Drupal's new default theme, Garland, is one of the many impressive parts of the upcoming 5.0 release, and the rest of the open source community has noticed! While Drupal 5 races towards completion, the folks at Wordpress.com have ported the new Garland theme and Steven Wittens' slick color switching tool for use with Wordpress. While Drupal's complex layout capabilities aren't supported in the ported version, even Wordpress users will be able to enjoy Garland's clean, attractive design.

The Drupal community has enjoyed quite a few ported Wordpress themes over the years. It's great to see that the new visual design in Drupal 5 (not just the architectural improvements) demand attention! Hopefully other open source CMS projects will be able to benefit from the work, too.

Comments

robertDouglass’s picture

Now we just have to make sure Steven knows we love him more than they do or he'll start developing for Wordpress. Everybody together now:

We love you Steven
Oh yes we do
We love you Steven
And will be true
When you're not near us
We're blue
Oh, Steven, we love you

(from the famous musical, "Bye, Bye Garland")

- Robert Douglass

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Lullabot | My Drupal book | My Digg stories

joeshirley’s picture

I've got Garland set up on my business site at http://www.iliberation.com in understated gray colors. I love it. Now I'm just hoping someone over at WordPress makes it available for the downloadable version so I can use it on my personal blog space and have the themes be compatible.

By the way, I'm really excited about 5.0. I'm using a bare minimum of contributed modules (FCKeditor, Views), but having absolutely no problems at all.

awormus’s picture

I'd love to have the wordpress version of this as well for my blog, has anyone seen a downloadable version? The wordpress.com thread talks a lot about the beauty of open source... now where is the source for the wordpress theme?

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

We have specifically asked them to not make it available for the time being. I suppose they'll release it some time after Drupal 5 got released.
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bertboerland’s picture

here is the thread with the gun

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Coupon Code Swap’s picture

I think it says a lot that this theme has already been ported even though it has not been officially released. Kudos! Looking forward to 5.0.

Heine’s picture

Many felt that having thousands of WordPress sites using the default theme of Drupal 5 before its release, would take away from the impact Drupal 5 would make.

Fortunately, the WordPress.com developers reconsidered. In the words of Matthew Mullenweg, the lead developer of WordPress on IRC:

WP.com is going to disable the theme for new users at the request of core members of the Drupal community.

Garland for WordPress will be made available once again after the Drupal 5 release.

I'd like to thank Matt for his decision and hope many WordPress users will enjoy Garland later this year (?) as much as our users enjoy the many WordPress theme ports on Drupal.

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Matt Mullenweg’s picture

Thanks for posting the clarification.

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

No thanks to you, you still haven't disabled the theme.
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sime’s picture

I noticed this too

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

Apparently, the theme got now disabled for new users.

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Heine’s picture

Nothing has happened on WordPress.com's side, but for a buried comment on a news post, and I can no longer support my comment above. Why the delaying, the silence? Does the news item have to get of the frontpage first?

So, I'm hereby retracting my "thank you" to you, Matt.

This affair will certainly taint my (possible) future interactions with WordPress.com and you, though I'm sure I can maintain a proper professional relationship - when necessary - with the WordPress open source project.

So sad.

A lesson we can all learn from this is that OSS is not all about technical issues, but also has an important social component.
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crbassett’s picture

I guess I don't understand this. Doesn't anyone have the right to use an open source theme however they see fit? I am a Drupal user and have never used WordPress...I just don't get the anger here. Drupal is about the software and not the look, in my opinion.

sime’s picture

languagemaven, a summary

voltron@groups.drupal.org’s picture

I agree. The look is not even a secondary aspect of Drupal's value and strength - it's like 57th.

ica’s picture

Sweet GPL revenge would be to Drupalise few most popular WP themes such as

Hemingway (funky drag drop backend of its own too)
http://warpspire.com/images/posts/hemingway.png
http://themes.wordpress.net/snapshots/17-big.jpg

or Kiwi with Canvas backend
http://freshpursuits.com/canvas/themes
or few other best WP themes to pick up

and also add the new Dv5 color.module for cream on top!

