State of Drupal Presentation  ## Metadata - Author: [[Dries Buytaert]] - Full Title: State of Drupal Presentation - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: - DrupalCon - DrupalStarshot - FullSiteEditing - OpenSource - CMS Author: Dries Buytaert Source: Dries Buytaert's Blog Reference: [Link to the original post] date created: 2024-09-10 18:00 --- # Title: DrupalCon North America 2024: Introducing Drupal Starshot and Brand Refresh ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ## 📝 Summary: At DrupalCon North America 2024, Dries Buytaert announced Drupal Starshot, an ambitious new version of Drupal designed to simplify and modernize the CMS. Inspired by JFK’s "Moonshot" speech, Drupal Starshot aims to make Drupal more accessible for site builders with little to no experience. The new Drupal CMS version will offer a user-friendly out-of-the-box experience, leveraging tools like Project Browser and Recipes. Alongside technical innovations, Drupal is undergoing a brand refresh with updated guidelines to attract new users and strengthen community engagement. ## 📖 Main Content: Dries Buytaert’s keynote at DrupalCon North America 2024, dubbed "DriesNote," introduced Drupal Starshot, a significant new initiative to make Drupal more accessible for non-technical users. This second version, "Drupal CMS," will streamline the Drupal experience and is expected to be launched within eight months. Built on top of Drupal Core, Drupal CMS simplifies site creation with features like pre-packaged recipes, making it ideal for ambitious site builders. The initiative also aligns with Drupal’s evolving marketing strategy, which includes a comprehensive brand refresh. This brand overhaul is designed to make Drupal’s identity more consistent and appealing to newcomers. A key goal of these changes is to modernize the Drupal experience and strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive CMS space. ### 🗒️ Notes: - **Drupal Starshot Overview**: - Inspired by JFK’s "Moonshot" speech, Drupal Starshot aims to make Drupal easier for non-experts. - A new version, called "Drupal CMS," will be built on Drupal Core and common modules. - Targeted launch is within eight months; designed to be more accessible for ambitious site builders. - **Out-of-the-box Experience**: - Drupal Starshot focuses on improving the out-of-the-box experience with tools like Project Browser, Recipes, and Experience Builder. - Key goals include easy site setup, customization, and extension with minimal technical knowledge. - **Marketing & Branding Strategy**: - Drupal's brand has been refreshed to be more vibrant and appealing to new users. - A marketing toolkit, including pitch decks and messaging guides, has been developed to support community engagement. ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. *Original*: "Twenty-three years after Drupal's inception, we are preparing to launch a second official version of Drupal... it will be built on top of Drupal Core and common contributed modules." *Paraphrase*: After 23 years, Drupal is set to introduce a new version, built on its core and widely-used contributed modules, aiming for ease of use and accessibility for site builders. 2. *Original*: "Our goal is to launch a first version of Drupal Starshot within 8 months." *Paraphrase*: The team plans to release the initial version of Drupal Starshot within the next eight months, marking a major step forward in Drupal’s evolution. ## 📰 Newsletter: ✨ *Drupal Takes a Leap with Starshot Initiative* 🚀 This year’s DrupalCon North America 2024 brought a game-changing announcement—Drupal Starshot! Aimed at revolutionizing the way site builders use Drupal, Starshot promises an easy, out-of-the-box experience, simplifying web development for non-technical users. This ambitious new version, coined "Drupal CMS," will be available in just 8 months, combining the power of Drupal Core with user-friendly enhancements like Project Browser and Recipes. Not only is Drupal evolving technically, but it’s also getting a brand refresh! The updated branding, explained in a video by Shawn Perritt, makes Drupal more vibrant and appealing while honoring its rich history. Stay tuned for exciting changes, and don’t forget to join the conversation in the #Starshot Slack channel! 