire and mentor inexperienced Drupal developers. Companies completing engagements receive 250 contribution credits per hire, strengthening the Drupal ecosystem's sustainability. Seed EM, Bluefly, Digital Projex, and Digital Polygon are the first participating organizations. The program addresses the catch-22 of needing experience to get hired while broadening Drupal's talent base. Registration is now open at drupal-ixp.site.

Estimated read time: 5 minutes
Image of a colorful and diverse world map interconnected with drupal.org in the center

Creating Real Business Value: Transforming Drupal.org into a Genuine Business Hub

Drupal.org has untapped potential to become more than a technical platform—it could transform into a genuine business hub connecting clients with service providers worldwide. This post explores how we can create a system where contribution naturally leads to business opportunities through regionalized partnership programs, globally supported initiatives for new developers, and reimagined events. By acknowledging regional economic differences and embracing the full ecosystem pyramid, we can build a Drupal community where contribution and business growth naturally align.

Estimated read time: 9 minutes
A person holding a magnifyin glass on a screen showing drupal.org

Makers, Takers, and What I Call 'Fakers': A Nuanced Look at Drupal Contribution

This post explores the concept of "fakers" in open source communities – those who create an appearance of contribution without truly engaging. While we all begin as relative novices, there's a key difference between newcomers honestly building skills and those misrepresenting expertise. Using personal experiences from the Drupal community, I examine how to distinguish authentic contributors and why drupal.org should be our source of truth, despite challenges in establishing it as the definitive standard.

Estimated read time: 5 minutes
Apyramid with two sides, one eroded and the other perfect

Rebuilding Drupal's Ecosystem Pyramid: A Path to Sustainable Growth

This post introduces my "ecosystem pyramid" model for visualizing Drupal's sustainability challenges. I examine how Drupal's evolution has narrowed its user base, contrasting it with WordPress's approach. I highlight how Drupal CMS and IXP initiatives can rebuild the ecosystem's foundation by lowering entry barriers, especially in regions with differently-scaled pyramids. The key to long-term sustainability lies in rebuilding from the base up while strengthening the middle layers of our ecosystem.

Estimated read time: 7 minutes
Graphic with the text "Drupal CMS 1.0 released" next to the Drupal logo in bold colors.

Building the Bridge: How Drupal CMS and IXP Could Empower Digital Agencies

Drupal CMS creates opportunities for agencies at every stage - from freelancers starting out to established enterprise firms. By supporting both simple site builds and enterprise solutions on the same platform, agencies of all sizes can build diverse teams of site builders and developers. The expanded IXP Initiative supports this ecosystem by developing talent at all levels, offering every agency a path to sustainable growth beyond what closed platforms can provide.

Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Dries Buytaert during his Driesnote in DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, talking about Drupal CMS

The Future of Drupal: Overcoming Challenges with Community Initiatives

Drupal has evolved to meet enterprise demands, but lost ground with beginners and small businesses. Our blog explores how initiatives like Drupal CMS, IXP Fellowship, and the Drupal Open Curriculum aim to address this by making Drupal more accessible and sustainable for all users.

Estimated read time: 3 minutes
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