so there'll be no one to say by looking to a Garland 'hey its a great site! and this site runs on Drupal' verso versa by looking to a Hemingway or Kiwi theme site 'hey! this site runs on WordPress'

Its like a star with a new haute couture dress for a special occasion, reception party etc. and finding out the other star comes in with the same dress on you! you get a scandal! :)

maybe a GPL/drupal licence needed with some extra clauses to avoid situations like this if its possible at all

or to think just as saying goes "imitation is a compliment"

Heine’s picture

I know you are jesting. Just to make sure: there is no "revenge" necessary. The situation has been resolved.

The nice thing about the GPL is that WordPress can use our themes, and we can use the WordPress ones. It's nice of them to wait until after the release of Drupal 5, so we can get some exposure.

Note that Kubrick has been ported for Drupal.

Also, there's no need for a license change: asking usually goes a long way :)

We hope to work with WordPress developers on shared issues in the future, so we'd rather not have a flameware / scandal. I will put a lock on this thread when that happens.
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ica’s picture

I hope my 'revenge' jest, pun taken as intended to positively cool the issue with humor, also multiplying and enriching on the way fits the very spirit of GPL and interest of all I believe (as long as credits are given where they due)

on GPL and open source, competition and 'imitation', multipication are positive factors and benefits all in the end

and also my 'GPL/drupal licence' also intended as pun, did not know its been suggested and talked over at all :)

btw. meanwhile looking to further WP theming, Canvas module backend for layout, i am impressed with it as much as I did with wonderful Garland and Drupal color.module
(Canvas has its 'Ink color palette', i guess functions similar to Drupal color.module
http://benjoblog.weblogs.us/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Canvas.bmp

would be nice if someting similar as further extension of color.module and block.module implemented for Drupal

Despite the conversion of and exeption of Garland to WP as a matter of fact generally Drupal theming and layout options are lacking behind WP and its a pity giving the other fact the Drupal is a proper CMS with solid strength under the 'visible' hood and it needs beautiful skins for a wonderfully functioning body

robertDouglass’s picture

Drupal and WordPress have been working together and learning from each other for a long time. Steven expressed why he didn't like the Garland port coming out before the real deal, the WordPress developers listened, understood, and responded. Normal human interaction.

- Robert Douglass

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Lullabot | My Drupal book | My Digg stories

sime’s picture

IMO, Matt has done us a favor! :-)

Nick Lewis’s picture

+1
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"I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect." - George Carlin
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ventureskills’s picture

Well we have the Wordpress theme running on our blog at wordpress.com not sure given some of the comments if we will be able to keep it running, but it is nice to integrate the look of our Site which also runs garland into the blog. Of course the Wordpress version is a crippled version of the real thing you can't even add a logo to the header via the control panel, maybe if they release a full Wordpress theme after Drupal 5 comes out this will become an option, but I don't think having this ported will harm either Drupal or the Drupal brand particularly.

Tim
Venture Skills
IT & New Media company
Visit our blog at wordpress.com
or our main site www.venture-skills.co.uk

pamphile’s picture

If no one copies your work, something isn't right... So we got to live with it :)

Marcel

Coupon Code Swap’s picture

It would be nice if the wordpress version atleast had "Drupal" in the title for the theme, so people immediately know where it is coming from. It would also be a good plug. Has anyone contacted the wordpress people about this?

sepeck’s picture

Matt took care of the attribution links to the designers of the ported theme already. He very nicely and politely pulled distribution of the wordpress theme as well until after Drupal 5.0 release. He did not have to do this.

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

Coupon Code Swap’s picture

very cool. i hope there is more exchange of themes with wordpress in the future. that is one area where wordpress is very strong... lots of nice themes to choose from. i really like the drupal themes that are currently available, but it would be nice to see more selection. drupal is just so flexible and nice to work with as far as cms goes.

sepeck’s picture

We have several ports of Wordpress themes.

