Author: Michael G

The Drupal Association has published this guest blog on behalf of HeroDevs.

As the end-of-life (EOL) for Drupal 7 approaches on 5 January 2025, HeroDevs has embraced the challenge of stepping into the Drupal community and providing vital support for this well-loved but aging platform. Since onboarding our first customer in September, we’ve had the unique opportunity to assist organizations relying on Drupal 7. It’s been a year of learning, adapting, and preparing—a journey filled with both rewarding and challenging moments.

Engaging with the Drupal Community

Our journey into the Drupal world has been enriched by our participation in various community events. Over the past year, we’ve attended gatherings like DrupalCon Portland, GovCon, DrupalCamp Asheville, and BadCamp, where we’ve had the privilege of connecting with other Drupal professionals and sharing our insights. We’ve also taken to the stage at events like Drupal GovCon and EvolveDrupal in Atlanta to share our expertise and discuss strategies for navigating Drupal 7’s EOL.

These events have not only deepened our understanding of the community but also allowed us to build meaningful relationships with fellow developers, site owners, and contributors. The collective knowledge and passion within the Drupal ecosystem have been invaluable as we continue to refine our solutions and expand our support.

Our First User Case Study

One of our earliest adopters came to us with a critical need: ensuring the continued functionality of their mission-critical Drupal 7 site. They required consistent updates and security patches to maintain stability and compliance. By addressing these needs, we were able to keep their site secure and operational without disruption. This successful partnership laid the foundation for our approach to supporting Drupal 7 users and solidified our commitment to meeting their unique challenges.

Challenges We’ve Encountered

Entering the Drupal world has been an eye-opening experience. One of the most notable challenges has been understanding the diverse needs of Drupal 7 users. Each organization has its own use cases, custom modules, and integrations. Our initial onboarding revealed just how varied these needs could be, pushing us to adapt our processes and broaden our expertise.

Another significant hurdle was navigating the intricacies of Drupal 7’s ecosystem while ensuring that our solutions met the community’s high standards. For example, we discovered that certain modules had been neglected for years, with no clear documentation or consistent coding practices.

Adjustments We’ve Made

One of the most critical adjustments we’ve made has been streamlining our onboarding process. Early on, we faced minor issues like a typo in the curl script used to integrate our services. While the fix was straightforward, it highlighted the importance of rigorous testing and documentation. Today, our onboarding process is smooth, and all our early adopters have transitioned seamlessly to our solutions.

We’ve also refined our support model to include guidance for custom and legacy modules. While these aren’t covered under our standard SLA, providing tailored advice has helped our clients maintain compatibility and functionality across their tech stacks. This extra layer of support has strengthened our relationships with customers and reinforced their confidence in our solutions.

Preparing for the EOL

With the EOL for Drupal 7 fast approaching, our focus has been on ensuring a seamless transition for our clients. We’ve prioritized:

• Proactive Module Maintenance: We’ve forked and maintained unsupported modules, addressing vulnerabilities and ensuring compatibility with evolving web standards.

• Customer-Centric Support: By collaborating closely with our clients, we’ve been able to anticipate their needs and deliver solutions tailored to their unique requirements.

• Comprehensive Testing: Every solution we implement undergoes rigorous testing to prevent issues and ensure long-term stability.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that stepping into the Drupal world has been both a challenge and a privilege. We’ve learned to navigate an intricate ecosystem, adapt to the needs of a diverse user base, and provide robust support during a pivotal time for Drupal 7 users. Our commitment to keeping sites secure, functional, and future-ready has positioned us as a trusted partner in the community.

We’re excited to continue supporting our clients through the EOL transition and beyond. Whether it’s maintaining unsupported modules, addressing compatibility challenges, or providing expert guidance, HeroDevs is here to ensure that Drupal 7 users can move forward with confidence. Together, we’re proving that even as official support wanes, the Drupal community can thrive.