Drupal has long been a powerhouse in the world of content management systems (CMS), empowering organisations of all sizes with its flexibility, scalability, and open-source community support. Over the years, Drupal has undergone significant transformations, enhancing security, usability, and performance. Let’s take a journey through Drupal’s evolution from version 7 to the latest Drupal 11, exploring the key advancements along the way.
Drupal 7: The Legacy Foundation
Released in 2011, Drupal 7 was a game-changer, setting a new standard for CMS platforms. It introduced major improvements such as:
- A more flexible and user-friendly admin interface
- A robust entity system, allowing for structured content modelling
- Improved security and scalability
- Better support for multilingual sites
For over a decade, Drupal 7 remained a reliable choice for organisations worldwide. However, as technology progressed, its architecture began to show limitations, especially when compared to modern frameworks. Drupal 7's end-of-life (EOL) was originally scheduled for 2021 but has been extended multiple times, with support set to end in January 2025.
Drupal 8: A Revolutionary Overhaul
Drupal 8, released in 2015, marked a major shift in how Drupal functioned. With a complete rewrite of its core, it introduced:
- The adoption of Symfony components, bringing a modern PHP framework to Drupal
- A new templating engine, Twig, replacing the older PHP-based theme system
- A built-in RESTful API, making Drupal a strong choice for decoupled and headless applications
- A stronger focus on accessibility and usability improvements
One of the biggest challenges of Drupal 8 was the introduction of a more complex upgrade process, as it differed significantly from Drupal 7’s architecture. However, this transition laid the groundwork for more seamless future upgrades.
Drupal 9: A Smooth Transition
Launched in June 2020, Drupal 9 built upon the foundations of Drupal 8 rather than reinventing the wheel. This version was essentially Drupal 8 with deprecated code removed, making the upgrade from Drupal 8 much smoother than previous transitions. Key features included:
- Updated dependencies, including Symfony 4 and Twig 2
- API improvements for developers
- A cleaner and more maintainable codebase
Drupal 9 reinforced the commitment to easier upgrades, encouraging businesses to keep their systems up to date without the massive overhauls seen in earlier versions.
Drupal 10: Modern and Future-Ready
Drupal 10, released in December 2022, continued Drupal’s path toward a more modern and user-friendly CMS. It introduced:
- Symfony 6 and PHP 8.1 compatibility, ensuring better performance and security
- Olivero, a new default front-end theme for a more accessible and contemporary design
- Claro, a refreshed admin theme for an improved editorial experience
- Removal of outdated dependencies, such as CKEditor 4 in favour of CKEditor 5
With its streamlined update path and focus on user experience, Drupal 10 made it easier for organisations to maintain and scale their web presence.
Drupal 11: What’s Next?
Drupal 11, expected in 2024, continues to build on these innovations. While official details are still emerging, we can anticipate:
- Even deeper integration with headless and API-first approaches
- Performance optimisations and automation improvements
- A continued focus on user experience, with enhancements to the admin and editorial interfaces
- Further simplifications to the upgrade process, making it easier for businesses to adopt new versions
The Future of Drupal
As Drupal continues to evolve, its core philosophy remains the same: providing a robust, flexible, and secure CMS for organisations around the world. The shift towards easier upgrades, modern architectures, and improved user experience ensures that Drupal remains a top choice for web development.
For businesses still using Drupal 7, the time to migrate is now, with Drupal 10 or 11 providing long-term stability and cutting-edge features. The journey from Drupal 7 to 11 showcases the platform’s dedication to innovation, making it an exciting time for developers and businesses alike.
Are you looking to upgrade your Drupal site or start a new project with Drupal 10 or 11? As specialists in Drupal development, we can help guide your transition smoothly and efficiently. Get in touch today to explore your options!