Themes in general are not easy. Wordpress is easier as it's main focus is blogging. You have a 'known' set of criteria to account for 95% of the layout/content presentation. Drupal based sites cover the gamut from blogs, social networking, corporate brochure, semi-application, directories, etc. Hard to design generic themes without assuming the content that it will be presenting.

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

Parksy’s picture

That being said, Garlard is pretty amazing.

crbassett’s picture

That is nice that he did that. But it needs to be repeated that he didn't have to do this. The theme is open source, always remember that. I saw some posts on the internet that said they had "copied" and "stolen" the theme. That kind of talk is incorrect, in my humble opinion.

clo75’s picture

Personnaly I don't find the Garland theme so nice and useful. I call it... the "Joomla syndrome", putting flashy graphics before functionnality and usability... results : you get no modularity. Drupal needs as a standard theme for V5 a theme offering beauty AND modularity. Of course all peapole said... whooooow..; that's really cool.. but when you want to use it you go into troubles.

Garland's theme is not an ugly one of course, but it's a rather complicated one for the basic design that it provides. Garland offers web 2.0 design and aqua style icons..; but all this stuff will be very soon totally out of date.

I still think it's time to put a real workable (and good documented) theme for version 5.

I know that critics are easy, so I invit you to take a look at CSS Beauty :
http://www.cssbeauty.com/

There is certain designs showing beautifull graphics AND possibility of modularity.

By the way it's time also to "refresh" the drupalicon... it seems to be a logo for teenagers (or geeks), the expression of the eye is strange, lips and noose are not in concordance with the overall design. I'm not talking about tmaking another symbol, i'm talking about the currenbt design which needs serious works.

Chill35’s picture

Garland's layout is tough to tweak.

robertDouglass’s picture

Your vector graphic mockups are welcome.

By the way it's time also to "refresh" the drupalicon...

- Robert Douglass

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Lullabot | My Drupal book | My Digg stories

Chill35’s picture

My first impressions when I saw that logo was -> alien (extra-terrestrial), science-fiction for teens, mean, underground, criminal mind (a robberer with mask on).

It's only after I learnt about the meaning of "drupal" that I understood that this was a droplet.

I don't really see it anymore, I have grown accustomed to it.

clo75’s picture

Good idea... but I think the priority is about a nice and universal CSS Drupal 5 theme - easy to tweak and well documented... so we will soon get a nice library of templates.

Then we can promote it with a revamped version of the Drupal Icon
And next..; ooooh nooooo... Worpress people stealing the design of the refresh version of Drupalicon for using it with the lauch of Wordpress 3 ;-)

Talking seriously, I have to find a good developper first as my PHP level is near zero... and without a little php knowledge I thinks it's hard to make a good Drupal 5 template.

sepeck’s picture

Garland is built to allow people to easily change the basic look and achieve a good color balance in a striking way. It is not built as a base foundation for a theme framework. There was extensive discussions around this and that was the end result. If you want a 'framework' theme, please download Zen when it is ready. It's purpose was to provide a base foundation for people to easily modify the look and feel.

I like Druplicon as is, so look forward to your proposed new design.

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
---------
Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

gusaus’s picture

It's really come along since I last checked it. Themes like Zen and Garland will garner a lot of attention to a whole new user and developer/designer set.

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Gus Austin
Director of Chaos and Confusion
PepperAlley Productions
What am I trying to do with Drupal?

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Gus Austin

Coupon Code Swap’s picture

Hi Steven. Have the default themes for Drupal been decided on yet? I think it is a great idea to have a beautiful theme like Garland as the default theme. Having a "framework" theme that is XHTML Strict compliant would be good too, so that if people want to customize their own theme they already have a solid base to work from included with the default package. Perhaps there could be a description added with such a theme that let's users know that it is intended to be used as a framework. This would be helpful for new users downloading Drupal for the first time. Just a little touch to make the installation more informative and user-friendly.

sepeck’s picture

Drupal 5.x has been feature frozen and all themes in the core download are decided on. The idea isn't to add everything in Drupal core, the idea is to provide a solid base for you to build on.

