Drupal 10, everything you need to know about this latest version

The development and subsequent launch of this new version, just 2 years after Drupal 9, is linked to the end-of-life of Symfony 4 (end of 2023). So, what are its new assets?

What's new in Drupal 10

Drupal 10 brings a number of significant improvements over previous versions. First and foremost, it's designed to deliver better performance thanks to the use of technologies like Symfony 5 that offer more efficient management of memory, resources and code.

Furthermore, Drupal 10 provides enhanced security for your project, with regular updates and bug fixes to ensure maximum protection against attacks.

The new version of Drupalalso focuses on user experience, with a friendlier, more intuitive user interface for end users. The Claro administration theme replaces Seven and serves as the foundation for the contributed theme: Gin.

On the front, the default Olivero theme replaces Bartik and offers more modernity and full accessibility by meeting WCAG level AA standards.

Finally, Drupal 10 is designed to be more easily accessible to third-party developers through API and documentation improvements, offering greater flexibility for developers looking to customize and extend the platform. Drupal 10 is a particularly exciting major release.

Why migrate to Drupal 10?

If you had just migrated your website to Drupal 9 or even to Drupal 8, you may be wondering whether it's worth migrating again.

Here are a few arguments in favor of a move to Drupal 10

• First of all, a real effort has been made to improve the user interface.
• Next, it uses the text editor CKEditor 5 which, in turn, offers a better, smoother experience and access to the latest plugins.If your website involves different versions in different parts of the world, you'll be able to manage different websites more easily with the Field Layout module.
• Finally, this is an easy-to-adopt major release provided you've already migrated to Drupal 8 or 9, if you're still on Drupal 7 (which has been end-of-life for several months now), this update is also recommended.

How to prepare for the installation of Drupal 10

Good preparation can ease the migration and help you avoid common problems. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for Drupal 10 installation and ensure everything goes smoothly.

What are the technical prerequisites?

To prepare for Drupal 10, it's important to keep your code up-to-date by updating the core, using compatible versions of contributed modules and eliminating obsolete elements from your own custom code.

You can also check out this page "Status of Drupal 10 deprecation" which displays Drupal 10 compatibility based on all deprecated API uses.

Next, make sure of the technical prerequisites: Drupal 10 currently requires at least PHP 8.0.2, and PHP 8.1 is strongly recommended.

This version requires PostgreSQL 12 or higher with the pg_trgm extension enabled and SQLite 3.26 or higher with the json1 extension enabled. Drupal web server requirements remain the same for Drupal 9 and 10.

How to download the necessary files?

If carried out methodically, migration to Drupal 10 from Drupal 8 or 9 is fairly straightforward. First of all, you need to download the latest version of Drupal from the site's homepage (you'll find a block entitled "Download".) Done!"

Choosing the right installation method (and doing it!)

There are several methods for installing Drupal 10, depending on your preferences and level of technical skill. The manual installation method is the most common. It involves downloading the installation files (which we have in the previous step), then transferring them to your web server using an FTP client.

You'll then need to create a database and configure login details before launching the Drupal 10 installation from your browser.

Another common installation method is the use of automatic installation scripts such as Softaculous or Fantastico. These scripts can be installed on your web server and allow you to install Drupal 10 with minimal effort using a user-friendly graphical interface.

Finally, it is possible to use Docker, Composer or specialized Drupal hosting services such as Acquia or Pantheon, which offer preconfigured Drupal 10 installations optimized for performance and security.

If it's any comfort, all these methods are accessible and don't involve anything complicated a priori. In any case, Drupal benefits from a strong community to help you, and responsive online support. Don't worry!

Configuring basic settings and the database

Then you need to choose your language. To access the French configuration, click on "Determine if a translation of this Drupal version". This takes you to a compressed file that you'll need to install in the same place as the previous files.

Then configure your database. Add the requested information: the "Database name", the "User name" and the "Password" you configured beforehand. And that's all there is to it. You'll then be taken to the start-up page.

Installing modules and themes

Modules and themes make a major contribution to the richness and flexibility of the Drupal solution, but here again nothing very complicated. To download new ones, go to the libraries available at Drupal.org. To activate modules, go to the administration menu, on the Extensions page (admin/modules), where you'll find all the modules available for your site. Same thing for themes, but from the Appearances page.
 

Please note: as we've seen, some modules are disappearing from Drupal core, such as CKEditor 4, Color, Quick Edit and RDF. The same applies to older Drupal themes: Bartik, Seven and Classy. They are being replaced by more modern and efficient versions.

Installing Drupal 10 using an online installer

There are several options for installing Drupal 10, including manual and automatic installers. The choice of an installer will largely depend on your preferences, your experience with Drupal and your comfort level with the various technologies and tools involved in the installation.

Among the automatic installation options, Softaculous is often considered one of the most convenient. It's an easy-to-use installation script that lets you install Drupal 10 in just a few clicks, without needing any knowledge of code. Simply download the installer and let it guide you. It will guide you with pedagogy.

Customizing Drupal 10

Once Drupal has been installed and configured, you can start getting to grips with the solution. Here are a few basic actions that will help you understand how the CMS works.

How to add content to your site

Good. Let's get down to business by adding some initial content. Go to the menu and choose the "Create content" option. You can then choose the type of content you wish to create. By default, you'll have the choice between an article or a page. Choose one of the two. This will take you to the various fields. To add other content types, you can go to Structure > Content types (admin/structure/types) and see those available.

How to change the default theme

To change the default theme, you can start by looking at the various contributed themes available on Drupal.org. To make sure you choose the right one, you can consult our articleon this subject. Once you've chosen a theme, download it. Then create a subfolder in your "themes" root directory. Best practice is to create a _contrib subfolder for contributed themes and a custom subfolder for custom ones.

Add extra functionality using modules

Modules enable you to enrich the Drupal core without necessarily needing to know the code. They extend the possibilities offered by the CMS for all projects, from blogs to the most complex ecommerce sites. We've selected the best modules available in this article. Be sure to check it out.

Once you've spotted a module you're interested in and made sure it's compatible with Drupal 10, simply download and install it in the root. And don't forget to activate it!

And that's it. Now all you have to do is configure it. If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to contact the community or the support team for each module.

The various advances in Drupal 10

Here's a focus on the main new features brought by the update. It contains numerous improvements that affect all projects and all websites.

The CKEditor 5 text editor

CKEditor 5 is a latest-generation text editor. New features include support for content blocks, enabling the creation of complex layouts. Image management has also been enhanced by the integration of new services such as Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. It also offers real-time spell-checking functionality.

JavaScript components to replace jQuery

Developers will be delighted to learn that Drupal 10 has adopted a more modern approach to theme and module development by using JavaScript components to replace jQuery. This is because jQuery can slow down the performance of Drupal sites and is no longer really considered good practice in front-end development.

JavaScript components are code libraries that can be integrated into Drupal 10 to provide basic functionality such as DOM manipulation, interaction with user events and API calls from a data source. Among the most popular used in Drupal 10 are React, Vue.js and Web Components. A real technical novelty!

Core code cleanup

A major cleanup has been carried out in the Drupal Core code, which should improve performance and site maintenance. A real source of satisfaction for those who appreciate organization and neatness.

The Drupal 11 release

Little is known yet about a possible upgrade to Drupal 11. Dries Buytaert, founder of Drupal, quickly touched on it during his Driesnote at DrupalCon in Portland in late 2022. He reiterated his enthusiasm for participating in the creation and construction of the Internet, and his desire to place Drupal at the heart of this vision. Nothing very concrete for the moment.

Our experts are ready to discuss Drupal 10 and, above all, your project!