Migrating to Drupal 10: Best Practices and Challenges to Consider
What version of Drupal is your site running on? Usage statistics of Drupal Core say that some still use Drupal 6 and 7. There are even websites that are still working on Drupal 5. Using old versions, you deprive yourself of the new features of the admin panel and community-supported modules, themes, and profiles. Your customers are left without a modern user experience and cannot be sure your website is secure. Support for these versions is over. Ahead is only the migration to Drupal 10, the latest version released on December 14, 2022.
What has changed in the new version of Drupal?
The updated version of Drupal 10 offers users an extensive list of valuable updates compared to the previous ones:
Backend by Claro
The update also fixed the deprecated Seven theme. The new core offers improved usability for working with content. For example, the admin tabs have been moved for better accessibility based on previous user experience. Mobile editing capabilities have also been improved. All changes were aimed at speeding up and facilitating work with the website for content managers and moderators.
Olivero interface
The new interface has replaced Bartik, which was used by default in versions 7, 8, and 9. Replacing the outdated interface will allow you to get rid of the false impression about the functions and capabilities of Drupal.
Modern, user-friendly, and attractive interface
The main improvement of the updated Drupal was its full compliance with WCAG, a guideline for the accessibility of web content for people with disabilities. Creating websites in the new version of Drupal has become much more manageable. That’s why you should upgrade to Drupal 10 as soon as possible.
CKEditor 5
The text module CKEditor 4 has been used for ten years but expires in 2023. It is already included in the Drupal 10 package, so it does not require a separate installation. In the new version, content managers can edit images and links in the same windows without opening new ones. Also, when inserting texts from Word and Google Docs, the editor will remove the markup from these programs.
The text module CKEditor 4 has been used for ten years but expires in 2023. The more modern CKEditor 5 tool has replaced it. Modern JavaScript tools to replace some jQuery components
Drupal always had a sizeable jQuery library built into it. This library was used to support features not supported by the browser. The development of JavaScript technology has expanded the capabilities of browsers. Now browsers can perform some of the functions that used to lie with jQuery. Now you can refuse to use part of this library, which will speed up the loading of the website and its performance.
Symfony 6 instead of Symfony 4 and PHP 8.1
Symfony 6 stands out with improved performance and security. The updated version fixes bugs and vulnerabilities. The new version of PHP 8.1 provides high speed and enhanced security.
Starterkit theme generator
Creating new sites in the updated Drupal 10 has become even more convenient for developers. Now you can build themes using the base version without fear of issues. After you create a theme with Starterkit, you can track changes to the theme to include improvements and bug fixes. This will help the website stay more stable.
Updates in Drupal 10 aim to improve website performance, facilitate interaction with the platform for developers and users, and strengthen security.
How to prepare for Drupal 10?
Whether you're facing a migration from Drupal 8-9 or end-of-life for Drupal 7 platform updates, you must plan for success. There is no point in waiting. You should prepare and upgrade to Drupal 10 right now. Upgrading to Drupal 10 from a much older version can get more difficult the longer you delay.
The days of launching a website and ignoring upgrades for 5 or 10 years are over. The industry is moving too fast. Fortunately, with the right plan, your organisation can get the platform it needs to take on everything where you are in the future.
For a successful Drupal upgrade, find a trusted partner to help you with a smooth migration. Increase your website to the latest version of Drupal 9 if you are still using older versions. Remove obsolete versions and update all your projects to support Drupal 10, which will become available after the straightforward core upgrade.
Upgrading from Drupal 6 or Drupal 7 to Drupal 10
Drupal 7 is the most popular version with a decade-old code. This version of Drupal was deprecated in November 2023, so it should get rid of it as soon as possible. If not much has changed, you must understand that the comparison is not even with versions 8 and 9, which will be a little easier to switch. A natural chasm formed between 7 and 10 Drupal in 10 years, making your website vulnerable.
If you still use Drupal 7 (or even older versions), your platform's lifespan will end in a few months. Although this date has been extended several times over the past few years, there is no guarantee that it will be opened again.
So that's why you should migrate to Drupal 10 to ensure your site's security and high performance. To cut down on support costs, you should start upgrading your site to Drupal 10 as soon as possible.
Upgrading from Drupal 8 or Drupal 9 to Drupal 10
Drupal 8 ended its life in November 2021, which means your website could be already at risk without the community's support with security patches and bug fixes. To compensate for this danger, you must think about upgrading.
Fortunately, the Drupal migration from 8 to 9 is not laborious. Once your site is updated to version 9.5, migrating to Drupal 10 will be less complicated. Just like moving from Drupal 8 to Drupal 9, moving to Drupal 10 can be a smooth transition with proper planning. You need to keep track of user code in any platform update.
You need a professional Drupal developer to install updates. Hence, your future upgrades will be even more accessible. For now, you have time until November 23, 2023, to complete the climb before the end of Drupal 9. At that point, your website will no longer get security updates from the Drupal community.
What happens to older versions of Drupal?
Old versions of Drupal will continue to work. But at the same time, you need to understand that updates for older versions will not be available anymore. All new features and improvements will be only in the new version of Drupal 10.
Upgrading to a newer version will significantly increase our website's performance. If security and stability are essential, consider upgrading to Drupal 10. The sooner you care for it, the faster your site will move to a new, improved level.
Why migrate to the last version of Drupal?
You can always migrate to Drupal 10 with advantages. If your website works for a long time, dead codes and bugs accumulate in the system. By switching to the new version, you will get rid of these technical errors.
The bugs and errors negatively affect the quality of the website and complicate technical support. You have to constantly invest in correcting mistakes. In this case, bugs still occur but in a different place. By migrating to the new version, you can immediately solve all the problems that have bothered you for years. Along with the upgrade, it will be easier to redesign when switching to Drupal 10.
In addition, one of Drupal's third-party technical features is its Symfony PHP framework. Symfony runs on two-year release cycles, allowing Drupal to do the same. For example, Drupal 9 uses Symfony 4, which was already at the end of its development when Drupal 9 was launched. Therefore, since Symfony has become obsolete in less than two years, Drupal 9 must be updated.
This is why Drupal 9 had a shorter lifespan than the platform's history. The Drupal development team released Drupal 10 on Symfony 6, released in 2022. Therefore, Drupal 10 will last at least four years before the next major version is released. By working to stay ahead of schedule with Symfony, Drupal aims to provide a faster, more stable, and more durable platform. Upgrade to Drupal 10 now, and you will ensure the reliable operation of your website for several years.
How much does Drupal migration Cost?
Drupal is free and open-source software licensed under the GNU GPL 2+. The cost of upgrading to a new version of Drupal is determined individually, depending on your current version. Seek expert advice to conduct a professional Drupal website audit, identify existing errors, and determine the cost of migrating to Drupal 10.
Migrate to Drupal 10 with our web development team!
In summary, it's best to start upgrading your website as early as possible. This will improve the overall quality of your product for both you and your users. And there is no reason not to migrate to the new version of Drupal. The main thing is to turn to experienced developers who will help make the upgrade to the latest version quick and painless.
As Drupal developers, we use the latest technologies to improve the user experience with new versions of Drupal. We advise you to start planning your website upgrade to Drupal 10 now.
Our rating in the market is the best proof of our professionalism. The developers of our agency make a valuable contribution to the development of the information community. Contact us now to learn all the details about migrating to Drupal 10.