This week we wrap up our exploration of integrating Drupal with Apache Solr. We'll look at using facets for narrowing returned search results, and some additional Solr server configuration options for further refining our index.
While a lot of our days are focused on Drupal, as web developers there are other pieces of tech that we need to understand and use on a regular basis. One example is Apache web server. This is the most popular web server on the web and likely the one your site uses. While you don't need to be a system administrator to use Drupal, you do need to understand some basics of Apache when working with domain names, especially if you're managing multiple domain names on one web server.
Here's an example of an assumption; The sun will rise tomorrow. An assumption is something that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. This kind of thinking, while convenient, is prone to concealing facts, and troublesome when debugging code. This article defines what an assumption is, and provides some techniques for helping to eliminate them during debugging.
This week's podcast, Episode 61: Mental Health and Open Source, dives into the private topic of our mental health. A few Lullabots are joined by Mike Bell, who recently gave a presentation on this topic, sharing his own personal journey. We discuss the pressures and effects we've all experienced in different ways, as well as the ways we've worked to manage our own mental health, and ways the Drupal and open source communities can help.
This week we're pleased to add another series that addresses multiple sites in a different way from the core multisite feature, with the Introduction to Domain Access for Drupal 7 series. This series covers the basics of working with Domain Access to manage multiple domain names all on one Drupal instance—only one code base and one database.
Release Day: Hands-on with Domain Access
Blog postThis week we get hands-on with Domain Access as we continue the Introduction to Domain Access for Drupal 7 series. We'll walk through configuring our Apache virtual host (vhost) so all three of our domain names are pointing to the same Drupal site. With that configured properly we can get the Drupal site installed and then install Domain Access. There is a little extra installation step required for Domain Access to do its magic. After we have it up and running we spend some time looking at and understanding the main Domain Access settings, get our other domain names added to the site, and dive into working with content. We're going to learn how to share content across all three domains, as well as be able to restrict some content to only certain domains.
This week we're wrapping up our Introduction to Domain Access for Drupal 7 series and adding a handy tutorial to our existing free Command Line Basics series.
Self-Serve Group Memberships
Blog postAt the beginning of this month, we introduced a new feature on the site: self-serve group memberships! In the olden days, when a group wanted to purchase a membership, we asked that they email us. We then generated an invoice and emailed it back. No longer! Now, groups can purchase 5-seat memberships directly from our site—no emailing or invoicing required. Not only is the signup process now very straightforward, but you can purchase a group membership on a monthly basis in addition to the annual option.
In 2015, we released a series called What's New In Drupal 8, which gives an overview of the different things that have changed in the upcoming version of Drupal. We've added a "Notify me" button to these particular lessons so members can get added to a notification list for that topic.
Drupalize.Me at DrupalCon Los Angeles
Blog postOur entire team will be at DrupalCon Los Angeles in just a few weeks. We'd love to chat with you, so here is where you'll be able to find us.
Let’s take a brief look at how translation contributions work in Drupal. This written tutorial is based on the free video, Translation in Drupal.
Podcast Episode 62: Distributed Design
Blog postDesign work is a lot of show-and-tell. It can be challenging to effectively communicate and collaborate on a distributed team. Join hostess Amber Matz, Lullabot Creative Director Jared Ponchot, Lullabot UX Designer Jen Witkowski, and Justin Harrell, Interactive Designer for Drupalize.Me, as they talk about the unique challenges, processes, and tools they use as part of a distributed team.
Debugging is a discipline that requires patience, and a fervent attention to detail. In the often times fast paced world of software development, when we're faced with deadlines, and an ever growing list of new features to add, and bugs to resolve, it can be a difficult to slow down and proceed in a meticulous, measured fashion. When it comes to solving difficult problems though, this fastidious approach is exactly what's required to locate, and resolve, a problem's root cause.
Help Drupal 8 and Win!
Blog postWe're kicking off a campaign to help the Drupal 8 Accelerate Fund. If you donate $50 or more to the community fund, you have a chance to win a free annual membership and if you donate $100, you can choose a new video for us to create.
Trello for Publication Workflow
Blog postWe've recently been using Trello to help us track our content publication workflow. Here's a little bit about why and how we use it.
Installing and Configuring Dreditor
Blog postWith DrupalCon Los Angeles underway we thought it might be a good time to introduce (or reintroduce) folks to Dreditor (short for "Drupal editor"). Dreditor is a collection of user scripts, which alter browser behavior on specific pages on the drupal.org domain. The features of dreditor are mostly helpful in the issue queue and during the patch review process.
We have a video Installing and using Dreditor if you'd like to follow along, but since recording installation of Dreditor is even easier. Let's take a look at the changes, and how we can use this powerful tool to make interacting with the issue queue easier.
Monthly Update
Blog postApril was a busy month for our team! We published tons of new Drupal content and updated lots of site features. Here's a quick recap:
The redesigned Syfy.com website is a beautiful example of the latest in front-end technology. Lullabot developers Mike Herchel and Chris Albrecht join the Drupalize.Me podcast to explain it all.
The entire Drupalize.Me team, along with most of Lullabot, was in Los Angeles last week for DrupalCon, and we had a blast. In podcast episode 64 Addi gathered a few Lullabots together to talk about DrupalCon highs and lows, along with our top session picks (and a link to all of the DrupalCon session videos).
Rich Snippets in Google Search, Part 1
Blog postRich snippets can draw attention to your Google search results and increase your click-through rate (CTR). So what are rich snippets, and how do they alter Google search results?