Drupal 7.0 Released

Drupal 7.0, the free content management system used on websites like WhiteHouse.gov, is finally available to the general public.  It has been in development for almost three years, and the finished version is much more flexible, features an improved administration interface and has better optimized source code.

Roughly one percent of the worlds’ websites are currently run by the Drupal CMS, and this number will most likely increase due to the improvements featured in the latest version.

Drupal is known for being very powerful and versatile, though its biggest drawback has long been the fact that learning how to use it takes time and dedication.  However, the developers of the latest version have focused heavily on making it more user friendly.  They have also announced that the next version, Drupal 8.0, will be even easier to use.

On the other hand, the actual installation of the system is now almost as easy as installing WordPress.  The out-of-the-box product also already includes several modules, such as contact forms and forums, while it is also OpenID ready.  Users can of course, depending on their needs, use these add-ons, or turn them off completely. Nearly 1000 people worked on creating this latest version of Drupal and tonight, on January 7, 2011, parties will be held in over 80 countries around the world to celebrate its release.

Links

• Drupal.org Official Website
• Top 10 Drupal Hosting Providers

About Stephane Brault

Stephane is a web developer and system administrator with over 18 years of experience. Specialized in PHP programming and Linux server administration, he also provided development and consulting services to SMBs for several years before becoming an online entrepreneur.