In a digital world brimming with CMS options, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. But, this isn’t something you can take lightly - as it influences your website’s security, performance, customization, and scalability.
Of all the options, from Joomla to WordPress, one stands out as the premier choice: Drupal. Why use Drupal, though - what makes it the right CMS for your unique needs?
Discover the unique benefits it offers below as we dive deep into all the reasons why Drupal is still an exceptional choice more than 15 years after its release date. We’ll compare it to alternatives and help you figure out if it’s the right pick for you. Then, we’ll offer tips on how to learn Drupal fast with Debug Academy.
An Overview of Drupal
First things first - what is Drupal? This open-source content management system (CMS) used to build and manage websites originated back in the early 2000s.
As a CMS, Drupal allows users to create, modify, and manage content on a website without needing specialized technical knowledge. It's known for its flexibility and extensibility, offering a wide array of customizable modules and themes.
Drupal operates on a community-based model, with thousands of developers worldwide contributing to its ongoing development.
This collaborative approach ensures Drupal is continually evolving to meet the diverse needs of its users, from simple blogs to complex corporate websites. But, is this alone reason enough to use Drupal? We’ll get into all the reasons why Drupal is still the CMS of choice in 2024.
Why Use Drupal?
Why use Drupal with simpler options available like WordPress, Shopify, Joomla, or other simple CMS options?
Simple - you don’t get the customizability and flexibility that Drupal has to offer. You also won’t experience the same level of community and support, or the peace of mind that comes with a secure website.
Here are all the reasons why Drupal is trusted by the likes of Tesla, eBay, Harvard, Charles Schwa, and many more.
Superior Customizability and Flexibility
Drupal's architecture is exceptionally adaptable and designed for extensive customization. It stands out for its ability to handle diverse content types and intricate web structures, accommodating everything from basic blogs to complex enterprise systems.
This flexibility is achieved through a modular approach, enabling developers to add or modify functionalities as needed. Its extensive library of modules and themes allows for the creation of unique, feature-rich websites.
This level of customizability empowers businesses and developers to create web solutions that precisely align with their specific objectives and brand identity.
Strong Security Features
Security is a paramount concern in web development, and Drupal excels in this area. It’s recognized for robust, built-in security features, making it a trustworthy platform for handling sensitive data.
Drupal’s security team proactively addresses vulnerabilities and regularly releases updates and patches. This commitment to security has earned Drupal a reputation as a reliable CMS for high-stake industries like government and finance, where data protection is critical.
Drupal’s comprehensive security protocols encompass user access control, data encryption, and protection against common web threats, ensuring a secure environment for both developers and end-users.
Scalability and Performance
Drupal's ability to scale is one of its core strengths. It’s well-suited for websites with high traffic volumes and large amounts of data. Drupal’s scalability ensures that as a business grows, its website can efficiently handle increased traffic and content without sacrificing performance.
This makes Drupal an ideal choice for large-scale projects and enterprises. Additionally, Drupal’s optimized performance leads to faster page loads and efficient data management, enhancing the user experience and improving website metrics.
Unparalleled Community Support
Is Drupal dead? Not at all - its community is stronger than ever. In fact, the Drupal community is one of its most valuable assets.
Comprising thousands of active members worldwide, including developers, designers, and users, the community drives the platform’s continuous improvement and innovation.
This collaborative ecosystem offers extensive support through forums, documentation, and events. The availability of diverse modules and themes, contributed by the community, provides users with a wealth of resources for building and enhancing their websites.
The community's commitment to sharing knowledge and best practices makes Drupal a continuously evolving and up-to-date platform.
Comparison With Other CMS Options
As you can see, there are many reasons why Drupal is the preferred CMS for leading companies and massive organizations around the world. But, let’s get a bit more specific about how Drupal stacks up to other choices.
- WordPress: While WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface and is widely used for blogging and small to medium websites, Drupal offers greater scalability and more robust security features. This makes Drupal more suitable for complex, content-rich websites and enterprise-level applications.
- Joomla: Joomla, like Drupal, offers flexibility and is relatively user-friendly. However, Drupal surpasses Joomla in terms of scalability, security, and the ability to handle highly complex content structures, making it more suitable for larger, more complex websites.
- Sitecore: Sitecore is known for its strong digital marketing tools and personalization capabilities. However, Drupal offers an open-source advantage with extensive community support, making it a more cost-effective and customizable solution for a broad range of web development needs.
- SharePoint: Primarily used for intranet and enterprise content management, SharePoint integrates well with Microsoft products. Drupal, on the other hand, stands out for its open-source flexibility, robust security features, and ability to create diverse types of websites beyond just content management.
Each of these CMSs has its strengths, but Drupal's combination of scalability, security, and a strong community makes it a compelling choice for many web development projects. It should be clear now why Drupal is trusted by so many. But, now what?
Whether you’re trying to become a web developer without a degree or get a web developer job without experience, we’ll help you get started on the right foot below.
How to Get Started Using Drupal
Despite what you may have been led to believe, the Drupal learning curve isn’t all that steep - as long as you have the right approach, that is.
Whether you’re trying to become a self-taught web developer or you have a web developer degree, we’ll walk you through the basics of getting up and running with Drupal below.
Initial Setup and Installation
Starting with Drupal involves setting up a hosting environment and installing the Drupal software. This process requires a web server, database, and PHP.
Users can download Drupal from its official website and follow the installation guide, which provides step-by-step instructions.
Finding Resources and Learning Materials
There are numerous resources available for learning Drupal. The official Drupal website offers comprehensive documentation, user guides, and API references.
Additionally, there are many online tutorials, video courses, and books dedicated to Drupal for various skill levels. We have free Drupal training here at Debug Academy along with more comprehensive courses - but we’ll talk about that in a moment.
Community Support and Forums
The Drupal community is a vast and active network offering support and advice. Online forums, such as Drupal.org forums and Stack Exchange, are platforms where users can ask questions, share experiences, and get help from other Drupal enthusiasts. Local Drupal user groups and meetups also provide opportunities for learning and networking.
Maximizing Drupal's Potential With Debug Academy
At Debug Academy, we offer specialized training that helps you unlock the full potential of Drupal. Our comprehensive courses cover everything from basic setup to advanced development techniques.
With experienced instructors, practical projects, and a supportive learning environment, Debug Academy is the ideal place to enhance your Drupal skills.
Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your expertise, our tailored curriculum ensures you gain the knowledge and experience needed to excel in Drupal development.
Enroll now to start your journey with Drupal and transform your web development skills. We have a comprehensive Drupal bootcamp along with Drupal training for beginners, Drupal certification training, Drupal migration services, and many other Drupal courses in store for you.
Wrapping Up Our Guide on Why Drupal is the #1 CMS in 2024
So, why use Drupal as your CMS of choice in 2024? Its unparalleled customizability, robust security features, remarkable scalability, and extensive community support set it apart from the alternatives.
These qualities make it ideal for a wide range of web development needs, from small blogs to large-scale enterprise websites. We hope this guide has left you with a solid grasp on why Drupal is more relevant than ever.
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For those looking to master Drupal, Debug Academy offers comprehensive training, equipping you with the skills to harness Drupal's full potential. Enroll now at Debug Academy and start your journey towards becoming a Drupal expert