The Drop Times

DrupalCon Vienna 2025, taking place from October 14-17, will focus on the Open Web, exploring open technologies, web standards, and decentralization. Experts, developers, and advocates are invited to submit session proposals for the Open Web Track.

DevBranch transformed Ticketgum with a powerful Drupal 9 upgrade, streamlining ticket sales for 190,000+ users. Real-time availability, advanced e-commerce, and seamless API integrations take the platform to the next level. Big improvements today, with Drupal 10 and 11 on the horizon!

Got Drupal insights to share? Submit your session for DrupalCamp Asheville 2025 and connect with the community. Deadline is April 14.

Get ready for Drupal Iberia 2025! The official schedule is out, featuring expert talks, hands-on workshops, and networking in the historic city of Cáceres, Spain. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and explore.

Poland’s biggest Drupal event is happening on June 7 in Warsaw. Join expert talks, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking sessions. Tickets are still available—don’t miss out!

DrupalCon Vienna 2025 will take place from October 14–17 at the Austria Center Vienna, offering seven specialized session tracks. The event will cover topics like development, business strategies, security, community well-being, and open-source advocacy. Session proposals are open until April 28, 2025.

TxDUG and Texas Drupal event organizers are gathering email addresses to communicate event updates directly, reducing reliance on Meetup. Drupal users in Texas can choose their preferred regions for notifications. Sign up now to stay informed.

Josh Koenig, Co-Founder of Pantheon, challenges Drupal’s future direction, urging a shift beyond the traditional DXP model. Should Drupal focus on adaptability over competition? The Drop Times' newsletter explores this debate and brings you the key stories from last week.

DrupalCamp Colorado 2025 is accepting speaker proposals for keynotes, presentations, and interactive sessions until May 2, 2025. The event, set for July 25–26 in Denver, will focus on Drupal development, open-source collaboration, and community networking.

The Drupal Association has announced leadership updates for Drupal CMS, appointing Nick Koger as Marketing Lead, Emma Horrell as UX Research Lead, and Adam Globus-Hoenich as Lead Architect. These changes aim to enhance marketing strategy, user experience, and technical development. The new leadership team will be present at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 to discuss Drupal CMS’s future.

The DropTimes has compiled a list of Drupal community events happening from March 17 to March 23, 2025, including meetups, contribution sprints, and planning sessions across different regions. Key events this week include the Seattle Drupal Users Group Meeting, Greece Spring Sprint, Drupal-Austria Meetup, MidCamp 2025 Planning, Introduction to Drupal CMS, and BiharFOSS Conference 2025. These events provide opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration for developers, designers, and Drupal users worldwide.

In this in-depth video interview, JD Leonard sits down with Alka Elizabeth to discuss his nearly two-decade journey in the Drupal ecosystem and his latest initiative, Member Platform. He shares how his experience with community organizing and consulting shaped the project, which aims to provide small membership organizations with a scalable, Drupal-based solution. Leonard also reflects on the challenges of sustaining open-source projects, the importance of collaboration in Drupal product development, and the role of local meetups in growing the community. From his early days as a student webmaster to leading Drupal events and initiatives, Leonard offers valuable insights on the evolution of Drupal and what’s next for Member Platform.

**Does Drupal Have a Future? The Answer Lies in Its Identity Crisis**

The Drupal ecosystem stands at a crossroads. With Drupal 7’s end-of-life approaching and DrupalCMS still in its infancy, uncertainty looms over its future. The question isn’t whether Drupal will survive but what it will become.

Josh Koenig, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Pantheon, believes Drupal’s path forward depends on redefining its identity. “Yes, Drupal has a future, but the real question is *as what*?” he writes in an open letter to his peers. He argues that the platform must break free from the crumbling Digital Experience Platform (DXP) model and lean into what makes it truly unique.

The failure of the DXP category is one of the biggest hurdles facing Drupal today. Once pitched as a one-stop-shop for digital needs, DXPs have proven to be anything but. Instead of the market consolidating around a handful of large players, the opposite happened. Martech tools multiplied, giving businesses more choices, not fewer. Vendors that tried to dominate by offering everything in a single package—Acquia among them—are now struggling under the weight of their own complexity. “The hypothesis was wrong. In fact, the exact opposite thing happened,” Koenig says.

For Drupal to thrive, it must redefine its value proposition. Competing with WordPress for mass-market adoption is not the answer, nor is clinging to a model that has already failed. Instead, Koenig sees two areas where Drupal’s strengths shine. First, as an “agile business driver” that helps digital teams continuously improve customer experiences without the burden of a massive system overhaul. Second, as a framework that gives large organizations flexibility without forcing them into an all-or-nothing vendor lock-in.

With Drupal 7 reaching end-of-life and DrupalCMS still taking shape, questions about the platform’s future are gaining urgency ahead of DrupalCon Atlanta 2025. Industry leaders, including Pantheon’s Josh Koenig, argue that Drupal must redefine its identity and move beyond the failing Digital Experience Platform (DXP) model. Others highlight challenges in adoption, learning curve, and integration with modern frameworks. As perspectives vary across the community, one thing is clear: Drupal must evolve to remain competitive.

European Women in Technology returns to Amsterdam on June 25-26, 2025, bringing together over 5,000 industry leaders. Esmeralda Tijhoff, Joke Van Hamme, and Eva van Sloten will introduce a new no-code Drupal CMS, highlighting the power of open-source technology. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore AI, digital transformation, and the future of tech.

DrupalCamp Asheville 2025 is seeking trainers for hands-on sessions to enhance attendees' Drupal skills on July 11, 2025. Trainers will receive a free ticket and a stipend per attendee, with sessions available as half-day or full-day formats. The proposal deadline is April 7, 2025.

Dive into Backdrop LIVE on April 3-4—an interactive global unconference packed with CMS insights, development talks, and community-driven discussions. No recordings, just real-time engagement across time zones! Join the conversation and shape the future of Backdrop CMS. 🚀

All Things Open 2025 is back in Raleigh this October! The Call-for-Papers is open—ready to share your ideas with the open-source world? Don’t miss this premier tech event!

The wait is over! The Splash Awards Switzerland 2025 winners are here, celebrating the best in Drupal innovation. Who took home the top prizes? Stay tuned to find out!

FreelyGive unveils AI Agent Swarms in Drupal AI 1.1.0! Watch James Abrahams break down how multiple AI agents collaborate to enhance Drupal’s AI capabilities. Smarter, safer, and easier—don’t miss this game-changing update!

Get ready for an electrifying DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 with Pantheon! From high-energy demos to expert insights on GitHub Actions and a game-show-style Drupal debate—plus exclusive swag! Don’t miss the action at Pantheon’s booth!