OpenPublish on Drupal 7: An Update

Posted Aug 4, 2011 // 11 comments

 Alright, OpenPublish fans, no fancy intros - we're just going to start with the questions you want to know. 

1. Is OpenPublish on Drupal 7 ready yet? 

Not yet. OpenPublish on Drupal 7 is in an internal Alpha version that is not yet available for release.

2. Will you be releasing early code for OpenPublish?

Yes! We haven't released the code yet because we're building this version alongside some fast-moving client projects, and we are literally changing things moment-to-moment. We will certainly release the code early, but we want to give you something a bit more stable first. You can expect to see a very early code release in the next couple of months.

3. What kinds of things are you working on, and what challenges are you facing for OpenPublish on D7?

We have literally been working on OpenPublish every day for the last several months. But since Drupal 7 is still new and a lot of modules are just getting brought over, there have been challenges. To stay true to our promise of more community-contributed code, we're working daily with module maintainers and community members to create a better OpenPublish solution from the start. 

Also, we'll just be really honest with you: we are incredibly busy this summer building some remarkable web sites for some wonderful clients. We owe them our full  attention - after all, they're the reason we can invest our time and energy in OpenPublish every year.  You'll see and hear more about these clients in the coming weeks - and we think you'll be excited to see who's sites are running on OpenPublish. 

4. Ok, so WHEN?

Short answer: this fall. 

Long answer: We are currently finishing up the internal Alpha version, alongside a couple of site builds. As soon as they're done, we'll clean up and package up the OpenPublish code into an Alpha release of OpenPublish's core functionality this fall. Following that, and with your assistance, we'll then release Beta, with some more extensions of that functionality. We hope to see that Beta release this fall too, and we'll need your help to make that happen. 

5. So, what's coming in OP on D7?

You'll see for yourself soon enough in our code release. But some things you can look forward to:

• a new way of building pages: more versatility, more control, and a smoother, simpler way of making your front page (and any other page) look exactly the way you want. We'll sneak preview this functionality in the coming weeks.
• apps: pluggable functionality, integrations with third parties, and the ability to build and contribute your own apps to OpenPublish.
• support for community-contributed base themes: we're working now with some fantastic partners to bring some of the best community-contributed base themes to OpenPublish. That means OP themes will come with the documentation, community, and support you need to sub-theme your site more easily, with more control. 

6. What do I do if I need to start an OpenPublish or Drupal 7 project right now?

Trust us - we're ready for OpenPublish to be fully built too! And we're working as quickly as we can to make that happen. But in the meantime,  a couple of options for you. 

First, if you absolutely need OpenPublish for your project right this very minute, there is no reason you can't build it on the Drupal 6 version. Many beautiful sites continue to be built on D6 OpenPublish,  and Drupal 6 isn't going anywhere. In the next couple of weeks, watch this blog for a profile of a cool new OpenPublish 2.3 site that just launched. 

Second, if what you need RIGHT NOW is a Drupal 7 publishing platform, you may want to consider OpenPublic. We're seeing a lot of use of OpenPublic by nonprofit organizations and other folks outside the strictly-government sector. It shares many features with OpenPublish, it's on Drupal 7, and it's ready right now. Give us a shout if you want to talk about whether it might be right for you - we can help you decide.

7. Can I help?

You bet. As soon as we release the first round of code (again, that will probably be in the next couple of months), we'll be looking for testers and contributors. And, if you think you have a great idea for an App, you can get started right now by building a beautiful Drupal 7 feature. 

We really, truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm you all are showing for OpenPublish, and we're so excited about the adoption of this platform for sites of all sizes. Believe us, we are as committed to releasing OpenPublish on Drupal 7 as quickly as we can. But most importantly, we're committed to doing it the right way, right from the start.