💬 Check out more details and resources on Drupal's marketing page: [Drupal.org/marketing](https://www.drupal.org/marketing). ## ✅ Action Items: - **Aligning with Open Source Advocacy**: Drupal Starshot aligns with the broader mission of open-source advocacy by making Drupal more accessible to non-expert users, potentially increasing contributor engagement and community diversity. - **Contributor Engagement**: The emphasis on improving the user experience for site builders supports Courtney’s goal of onboarding new contributors, particularly those with limited technical expertise. - **Sustainability and OSPO Goals**: Drupal Starshot, as a second version of Drupal, reflects the need for sustainable and inclusive software that can scale with user needs. It directly ties into open-source program office (OSPO) principles by promoting transparency, accessibility, and community involvement. ## 🧪 Hypotheses: - Drupal Starshot will increase Drupal's adoption rate among small businesses and startups due to its simplified, out-of-the-box experience. - The improved branding strategy will enhance community engagement, attracting a more diverse user base. ### 📊 Methodology: - **Data Sources**: Track adoption rates of Drupal CMS versus Drupal Core before and after the Starshot launch. - **Research Design**: Survey non-technical users on their ease of use with the new Drupal CMS. - **Analysis Techniques**: Compare feedback from the Starshot community with past metrics on Drupal Core usage. ### ❓ Questions: - How will the Drupal community respond to the dual availability of Drupal CMS and Drupal Core? - Can Drupal Starshot maintain Drupal’s robustness while making it more user-friendly? ### 🔮 Future Research: - Explore how full-site editing impacts user satisfaction and project development timelines with Drupal Starshot. - Investigate the potential long-term effects of Drupal’s brand refresh on community engagement and market positioning. ### 💡 Implications: Improving Drupal’s accessibility through Starshot could significantly increase its user base, attracting non-developers and small businesses. Additionally, a successful brand refresh could set a precedent for other open-source projects looking to modernize their image while staying true to their roots. ### ✅ Logical validity: - **Sound Deductive Reasoning**: The argument for launching Drupal Starshot based on the need to compete with easier-to-use platforms is sound, as it logically follows from the premise that accessibility drives wider adoption. - **Appeal to Facts**: Buytaert uses data on competing CMS platforms’ ease of use and Drupal’s existing complexities to justify the need for Drupal Starshot. **Logical Fallacies**: - **Hasty Generalization**: The assumption that non-technical users will immediately adopt Drupal Starshot without testing its user experience could be premature. **Tone**: The tone is optimistic and forward-thinking, balancing excitement for Drupal Starshot with a recognition of the challenges that lie ahead. ## 🎯 Conclusion: Drupal Starshot represents a bold step toward making Drupal more accessible to a wider audience. With its simplified user experience and enhanced brand strategy, Starshot is poised to attract new contributors and users. This initiative aligns perfectly with the goals of fostering an inclusive and sustainable open-source community, reflecting the strength of Drupal’s commitment to innovation. - Document Tags: [[cms]] [[CMS]] [[drupal]] [[Drupal]] [[full site editing]] [[gutenberg]] [[open source]] [[starshot]] - Summary: 1. Dries Buytaert presented Drupal Starshot, a new version of Drupal aiming to make the platform more accessible and user-friendly. 2. The Drupal community is working on a brand refresh and marketing strategy to attract newcomers while honoring its history. 3. The initiative reflects a commitment to innovation and collaboration in making the Open Web accessible to all, with a focus on reaching ambitious goals. - URL: https://dri.es/state-of-drupal-presentation-may-2024 ##### On this page DrupalCon North America 2024 DriesNote presentation This week, approximately 1,400 Drupal enthusiasts came together for DrupalCon North America in Portland, Oregon. As a matter of tradition, I delivered my [State of Drupal](https://dri.es/tag/state-of-drupal) keynote, often referred to as "DriesNote". In case you missed it, you can [watch the video](https://youtu.be/Dl9XZNtQJzs) or [download my slides](https://dri.es/files/state-of-drupal-may-2024.pdf) (385 MB). Some content could not be imported from the original document. [View content ↗](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Dl9XZNtQJzs) This year's keynote was inspired by [President John F. Kennedy's famous "Moonshot" speech](https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/rice-university-19620912). After being global leaders, the U.S. had fallen behind in the Space Race. Challenged by the Soviet cosmonaut program, President Kennedy rallied Americans around the ambitious goal of landing on the moon before the decade was out. ##### Drupal Starshot, a new version of Drupal Drupal has always been known for its low-code capabilities. However, many competitors now offer similar features, and in some areas, they even surpass what Drupal provides. While Drupal is celebrated for its robustness, it can be challenging for newcomers, especially those with limited technical expertise. So in my keynote, I was excited to introduce Drupal Starshot, our "Moonshot" to make Drupal more accessible and easier to use. Twenty-three years after Drupal's inception, we are preparing to launch a