I compiled a list of this month's top-20 most downloaded themes and modules. It doesn't necessarily mean that these projects are the top-20 most used projects, but it does give a good indication of what people are looking for, or what sparks their interest. I'm sure we can draw a number of valuable conclusions from this list. Anyway, without further ado, here is the list of the top-20 projects ...

  1. PHPTemplate theme engine (5500 downloads/month)
  2. Image module
  3. Blix theme
  4. FriendsElectric theme
  5. Gallery module
  6. Flexinode module
  7. Event module
  8. Leaf theme
  9. SpreadFirefox theme
  10. Img_assist module
  11. Kubrick theme
  12. Box_grey theme
  13. Tinymce module
  14. E-Commerce module
  15. Feedback module
  16. Fckeditor module
  17. Article module
  18. Album module
  19. Filemanager module
  20. Democratica theme (1700 downloads/month)

Comments

Steven’s picture

It might be useful to publish the full list, or at least one that is a bit longer?
Noticably absent from the top 20 are the translations... I'm curious to see how far down they are for example.

Also, I love the Drupal tips section in the newsletter: I think the list could be a good way to select projects that deserve more recognition.

This also brings up the idea of having a list of the most popular downloads visible somewhere permanently. In my experience this is not a good move though if the list becomes the primary way of finding projects. Often it only makes popular downloads even more popular, while less known ones sink further down as they don't get the same exposure.

I'm surprised to see FriendsElectric so high though ;).

--
If you have a problem, please search before posting a question.

Dries’s picture

One important observation is that the image module (#2), gallery module (#5), img_assist module (#10) and album module (#18) all rank in the top-20. Looks like people are looking for better/good image handling ... do we need to improve image handling in core? Are all these modules using the Drupal 4.6 image toolkit?

paranojik’s picture

I sure think this should be improved a bit. Bulk uploading would come in handy when creating albums (using PhpConcept Library - Zip Module http://www.phpconcept.net like limbo does- I'm thinking of writing an API module to support it.) Another problem is attaching images into posts. The img_assist module/Tiny_mce combination is good way to go, but unfortunatelly img_assist doesn't work as it should (broken javascript or something). I like the way this was solved with htmlarea (a htmlarea plugin).

matt westgate’s picture

If img_assist is not working for you, please file a bug report.

geokker’s picture

Yes paranojik. I think the image and wysiwyg modules should be cleaned up and linked together into a comprehensive 'web publishing' function (which needn't be in core). I want to give a user a login and he starts creating rich, html pages with links and images without:

a) it crashing
b) having to navigate away from the page
c) having to know html or anything additional to basic Word-style formatting

In my experience, no product offers this slickly. It's always a chore to create a page with fresh-off-the-desktop images. Drupal would paddle bottom if users could do this intuitively.

I always get flack when I talk like this about wysiwyg-ness and Drupal. Weirdly.

recidive’s picture

There is a simple module that tries to do this job. Can you help me with this?

Henrique Recidive
http://www.sacrahome.net

Henrique Recidive

robertDouglass’s picture

I opened this issue yesterday and was disappointed to see that it didn't get sent to the devel-list (I don't understand what criteria make a drupal issue go to the devel list).

http://drupal.org/node/25685

- Robert Douglass

-----
If this helped you, please take the time to rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/

www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

We could consider moving image.module to core. It provides simple gallery support while not being too fancy.
--
Drupal services
My Drupal services

bertboerland’s picture

"while not being too fancy"

is this the criterium if somethimg makes it to core? :-)

--
groets
bertb

--
groets
bert boerland

killes@www.drop.org’s picture

Yes, IMHO it does. Too specialized solutions that aren't often required should stay outside of core.
--
Drupal services
My Drupal services

Chris Johnson’s picture

Improving our image handling will make Drupal much more successful. The web is a multi-media place now. Text-only is rapidly shrinking. I'm glad that several folks have recently put effort into better image handling.

I note also that the event module is the 4th ranked module. Thankfully it has had some recent love. Clearly there is a demand for scheduling and date handling among Drupal sites.

Ludwig’s picture

I seem to be spending half my time looking for a gallery implemetation that works well.
I don't much like any of the offerings.
Acidfree looks good but I can't get it to work. (Will keep trying)
If only someone would integrate LINPHA into Drupal:-)

Dries’s picture

For your information, PHPTemplate is the de facto theme engine in the development version of Drupal. That is, Drupal 4.7 will ship with PHPTemplate. Looks like this was a good move.

scriptnews’s picture

I fell that the PHPTemplate offer the best options to incorporate at user level other snippets and scripts or even full fledged solutions in the look and feel of a Drupal powered website.

It just brings - or should bring - the power of PHP into Your publications, even without interfering with those tools and modules, which might be used.

Just a cent, though ...

Regards

Roland
ScriptNews
http://centroamerica.tv/ *)

*) No Drupal yet - but in the testing
at http://centroamerica.tv/newsdesk/

capmex’s picture

Since I started using drupal I found phptemplate the most flexible and complete theme solution.
--
Webmaster Resources for Business Websites

Zach Harkey’s picture

I would love to see this list live in a block on the downloads page.

