Drupal
Drupal is an automated content management system with which the user can limit himself to writing articles without caring about their categorization and other aspects of site management. But it is believed that Drupal should be installed by an experienced webmaster, since the basic installation is essentially limited, there is not even a menu for categories, and it is by adding modules that we will provide the site with all the functions of Web 2.0: the cloud tag, displaying the latest articles, RSS feeds, statistics visits, etc.
Drupal is not suitable for the construction of the site, all aspects of which we own, and is also not suitable if we expect CMS to be ready for use. It provides basic components and we have to learn how to use them to get the site you want to build. And it will take time.
Representation
All content of the site will be stored in a database, which can be in MySQL or PostgreSQL format.
Drupal is a collaborative CMS that includes a (basic) complete and customizable editing rights management system. In fact, each editor can have his own theme and see his own site. The same goes for registered users.
Three types of content are possible:
- Stories are blog posts, articles.
- Pages are reference materials and can be managed differently from tickets, including with their own editing rights.
- Books (books) are articles hierarchically arranged in chapters on different pages.
The site can be accessed through the admin panel when you have administrator rights, or through FTP, which allows you to download modules and themes, or using PHPMyAdmin for the database (if hosting provides this function).
Drupal has its own vocabulary:
- Roles correspond to user types: registered, editor, administrator...
- Blocks (widgets under Wordpress) - interface elements that are placed in predefined areas: content, left panel, right, header, footer...
- Content types: Book, Page, History as we have seen.
- Modules (plugins for WordPress) are third-party programs for adding functions.
This is a powerful CMS with a page cache system for faster browsing.
See also CMS criticism.
What's new in Drupal 7
This version, released in January 2011, approaches Wordpress simplicity, however Drupal remains a tool for professional webmasters.
- CCK is now part of the core software and is no longer a component.
The Content Construction Kit allows you to create new types of pages. - As with Wordpress, it is possible to upload images and manipulate.
- The interface is simplified, more intuitive.
A designer was hired specifically to revise the interface design. - Update manager added.
- Custom fields allow you to expand pages without creating new types. That still joins Wordpress.
- All databases become usable because the software interacts with the interface intermediate layer.
- Drupal Theme Garden is a repository of licensed GPL themes, so they are freely usable.
- Drupal 7 is faster with optimized database access.
- There is no longer any difference between blocks of content and blocks of side pages. You can place the frame anywhere on the page template.
- You can configure cron tasks from the Dashboard without any scripts in the file system.
Drupal works with cron for some features that are automatic under Wordpress. - Improved management of RSS streams.
- Improved multi-site management.
- Now the minimum required is PHP 5.2 with 40 megs of memory, MySQL 5.0.15 or PostgreSQL 8.3 or SQLite 3.
Non-superior compatibility
Drupal is compatible with data, but not with code. The new version may oblige the webmaster or module developer to revise the code he added to adapt to the new version.
But it will still be able to use the contents of the database .
However, code compatibility is maintained between minor versions. Thus, Drupal 7 becomes incompatible with Drupal 6, but Drupal 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, etc. remain compatible when the code is with Drupal 6.0.
Modules
This is the name under Drupal of the so-called Firefox extension, a plugin for Wordpress .
Installing Drupal goes through the stage of loading the necessary modules, followed by a sufficiently long configuration for more comfortable work.
Textbooks
- How to install Tiny MCE on Drupal.
- Use Live Writer with Drupal.
- Differences between Wordpress and Drupal.
Loading
- Drupal. It is licensed under an open source GPL.