Everything you need to know about Drupal CMS 1.0

On January 15, 2025, coinciding with Drupal’s 24th anniversary, the Drupal community came together to celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Drupal CMS, a transformative evolution of the Drupal platform. This milestone marks a new era in content management, combining the flexibility of Drupal Core with innovative features designed to simplify website creation and management for marketers, content creators, and developers.

A key contributor to this groundbreaking project has been OPTASY, a Diamond Certified Partner of Drupal, whose expertise and dedication have played a vital role in shaping the vision and execution of Drupal CMS. 

We are proud that our efforts, along with the collaborative energy of the global Drupal community, have culminated in a platform that redefines what’s possible in modern web development.

This article will take you on a deep dive into Drupal CMS, exploring its powerful features, innovative tools, and how it’s set to revolutionize the way we approach content management.

What Is Drupal CMS?

Drupal CMS is an advanced version of the widely-used Drupal Core, designed to offer a streamlined, user-friendly experience. It’s aimed at marketers, content creators and site builders who search for a CMS that’s easy to use. 

It comes pre-packaged with curated modules and features, making it easier for users to build and manage websites without deep technical expertise. 

As part of the Drupal Starshot Initiative, Drupal CMS aims to lower barriers for new users while showcasing the full potential of Drupal's capabilities.

Key Features of Drupal CMS 

• Pre-configured tools. Drupal CMS includes pre-configured modules, or "Recipes," tailored to common use cases. These setups enable users to quickly launch functional websites with features like blogs, e-commerce, or event management, right out of the box.
• Simplified module management. The Project Browser simplifies the discovery and installation of modules, providing a user-friendly interface to expand website functionality without navigating complex processes.
• Automatic updates. Built-in tools for automatic updates keep websites secure and up-to-date. This feature reduces the burden of manual maintenance and ensures that sites run on the latest stable version.

Drupal CMS bridges the gap between technical complexity and usability. By integrating intuitive tools and workflows, it provides a faster and smoother development experience while retaining the flexibility and power Drupal is known for.

5 Key Features of the Drupal CMS Experience Builder

The Drupal Experience Builder is a powerful, intuitive tool designed to simplify page creation and design. With its component-based approach and advanced features, it allows developers and content creators to build visually appealing, functional pages quickly and efficiently.

1. Component-Based Design System

At the core of Experience Builder is its component-based design system, which streamlines the process of creating and customizing pages. Key features include:

• Component preview and drag-and-drop. Users can view a preview of components by hovering over them in the left panel. Components can then be dragged directly onto the page, making layout design straightforward.
• Compatibility with existing assets. Experience Builder supports both Single Directory Components and Drupal blocks. This compatibility allows users to leverage pre-existing assets from their sites, saving time and effort.

2. Reusable and Duplicable Sections

Experience Builder enables efficient content reuse and duplication:

• Reusable sections. Users can transform any section into a reusable component for other pages, ensuring consistency across a site and reducing repetitive work.
• Duplicable pages. Duplication allows rapid iteration on designs by copying sections or entire pages, making it easy to experiment and refine layouts.

3. Layers Panel for Detailed Control

The Layers Panel provides granular control over the structure of a page. Users can:

• Inspect the hierarchy of components.
• Drag and reposition elements within the layout.
• Gain a clear view of how components interact on the page.

This feature is especially useful for managing complex page designs and ensuring precision in layout arrangements.

4. Real-Time Previews and Responsive Design

Experience Builder offers real-time previews, giving users an accurate representation of how a page will look when published. This includes:

• Responsive design testing. Users can preview their pages on different devices, ensuring that responsive styles are optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop views.
• Interactive editing. Adjustments can be made directly within the preview mode to fine-tune the design before publishing.

5. Streamlined Publishing Workflow

Once satisfied with the design, users can quickly publish their pages. The front-end immediately reflects the changes, allowing for rapid iteration and deployment. This streamlined workflow makes Drupal Experience Builder an invaluable tool for teams focused on efficiency and quality.

6 Media Management Features in Drupal CMS

Drupal CMS takes media management to the next level, providing tools that make it easier for editors to handle images, videos, and other media content seamlessly. The Media Management Track is designed to optimize workflows, maintain accessibility standards, and ensure high-quality visuals across websites.

1. Inserting Media with Precision

With the Media Management Track, adding and configuring media is straightforward:

1. Selecting media. Editors can easily insert media through an intuitive toolbar. For example, selecting an image or video from the library takes just a few clicks.
2. Focal point adjustment. Images include a focal point feature that allows editors to specify the most important part of an image. This ensures that the subject remains visible, even when resized or cropped.
3. Alt text for accessibility. Editors can provide descriptive alt text during the upload process, promoting accessibility for all users. Alt text can be customized for specific versions of media to match the context better.