second official version of Drupal. For the time being, we're calling this second version "Drupal CMS". It will be built on top of Drupal Core and common contributed modules, and available as a separate download alongside Drupal Core. Wireframe of the Drupal.org download page featuring two options: Drupal CMS (Drupal Starshot) and Drupal Core, with Drupal CMS being promoted as the preferred starting point for most. Drupal Starshot will be designed to have a great out-of-the-box experience. It will enable [Ambitious Site Builders](https://dri.es/drupal-is-for-ambitious-site-builders) without Drupal experience to easily create a new Drupal site and extend it with pre-packaged recipes, all using their browser. The vision for Drupal Starshot is the outcome of highly productive brainstorming sessions with Drupal Core Committers, the Drupal Association, colleagues at Acquia, various Drupal agencies, and others. From an implementation standpoint, it will primarily rely on the [Project Browser](https://www.drupal.org/about/core/strategic-initiatives/project-browser) and [Recipes](https://www.drupal.org/about/core/strategic-initiatives-distributions-and-recipes) initiatives, while also incorporating the Experience Builder initiative. We actually started prototyping Drupal Starshot a few weeks ago and [showcased our progress at DrupalCon](https://youtu.be/l5Qz078Mqjg). Our goal is to launch a first version of Drupal Starshot within 8 months. Some content could not be imported from the original document. [View content ↗](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/l5Qz078Mqjg) At DrupalCon, hundreds of people pledged to get involved, and we had two "super BoFs" with over 50 people each. If you're interested in getting involved with Drupal Starshot, you can register your interest at <https://drupal.org/starshot>. Additionally, join the conversation in the #Starshot channel on [Drupal Slack](https://www.drupal.org/slack).  ##### Drupal's brand refresh and marketing strategy Alongside our technical efforts, we've launched a bold marketing strategy. At [DrupalCon Lille](https://dri.es/state-of-drupal-presentation-october-2023), I discussed the need for a fresh marketing approach. Since then, we've made tremendous progress. I introduced a [Drupal brand refresh](https://youtu.be/1wu1lz7DXDQ), which includes updated brand guidelines to ensure a consistent and modern visual identity. This refresh aims to invigorate our brand – making it more vibrant and appealing to newcomers, while still honoring our history and representing our diverse, global community. Some content could not be imported from the original document. [View content ↗](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1wu1lz7DXDQ) I couldn't cover all the details around the brand refresh in my keynote, so I'm expanding on them in this blog post. For a detailed explanation of Drupal's refreshed brand, check out this video by [Shawn Perritt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-perritt-33078622): [Drupal 2024 brand refresh explained](https://youtu.be/bTJkZb3AV3U). Our efforts went beyond just a brand refresh. The Marketing Committee has also guided the community in developing a comprehensive marketing toolkit, which includes messaging guides, pitch decks, and more. All these resources will be available at <https://www.drupal.org/marketing>. ##### Let's reach for the stars  As we advance with Drupal Starshot, I recall President Kennedy's famous words: > We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win. Embracing the Drupal Starshot initiative reflects a similar ethos; we're not choosing the easy path, but the one that tests our strength, creativity, and ability to do hard things. The success of Drupal Starshot will be a testament to the incredible collective power of the Drupal community. It's a challenge we are also unwilling to postpone, and intend to win. Drupal Starshot is more than a technological leap; it represents a shift in how we think, innovate, and collaborate. It's about reaching for the stars and making the [Open Web](https://dri.es/tag/open-web) accessible to everyone. Thank you for being part of this journey. I can't wait to see where it takes us together. The feedback from the last two days at DrupalCon has been overwhelmingly positive. I am more committed than ever and excited to pledge a significant amount of my time to this mission, and to the future of Drupal. — Dries Buytaert [Dries Buytaert](https://dri.es/about) is an Open Source advocate and technology executive. More than 10,000 people are subscribed to his blog. Sign up to have [new posts emailed to you](https://app.goodbits.io/e/e7fa5967-3e71-4666-bb9b-573ef20a807f) or [subscribe using RSS](https://dri.es/rss.xml). Write to Dries Buytaert at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). Calendar icon Clock icon 3 min read time Tag icon, State of Drupal Presentation, Dries Buytaert, 01hxd8na5qy0h5wczw7nr87wz9.