Established in 2000, Drupal is a popular open-source content management system (CMS) that is used by 2.2% of website backends globally. Its powerful API and unique architecture enable users to manage content from numerous sources around the web, and it has become one of the most well-known CMS systems worldwide.
This article aims to chart the history of Drupal from its inception to the present day. Drupal was first founded by Dries Buytaert and Hans Snijder, two students at the University of Antwerp, who created a small news board site using a wireless connection between their rooms. Initially, the software had no name, but as it began to attract followers, Dries released the software as an open-source project under the name “Drupal,” which was derived from the Dutch word “druppel,” meaning “to drop.”
The first version of Drupal was released in 2001 and was based on a modular CMS named Slash and another called Scoop. The initial build had 18 core modules, each with a set of routines stored in PHP file format, but there was no menu router, and everything had to be accessed via PHP files.
The first version had some limitations, including only allowing 15 tables and requiring an SQL file import to modify the database, and only admins could use the admin PH file. Nevertheless, Drupal had many features, such as customizable themes and layouts.
Drupal v2.0 was released in March 2001 and included a significant improvement – a translation feature that allowed users to overwrite the entire front page in their language of choice.
Drupal v3.0 switched the formatting by being built on nodes instead of pages, allowing users to designate any post as a node and configure content types.
Drupal v4.0, released in 2002, introduced the taxonomy module, which classified posts based on keywords and assigned content types.
The fifth iteration of Drupal showcased the jQuery Javascript library that helps with HTML scripting, and pre-built Drupal packages that users could customize to their liking.
Drupal v6.0 introduced a new menu system that allowed drag and drop functionality, expanded translation functionality, and security modules that checked for updates and notified site administrators if they were missing security features. To get your own Drupal website up and running, check out my Australian web hosting guide! I cover such things as speed, uptime, storage and prices that are all in Australian dollars!
Drupal v7.0 was released in 2011 and added OpenID, which allowed users to log in using their Google email account.
Drupal v8.0 is the latest version of Drupal and has introduced significant changes, including a new release cycle that sees updates released every six months.
Drupal has come a long way since its inception in 2000, and its unique features and capabilities have made it a popular choice for businesses and individuals worldwide.