At DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, Aqua introduced Starshot, a new initiative aimed at transforming Drupal into a user-friendly platform for non-developers. The presentation highlighted the progress made in developing Drupal CMS, including AI integration, improved user experience, and a focus on community contributions. The goal is to launch Drupal CMS by January 2025, making it the go-to solution for content creators and marketers.
Digital expectations are always evolving, and at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, Aqua showcased how they are navigating this shifting landscape with their new initiative, Starshot. This initiative aims to transform Drupal into a more accessible and user-friendly platform, particularly for non-developers.
Aqua, a digital experience platform focused on Drupal, is committed to building open, inclusive, and accessible digital experiences. They recently launched a new product called Mono, which allows users to scan their websites for accessibility issues. During the conference, Aqua emphasized the importance of community contributions to the Drupal project and encouraged attendees to participate in various sessions aimed at enhancing the Drupal ecosystem.
Starshot is described as a version of Drupal optimized for non-developers, targeting content creators, digital marketers, and site builders. Unlike previous versions, Starshot is built on top of Drupal core, not as a fork, and aims to become the recommended version of Drupal. The initiative seeks to promote collaboration and has already garnered significant interest, with over 500 pledges from community members to contribute.
During the keynote, Aqua's Chief Strategy Officer, Dries Buytaert, provided an update on the progress made since the announcement of Starshot at DrupalCon Portland. He outlined three main objectives:
The demo showcased a fictional character, Sarah, a marketing professional who successfully built a prototype website using Drupal CMS with minimal technical knowledge. Key features highlighted in the demo included:
The integration of AI into Drupal CMS is a significant advancement. Sarah was able to use AI to:
Aqua also introduced the Experience Builder, a tool designed to reshape the Drupal admin UI. Built using React, this initiative aims to modernize the user experience, making it easier for users to design and manage their websites. The Experience Builder will allow users to:
The target release date for Drupal CMS is set for January 15, 2025, coinciding with Drupal's 24th birthday. In the coming months, Aqua plans to release a candidate version at DrupalCon Singapore in December 2024. Community involvement is crucial, and Aqua encourages contributions in various areas, including:
The presentation at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 highlighted Aqua's commitment to transforming Drupal into a more accessible platform for non-developers. With the launch of Starshot and the introduction of AI capabilities, Drupal is poised to meet the evolving needs of content creators and marketers. The collaborative effort from the community will be essential in achieving these ambitious goals, and the future of Drupal looks promising as it embraces innovation and inclusivity.
