Last updated June 4, 2009. Created by esmerel on May 4, 2005.
Edited by LeeHunter, jhodgdon, add1sun, purrin. Log in to edit this page.
Before you install Drupal and begin using it, it’s a good idea to get an overall sense of what it is, and how it works. This section gives you the big picture, helps you to frame how you think about Drupal, and assists you in determining whether it’s a good fit for your project. This small investment of time up front will help you immeasurably in the long run.
Comments
Should be renamed "Do I Need Drupal"
You don't have to install Drupal and begin using it to see if Drupal will work for you. We first deal with some of the most typical website types (blogs, wikis, and forums) and recommend some out of the box solutions that will likely prove easier in the short run. If you make it past that list the links below will give you a big picture overview of the benefits of Drupal, introduce you to some of the most powerful features of Drupal and allow you to evaluate if Drupal is right for your Project. If you have any doubts about using Drupal or are just curious about it, this is the place to start.
I would move the last half of "Is Drupal the right tool for the job?" here.
On the other hand, for certain limited uses, Drupal may not be the best choice:
If your only requirement is to write a personal blog, you may also want to evaluate one of the more specialized blogging platforms like WordPress or a hosted blogging solution like Blogger. Although Drupal can serve as a blogging platform out-of-the-box, blog-specific software may have a simpler administration interface.
Similarly, if your only requirement is to create a wiki, you should probably consider using dedicated wiki software like MediaWiki or a hosted wiki solution. You can certainly configure Drupal so that anyone can edit content (and even enable advanced wiki features with the help of several contributed modules like wikitools and Diff), but it may be simpler for you to use a more specialized solution.
If your only requirement is to host discussion forums, you will want to consider a system such as SimpleMachines or phpBB with a mature set of Forum features, or Vanilla which has many plug-ins. If you need a custom forum, however, Drupal's forum module with forum enhancement modules like Advanced Forum may be better suited to extension.
And change the "Is Drupal the right tool for the job?" to "When do I need Drupal?"
I would be happy to restructure and rewrite this if anyone is interested but I'm not sure how to get started.
Thanks,
Sheldon
I think advising or
I think advising or recommending specific alternatives this early in the handbook is not appropriate. For a start, we have no control over the quality and security of these other platforms so should not suggest them without caveats. Recommending alternatives so early on in the introduction to Drupal appears to me to now show much confidence in our software, but I think confidence is warranted as Drupal can meet most users' requirements. If not, they can evaluate it for themselves or there are plenty of places elsewhere on this site and in the documentation where people can become informed of alternative approaches (i.e. different Drupal modules, other platforms etc.).
From a personal point-of-view, I don't see why any of these alternatives need to be suggested on this page as Drupal does a fine job as a blog, forum, or even wiki. Let people read more about what Drupal can do before suggesting alternatives (i.e. a later section is the most appropriate place, if any).
When do I need Drupal?
It will be great if you update your comment to include "When do I need Drupal?" section.
You may start with "if you need a website which has various sections like forums, wiki, blog, main site and want to use same User accounts database then......
Very useful referrals
I was searching for good resources of reading regarding Drupal and thankfully I came across the list the OP posted...
Exclusively helpful at least for me were:
Thanks again!