2. Optimized Image Styles

Drupal CMS simplifies image handling with preconfigured styles. Editors can resize and adjust aspect ratios directly within the platform, selecting options such as square, medium, or widescreen layouts. This functionality ensures images are displayed consistently and aesthetically across the site.

• Customizable styles. Editors can choose styles that suit their content layout, such as 1:1 square or 16:9 medium, depending on the design needs.
• Dynamic overrides. If the default alt text or focal point doesn’t fit the context, it can be overridden without altering the original media.

3. Managing Video Content

The Media Management Track also excels at handling video content:

• Aspect ratio preservation. Videos maintain their original aspect ratios, ensuring they look professional and unaltered on the front end.
• Privacy respect. By default, third-party content, such as embedded videos, is blocked to protect user privacy. Editors can override this setting to allow specific content when needed.

4. Live Editing and Front-End Preview

The live editing capabilities of Drupal CMS make media integration highly efficient. Editors can:

• Preview how content will appear on the front end, including responsive layouts.
• Test different media configurations in real-time, ensuring everything is aligned before publishing.

5. Enhanced Workflow for Media Libraries

The platform's media library supports uploading and organizing various types of content, such as images, videos, and audio files. Editors can manage reusable media assets, reducing duplication and speeding up the content creation process.

6. The Results on the Front End

Once media is published, the results are immediately visible on the site:

• Images and videos are perfectly aligned with the chosen styles.
• Media elements blend seamlessly into the page design, maintaining both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

How AI Agents Simplify Site-Building Tasks in Drupal CMS

One of the most exciting features of Drupal CMS is its integration with AI agents, revolutionizing the site-building experience. These agents allow users to automate complex tasks, such as creating content types, configuring fields, and building taxonomies, making Drupal accessible to both beginners and experienced developers.

Simplifying Complex Site Architecture

The AI agents in Drupal CMS streamline the creation of intricate content structures. For example, building a course management system with multiple content types, entity references, and media fields becomes straightforward. Users can provide detailed prompts specifying the required machine names, field types, and configurations, and the AI executes these instructions with precision.

In a test scenario, an AI agent successfully created:

• A Course content type with fields for categories and descriptions.
• A Lesson content type referencing the Course content type via an entity reference field.
• A taxonomy vocabulary called Course Categories, complete with pre-defined terms.

The AI agent handled all configurations, including field properties and machine names, ensuring seamless integration into the site.

Interactive and Adaptive Execution

The AI agents are designed to interact dynamically with users during the setup process. When additional clarification or confirmation is needed, the agent prompts the user to review and approve the next steps. This feature minimizes errors and ensures that the final setup aligns with user expectations.

For instance, while creating a lesson content type, the AI agent confirmed field configurations and prompted for adjustments, enabling a smooth and error-free implementation. This interactivity reduces the risk of overlooking critical details and allows users to refine their configurations on the go.

Automating Field and Widget Management

The AI agents excel at managing field widgets and their configurations. For example, users can instruct the agent to update a video field to use a media library widget. With just a simple command, the AI makes the change, ensuring that content creators have access to the most suitable tools for managing their media assets.

This capability reduces the need for manual interventions and speeds up the development process, allowing site builders to focus on design and content creation.

Rapid Deployment with AI Efficiency

By leveraging the AI suite of modules, which is available for standard Drupal installations, users can experience the efficiency of these tools across various projects. The ability to automate repetitive tasks such as taxonomy creation, field setup, and widget configuration not only saves time but also enhances consistency across the site.

A Glimpse into the Future of Site Building

The integration of AI agents in Drupal CMS represents a significant leap forward in CMS technology. These agents empower users to:

• Build sophisticated site architectures without extensive technical knowledge.
• Reduce setup time by automating complex tasks.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency in configurations.

Accessibility Tools in Drupal CMS

Drupal CMS provides powerful accessibility tools designed to make websites inclusive for all users, including those relying on assistive technologies. While these tools are not enabled by default, they can be easily installed and integrated into your project to guide you in creating accessible content.

Installing Accessibility Tools

To activate the accessibility tools in Drupal CMS:

1. Navigate to the Extend menu in the project’s navigation panel.
2. Select Browse under the Project Browser section.
3. Locate and choose the Accessibility Tools recipe.
4. Click Install Selected Projects to apply the tools to your site.

Once installed, these tools will offer real-time guidance, ensuring your content adheres to accessibility standards.

Real-Time Feedback for Content Accessibility

The accessibility tools provide real-time feedback as you edit content. Key features include:

• Issue detection. The tools identify potential issues that may hinder users of assistive technology, such as unclear text contrast or missing alt text.
• Explanations and guidance. Each issue includes an explanation of why it poses a challenge and actionable advice on how to resolve it.
• Interactive editing. As you fix accessibility issues, the tools track and update the number of unresolved issues, giving you clear progress indicators.

