Drupal architectures for flexible content

We got to the point where the old Drupal mantra of creating content first to see it later is not enough to suceed with content editors. Drupal is competing and replacing other CMS and platforms where the lack of flexibility is the problem #1 for content editors. They are expecting full flexibity on how content is created, displayed, approved and published. However this introduce a common problem for web developers and site builders: how can you provide this full flexibility without having to be constantly on the hook for further development or configuration.

Modules like panels and panelizer, projects like Spark and distributions like panopoly and demo framework helped change the panorama in Drupal and the expectations that are set when sites are built.

In this session we will look to a set of common problems and real examples when creating content and layout for pages with demanding editorial teams. We will look and evaluate common options and recipes.

• How can complex content and rich pages be structured ? Free HTML format in different fields? Structured data in complex fields? Use paragraphs or field collection? Different content items in different items/entities? How to glue it all together?
• How can indivual page layout be managed providing flexibility but also control? Rely on templating system and view modes? Use contrib modules like panels and panelizer or display suite? Mix several approaches and modules?
• How can I add any content to any page and choose its display ? How can I have a list of curated widgets ready to use by the content team to deploy anywhere or in any section?
• How can pages and sections be managed before approved and published? Use prewiew systems and inline editors? Use workbench or workflow for layout? Rely on more complex content staging systems? Use separated environments?

These are daily problems that architects and developers face in every project. As a technical architect in Acquia it is uncommon a project where I am involved that does not need to solve one or more of these problems. In this session I will give some real examples and resume options and recipes that can be used to solve those problems today in Drupal 7 and look to Drupal 8 to explain how it can improve some of our possibilities and options and easy the life of one of our most important personas: the content editor.

http://www.slideshare.net/hernanibf/drupal-architectures-for-flexible-content-drupalcon-barcelona