Exploring Drupal: Is it the Right Choice for you?

Understanding the Landscape of Web Development: Navigating the Quirks of Drupal

Key Takeaways:

- Drupal offers extensive customisation but requires proficient technical knowledge for optimal use.

- This pricing is completely flexible based on the complexity of your project.

- They have advantages over raw Linux installs for users who may not be well-versed in server-side technologies – like WordPress and Joomla.

The worlds of the web, apps, design, AR and VR are constantly moving and evolving, and if what you’re trying to build – in spirit if not practice – is the kind of company that’s going to push those boundaries and figure out what is possible, you need tools. Tools that are capable of keeping both the shape-shifting spirit of your pioneers, while also giving the robust reliability and flexibility to turn that spirit into revolutionary reality. And inside of which bold experimentation can thrive. Atomic Digital Labs is at the sharp edges of figuring out what is possible through digital engines. Content management systems are a case in point, and nothing is as interesting in that mix as Drupal.

What is Drupal?

Drupal is the niche CMS, offering sterling security, and, critically, the greatest power to ‘bend to your will’. It is for the web presence that is unlike any other, investing its power into customisation. With a market share that is reflective of its niche but dedicated audience, it is necessary to treat Drupal with open eyes, wary of its eccentricities. In fact, many agencies avoid Drupal at all costs, given its complications, including steep learning curves and demands for human resource (significant for bespoke implementations). It isn’t uncommon to hear of projects that have overrun their timescales or budgets by several multiples.

How does Drupal Work?

Drupal’s architecture is also the source of its greatest weakness. Its system has a modular approach, meaning that a developer can stitch together all these delicate moving parts to create a website or application – to perfection. And no other system of web development allows for a finished product that is quite so bespoke. But the technical skill required of Drupal site architects is considerable. W3Techs data shows that 1.5 per cent of all sites globally are driven by Drupal [w3techs.com]. Such specialisation is the source of Drupal’s strength as well as its weakness, and experience with Drupal website development services demands awareness of its virtues and vices.

Navigating the Costs of Drupal

Certainly, the cost of building with Drupal isn’t trivial. On the contrary, working with the open source system (which may involve integrating multiple plugins or third-party software and services) takes time to master. And that time translates directly into money. In short, the complexity of the task drives the cost up. Customised sites tend, by nature, to be costly, translating an idea into a reality to achieve the exact output you need – but also making the project a kind of albatross to your shoulders, given the fees involved. Furthermore, like any technology, the most successful Drupal sites aren’t the ones that came with an off-the-shelf solution, but those well-planned and well-organised projects driven by a strong development team comprised of competent, creative and innovative minds. These are definitely projects for those SMEs with deep pockets.

Choosing Between Drupal and its Contemporaries

Drupal is a robust platform for website development. Are there other comparative CMSs you should consider – WordPress or Joomla, say – that might provide varying blends of customisability, usability and community support? For example, WordPress, which powers 43 per cent of all websites (https://w3techs.com) is aggressively growing as a small-scale CMS with a relatively user-friendly interface and huge plugin library; Joomla, which owns a much smaller market share, is the middle road between WordPress and Drupal. Your mileage may vary on the project timeline, target, and the technical talents or aptitudes of your web development team.

Setting Sail with Drupal: How to Get Started

Much like a legal dictionary becoming an invaluable tool for young lawyers to learn the language of the law or understanding how to write the alphabet in Arabic before reading the Quran, it’s a good idea for a Drupal newbie to immerse themselves in its foundational concepts. Drupal has its own ‘mysterious’ terminology, and there’s no better way to get familiar with it than to hang out with other Drupal enthusiasts. You can visit the forums at Drupal.org, participate in local DrupalCamps, or hire one of the many reputable drupal development services. And speaking of learning, if you want to be a great lawyer, don’t start your training with a complex and long-standing rape case. I like to suggest that Drupal newbies become familiar with the platform by working on smaller, less complex projects, before tackling larger website initiatives.

And that’s why, as we move deeper into evolving times, when calls are made for new platforms mimicking power and customisation enjoyed by the rich and famous, Drupal remains a viable possibility for those willing to creatively struggle. Atomic Digital Labs would like nothing more than to demonstrate how Drupal can be harnessed to create niche, game-changing digital innovations for standalone businesses and industries as a whole. But that requires an awareness of the whole tree, and the map to get you there.

Conclusion

To sum up, Drupal is an unprecedented tool for either web or app development with truly significant potential and freedom of use. However, it requires a lot of resources, time and efforts — which makes it not the path for the faint-hearted on the way to digital transformation. To those prepared to meet the challenge, the rewards can be huge because Drupal enables a level of customisation rare among CMSs. Atomic Digital Labs will continue its efforts to explore the pinnacles of digital opportunities. We look forward to helping business leaders make the right decisions for their dream projects. To understand more about Drupal and other digital solutions for your project, visit https://www.atomicdigitallabs.com.

‍

Master Drupal with Expert Guidance!