Benefits of Accessibility Improvements

Enhancing accessibility in your content benefits not only users of assistive technologies but also the overall user experience and site performance. Improvements often lead to:

• Better usability. Simplifying navigation and readability for all users.
• SEO gains. Search engines prioritize accessible websites, potentially improving your rankings.
• Compliance with standards. Aligning with regulations like WCAG, ensuring legal compliance and inclusivity.

How Does Drupal CMS Ensure User Data Privacy and Protection?

Drupal CMS takes a robust and thoughtful approach to privacy, delivering essential features out-of-the-box to comply with global data protection regulations, including GDPR in Europe, CCPA in the United States, and emerging legislation worldwide. Its privacy framework empowers site owners to respect user preferences while eliminating intrusive practices like pop-ups or cookie banners.

1. Built-In Consent Management

Drupal CMS comes with consent management enabled by default. This feature provides users with control over their data, ensuring transparency and compliance with privacy laws. Visitors can access their settings through a user-friendly link, allowing them to review, save, and modify their preferences anytime. The system only activates optional cookies or services after the user explicitly permits them, ensuring a privacy-first experience.

2. Avoiding Cookie Banner Annoyances

Unlike many websites that rely on intrusive cookie banners or pop-ups, Drupal CMS respects user privacy without creating barriers to content. Essential cookies, such as those for session data or consent preferences, remain functional, while other services stay disabled until the user actively enables them. For instance, when a visitor interacts with embedded YouTube videos, they can choose to load the external content either once or always. These preferences are stored securely, offering a seamless and respectful user experience.

3. Claro Integration: A Comprehensive Consent Management Tool

Drupal CMS integrates with Claro, an open-source consent management platform, to enhance privacy features. Licensed under the permissive BSD-3 license, Claro is free to use for both commercial and non-commercial projects. This tool is especially beneficial for GDPR compliance in Europe but is highly adaptable to data protection regulations in other regions.

Key features of Claro include:

• Support for 23 languages. Suitable for global audiences, with options for custom translations.
• Customizable privacy policies. Site owners can easily configure and publish privacy statements tailored to their needs.
• Detailed consent settings. Allows granular control over data collection and user preferences.

4. Sensitive Data Protection

Drupal CMS ensures compliance with consumer rights by supporting features like data access and deletion upon user request. Upcoming updates will further strengthen the platform's ability to protect sensitive data, enabling site owners to meet even more stringent legal requirements.

5. Collaboration and Global Insights

The privacy capabilities of Drupal CMS are the result of extensive collaboration within the global Drupal community. Experts worked with contributors from diverse regions to understand privacy expectations and legal needs, creating a system that reflects both best practices and regional nuances.

What Does Drupal CMS Analytics Offer?

Drupal CMS introduces a robust analytics system designed with marketers in mind. This system simplifies tracking website traffic and user behavior by integrating popular analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager. Through a dedicated recipe and user-friendly configuration options, marketers can quickly set up and manage tracking without technical hurdles.

Simplified Setup with Google Tag Module

The Drupal CMS analytics system centers around a specialized recipe for integrating Google Tag Manager. Here’s how it works:

1. Recipe installation. Users can apply the analytics recipe through the Project Browser by queuing it for installation. During the process, the system prompts users to input their Google Tag Manager container ID.
2. Automated configuration. Once the container ID is entered, the recipe configures the system to enable tracking on the website. The container is created automatically, leaving the site ready to track traffic immediately.
3. Default settings. The recipe includes pre-configured conditions that exclude administrative pages from being tracked, ensuring analytics focus on user-facing content.

Customizable Tracking Options

Marketers have full control over their analytics setup, with the ability to:

• Access and modify the tag ID via the Google Tag Settings page in Drupal’s configuration menu.
• Adjust tracking preferences directly in Google Tag Manager or Google Analytics as needed.
• Refine default settings to match specific requirements, such as including or excluding certain pages from being tracked.

Real-Time Verification and Integration

The system allows marketers to verify that tracking is functioning correctly:

• Inspecting the homepage confirms that the GTM ID is present in multiple locations.
• Administrative pages, as expected, show no GTM ID, proving the system’s proper configuration.

Additionally, the analytics recipe integrates seamlessly with Drupal’s Privacy Track, ensuring compliance with data protection laws:

• Users can manage their data preferences through a notice dialogue at the bottom of the page.
• Options to accept, decline, or customize tracking are provided, with categories for analytics clearly defined.

Enhanced Insights and Reporting

With tracking enabled, marketers can access detailed traffic reports directly in Google Analytics. This integration provides valuable insights into:

• Visitor behavior across different pages.
• Conversion rates and engagement metrics.
• Trends that inform marketing strategies.

Wrapping Up

Drupal CMS represents a transformative leap in content management systems, combining the flexibility and power of Drupal Core with a host of new features that simplify and enhance the user experience. 

For marketers, content creators, and site builders, Drupal CMS offers an intuitive platform that removes technical barriers while providing advanced tools to create, manage, and optimize websites.