With Zen remaining in contrib, this allows for additional contributed zen themes to be added to it. If Zen were in core, that would not be possible.

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide -|- Black Mountain

-Steven Peck
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Test site, always start with a test site.
Drupal Best Practices Guide

TheWhippinpost’s picture

putting flashy graphics before functionnality and usability

Thanks for pointing that out... I thought I was alone in thinking everyone was being distracted by the fireworks whilst ignoring the muddy terrain underfoot... temporarily at least (The sun will rise in the morning).

Mike
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A simple thanks to those that help, a price worth payng for future wealth.

gusaus’s picture

While some of the various threads have been a 'bit hairy, I don't think Matt and co. were deliberately trying to wrong Steven and/or anyone else in the Drupal community. If anything, all this is good publicity for Drupal and Wordpress. If you check out the comments, I'd say that the Wordpress folks are really digging the new Drupal theme. And how many themes, modules, or tricks of the trade have been borne out of Wordpress? Think of how many users/business use Drupal AND Wordpress for different purposes. They're very complimentary and useful tools, thus we all benefit whenever we port things over from one or the other. Also will benefit anytime the communication between the communities is amped up a bit.

Heck, even if its more perception than reality... a little bit of friendly competition, snarkiness, and scandal = good ratings, babe!

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Gus Austin
Director of Chaos and Confusion
PepperAlley Productions
What am I trying to do with Drupal?

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Gus Austin

ventureskills’s picture

I whole heartedly agree, you always get those who will jump up and down but for those of us who use both this is great news, particularly as our blog is on wordpress.com and to use your own css costs which while not a fortune is still an expense and now one we don't need worry about.

Drupal is a CMS - not a theme, and just because the wordpress theme looks like Garland it is a very stripped down version in fact the only good feature is the colour picker on the wordpress version!

Tim Nash
Venture Skills
IT & New Media company
Visit our blog at wordpress.com
or our main site www.venture-skills.co.uk

reikiman’s picture

I had developed the CSSimple theme, and had ported over many wordpress themes using CSSimple, and the CSSimple theme had inspired some of the 4.7 themes. But I've now set up two sites using 5.0 ... one is a brand new site (http://visforvoltage.net/), while the other is a rehash of one of my existing sites (http://peaceguide.com/). I'm loving it considerably.

I have a couple gripes around the edges of the garland theme ... One is a kind of nitpick about some details in the layout of postings.

But the serious problem is it mixes layout with color management. The color switching code makes a copy of the style.css file in files/mumbledy/something/style.css .. so if you're tweaking the layout, the layout won't change because the copy that's actually being used is the one in files/... rather than the one in the themes directory. It would be better for garland to separate colors and layout.

My users on visforvoltage.net really love the look of the site.

- David Herron - http://7gen.com/

mattmackenzie’s picture

What a great theme! We ported it to 4.7 (after switching from the default colors on an RC1 system), and applied flatforum to it.

http://www.mix2r.com/

Coupon Code Swap’s picture

A great place to find open source web design templates is http://www.oswd.org. I've seen some of the templates there ported to both WordPress and Drupal. I'm already working on porting one that I like to Drupal 5.0

As a common courtesy I asked the template author for permission. Even though the templates are open source, it just seems like the best way to proceed when porting or copying somebody else's work.

I encourage other Drupal theme designers to port some of the better templates from OSWD. Seems like a good way to make nice looking themes available without having to start from scratch. Since most of us have jobs and other obligations, it can be hard to find the time to build an entire theme from scratch.

ica’s picture

another idea would be a Drupal 'plug-in' (some kind of extension to PHPtemplate engine?) which 'translates' any WordPress theme to Drupal
so you get hundreds of WP themes avaliable* and others will be built in the future, avaliable for Drupal on the fly :)

* http://themes.wordpress.net/page/71/

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

This is not going to work since Drupal is much harder to theme then wordpress since it has so many mor pages.
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