Category: News

Dear Readers,

Have you ever felt the transformative power of a teacher’s or mentor’s encouragement? Anatole France, the French poet and journalist, once encapsulated this influence by saying, 

“Nine-tenths of education is encouragement.”

It’s astonishing how teachers can nurture love or sow seeds of positivity, potentially steering an entire future. When a child moves beyond their family circle, teachers often step into a pivotal role. Their impact isn’t confined to imparting knowledge; it extends to shaping perspectives, igniting passions, and defining life paths.

Just as many attribute their accomplishments to teachers who unearthed their hidden talents guiding their paths, the Drupal community thrives on mentors who play a pivotal role. Like educators, these mentors guide newcomers, share their expertise, and foster an environment conducive to growth within the Drupal ecosystem. They serve as pillars, offering invaluable guidance and insights enriching the community with their depth of knowledge and experience.

In this context, Michael Anello shines as a beacon within the Drupal realm. His trajectory, from teaching engineering to co-founding DrupalEasy—a hub for Drupal-centric training, career development, and consultancy—mirrors the impact of a guiding force.  The DropTimes had the opportunity to interview Michael Anello. He reflects on his journey, the evolution of Drupal, navigating challenges in the learning process and steering DrupalEasy through adaptations to accommodate various skill levels. In essence, his role echoes the influence of those pivotal teachers who shape destinies within the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the Drupal community.

In another enlightening interview, the multifaceted expertise of Lyubomir Filipov, a Group Architect and Deputy Program Manager at FFW, takes centre stage. His journey spans various roles—from organizer to academician to mentor—an embodiment of the diverse skills of an expert Drupal developer.

Lyubomir Filipov operates as a leader by example, orchestrating the convergence of talent with opportunity. He’s instrumental in shaping career trajectories for over 800 professionals at FFW, ensuring that the right individuals find their niche within the company. 

Our adept sub-editor, Alka Elizabeth, skillfully conducted these insightful conversations, shedding light on the depth and breadth of Michael Anello’s and Lyubomir Filipov’s contributions within the Drupal sphere. Alka also delved into a Reddit discussion about the recent changes to not just Drupal alone but the economy, AI, and growth of other CMSs like WordPress, Wix, and Shopify. 

On a side note, I’ve compiled a thorough overview highlighting TDT’s significant milestones of the past year.

Speaking of events, The DropTimes has been announced as the official Media Partner for Drupal Mountain Camp 2024, Switzerland. To learn more about the event, visit the official website. You can also follow our tag Drupal Mountain Camp to catch every update. 

February 06 is DrupalCon Portland’s registration kickoff—don’t miss out! Find all the essential details right here. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as the event draws nearer. 

The highly anticipated return of the PHP Conference Kansai 2024—a momentous occasion for PHP engineers in Japan is back after a notable six-year hiatus. Do check out the details here. 

As MidCamp 2024 draws near, it invites organizations to unite and bolster the vibrant Drupal community together. 

FLDC 2024’s countdown has commenced! Seize the early bird registration before January 12 and save $25 on your attendance fees. Don’t wait—the deadline is approaching fast!  

Fan tickets for DrupalCamp Poland are available until November 1, 2024—grab yours before time runs out.  A list of the Drupal events for the week is published here.

Acquia’s latest release, the e-book “Achieving Success with Headless and Hybrid CMSs,” provides in-depth insights into the benefits of employing CMS in various architectures—traditional, headless, or hybrid. For more information, dive into this informative resource.

Some notable news highlights include WeebPal’s celebration of its 12^th anniversary, dubbed the Silk or Fine Linen Jubilee, featuring an enticing offer for website owners. They’re offering 12 participants an opportunity to upgrade from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 free of cost.  

Centarro is rejoicing in its most substantial release yet: Drupal Commerce 2.37. Learn more about it here.

A groundbreaking addition to Drupal’s arsenal is the newly launched Error Reporting module, poised to transform code analysis and debugging for effortless operations. Dive deeper into its capabilities here.

While more stories beckon for exploration, constraints compel us to halt further selection. To get timely updates, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Keep enjoying your Drupal journey! 
Thank you,

With warm wishes,
Elma John
Sub-Editor, TheDropTimes

Check out the trailer for Call of Duty: Mobile’s Season 1: Soldier’s Tale, which brings operators, the new LW3-Tundra sniper rifle weapon, a new Atrium map, and more to the game. In Season 1 of Call of Duty: Mobile, the world of classic fairytales will be flipped on its head. Call of Duty: Mobile is available now on iOS or Android, and Season 1 kicks off on January 10, 2024 at 4 p.m. PT.

During Season 1, you will have the opportunity to earn 50 tiers of Battle Pass rewards with a new supply of free and premium content, including operators such as Cipher – Hatter’s Grin, Death Angel Alice – Wonder Lost and Sophia – Blood-Red Hood, as well as the new LW3-Tundra sniper rifle, Weapon Blueprints, Calling Cards, Charms, Call of Duty Points, and more launching throughout the season.

Dear Moodlers,

Happy New Year! I wish all of you, all over the world, a fantastic year ahead, filled with success, happiness, and countless moments of joy with Moodle.

As I prepare to conclude my journey as the Community Engagement Lead for Moodle HQ on Wednesday, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to my amazing team and to every one of you.

While my focus will soon shift to a role outside the Moodle sphere, my connection to the Moodle community remains strong. I intend to stay engaged in various Moodle-based activities in my free time. I’ll remain a member of the MUA and moodle.org, take part in the PAG, as well as continue work on a personal project (involving user tours) that I’m eager to continue.

I also want to share the exciting news that Olga Koenig will be taking over my role as the new Community Sites Manager. I have every confidence that Olga, leading the Community sites team, will continue to strengthen the community and uphold the values that make Moodle such a great project.

Thank you all for your support, dedication, and commitment to the Moodle project. Your contributions and collaboration are what make this global community so vibrant and impactful. It’s your passion and commitment that make Moodle what it is today and what it becomes tomorrow. 

Best wishes, and much Moodle love to all!

Aurélie
Community Engagement Lead, Moodle HQ

P.S: I leave you with this Scottish song which traditionally marks the new year, but also refers to friends who recall the good old times. It resonates especially as I will keep my last 15 months at Moodle HQ, and the people I met along the way, a dear memory, and hope to see many of you again soon.
‘Ce n’est qu’un au revoir.’

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?