Drupal News : Drupal 6.0 Release Shows What a Year's Development Can Do

Drupal 6.0 Release Shows What a Year's Development Can Do

Drupal is the content management system of several big name entities- so heads turn when a new release comes out. Drupal 6.0 in particular is stated as fixing over 1,600 issues users have reported. Drupal users have had over the long year before the last release, and we have to say, the release is well worth the wait.
As it turns out, Drupal developers can pack quit a punch in only a year’s development. Among the more popular topics addressed were performance and maintenance, theme customization, ease of use, and exciting new JavaScript features administrators will love.

Drupal 6.0 Performance and Maintenance

Drupal 6.0 has long been associated with long initial load times. This is because Drupal tends to use more JavaScript and modules than other content management systems. To help remedy the situation, Drupal developers sought to optimize modules into smaller fragments- and only load what was needed. The result: a faster experience for both registered and guest visitors.
The Drupal API has also seen a pleasantly affable upgrade. Previously in the Schema API, databases other than MySQL frequently encountered snags and bugs that have now been addressed. And of course for MySQL users, the same great API support is still intact.

Drupal 6.0 End-User Functionality

The end-user sees security and ease of use upgrades in Drupal 6.0. This latest version of Drupal allows for support of OpenID. This is a large step in the right direction for Drupal owners, since it makes it easier than ever for visitors to register on one’s website.
OpenID was created to establish a common username and password for multiple services online- meaning visitors don’t have to go through long and arduous registration processes.



End-users also get a security upgrade with the new password strength-checking module implemented in Drupal 6.0. This clever module shows the strength of a password that a hopeful registrant enters- if it’s too weak for today’s security standards, the visitor is notified. This keeps security threats minimal, and thus, keeps user satisfaction at optimum levels.

Web Designers Get the Limelight

Web designers can now create and edit themes without the frustration present in previous versions of Drupal. In fact, Drupal 6.0 makes an effort to shield web designers from the complexities of the PHP language altogether through CSS-only themes. Customizing a theme no longer takes programming skill, vast amounts of money, or even the long development times associated with web design!
Included in the update of Drupal 6.0 is the jQuery 1.2.3 release. This updated version of the JavaScript library Drupal uses allows for further AJAX and advanced JavaScript effects and ease of use. This extends the possibilities of creating a user-friendly experience though easier to use libraries- not to mention the addition of more JavaScript and AJAX functions!

Sometimes, It Is the Small Things That Matter

What would a year-long release be without added creature comforts and small additions to help administrators out? Drupal 6.0 doesn’t skip out on the smaller upgrades. Administrators, among other things, appreciate the better polls, upgraded comment system, forum improvements, drag-and-drop interfaces, and easier installation processes that Drupal 6.0 provides.



The first added upgrade administrators will notice is the improved installation process. If something goes wrong, administrators know what, why, and how to fix it in the improved interface. The installation is broken down into simpler steps, and the new installer guides are “a snap,” as Drupal developers claim.
Administrators also get notifications of future Drupal upgrades and alerts via the administration panel. No long do administrators have to keep watchful eye over the Drupal community to ensure no security threats or issues with their installation exist.
Most exciting is the advent of the new drag-and-drop interface that is employed. Organizing and moving blocks of information around have never been easier- both for administrating and designing a website to one’s specific needs.
Where to Get Drupal 6.0
All the fore-mentioned features and more are awaiting Drupal users who waited the long year for this landmark in CMS history. If any of the above has piqued your interest (and it very well should!), the latest version of Drupal can be obtained below.

• http://drupal.org/drupal-6.0

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