-zach


harkey design

: z

kbahey’s picture

I knew that Feedback was popular. I wrote it to have a way for visitors to contact me without publishing my email address (for spam and privacy).

I did not think it would be among the top 20 though.

The amazing part is, in 4.6, there is a built in contact module in core, which has much of feedback's functionality, but not quite.

Can we know if this trend has slowed down or picked up since 4.6 was released?

--
Consulting: 2bits.com
Personal: Baheyeldin.com

--
Drupal performance tuning and optimization, hosting, development, and consulting: 2bits.com, Inc. and Twitter at: @2bits
Personal blog: Ba

mikeryan’s picture

I would love to see this incorporated into the project module, with the download rate visible on the project listings (when looking for modules to address a specific issue, it's helpful to start with the ones that spark the most interest among other Drupal administrators).

Actually, it would be great if by default (allowing administrators to disable it, of course), the enabling/disabling of contributed modules could be reported back to drupal.org, to give a rough idea of which modules (in which versions) are actually used in production. The information would help guide administrators in choosing what modules to investigate for their own sites, as well as giving some concrete evidence on what functionality would be worth incorporating into core (image looks like an excellent candidate, and I personally would love to see flexinode and event make it as well).

Mike
Fenway Views

robertDouglass’s picture

A survey at Drupal.org might achieve the same thing and be less work. Would be interesting information, though.

- Robert Douglass

-----
If this helped you, please take the time to rate the value of this post: http://rate.affero.net/robertDouglass/

www.hornroller.com, www.robshouse.net

tidalx3’s picture

so many image modules but none of them provide the basic upload and publish flow. All of them seem to require the user to input some tags or navigate away from the content publishing flow to include images.

Its either:
1 input images first,
2 create text content
3 then select image from uploaded area.
4 publish

Or
1 input text context,
2 upload image,
3 input tag within text content
4 publish

The most logical and simplest should be:
1 input text content
2 upload image(straight from the user's computer)
3 publish.

matt westgate’s picture

All of the [image modules] seem to require the user to input some tags or navigate away from the content publishing flow to include images.

Img_assist let's you upload and insert an image without leaving the node creation form or needing to know special tags to add to the body of your content.

tidalx3’s picture

But it can be made simpler.
Most users just want to upload their own image straight from the computer. That would just confuse them because they still have to

1 input text content
2 press add image link (then get overwhelmed by all the options), press add image again to add image which have to first go to an uploaded area.
3 then select the image from the uploaded area
4 publish

matt westgate’s picture

I'm interested in continuing this discussion in another forum topic with you, or just file feature requests. I've been discussing the workflow of img_assist with a couple other developers who have given some great advice. I just need a little time to turn it into code.

geokker’s picture

Please create a forum for this. A simple, intuitive workflow for normal users to create multimedia webpages is the Holy Grail of CMS in my humble opinion. Drupal is the closest. Push! Push!

thatmtnman’s picture

I want to add my voice to the call for a better image/mulitmedia tool.

Here is my wish list:
be able to browse directly to an image as you create content, and from the content creation page
be able to add a caption
be able to adjust the text stand off
be able to postion the image so that text can flow around the image
be able to select the alignment of the image in the text block...for example left align the image, and text flows to the right.
be able to have a thumbnail/main image set up like the big boys
be able to set image size specs for the content so that you do not have to manually resize the image before using it (could do with some presets for example).
Allow for flash and other MM content to be uploaded

Good image handling allows for newpaper like sites, product sites, travel type sites, marketing sites, as well as great public service sites. We really really need something like this! Please please please with sugar on it! :>

cheers

Frank

chall3ng3r’s picture

or may be this would be a better idea for images,

if i attach an image to any node or textnodes (page/story/forums topic/etc) the attachment should display an link next to its name. when user clicks it, it should add the inline img tags at current cursor location.

or there cloud be an option to display all images attached to the node at the end of the contents os the node. clicking any thumbnail should open a new toolbar-less window with the full preview of the image.

i'm sure you guys will find it most simplest and easy way to add images nodes.

// chall3ng3r //

Zach Harkey’s picture

This should be a separate topic.

: z

gordon’s picture

Great list, But can you split this up into modules, themes and theme engines which will give alot more meaning. Easier to compare apples with apples.
--
Gordon Heydon
Heydon Consulting

--
Gordon Heydon

iraszl’s picture

Time to move phptemplate to core I guess. :)

---
http://creativebits.org

iraszl’s picture

This reminds me, it would be cool to have a Drupal core downloads counter, like they have for FF.

---
http://creativebits.org

kbahey’s picture

I agree that this is a good idea.

It would also be a good idea to add votes/ratings for each module, so users can rate it. This can use one of 3 available modules (nmoderation, nodevote, votes).

--
Drupal Customization and Development consulting: 2bits.com
Personal webite: Baheyeldin.com

--
Drupal performance tuning and optimization, hosting, development, and consulting: 2bits.com, Inc. and Twitter at: @2bits
Personal blog: Ba

Dublin Drupaller’s picture

Totally agree...

great idea

would be good to have a comments system with modules as well...seperate from the issues.

Pity there isn't a rating system for scoring support forum posts....it might speed up the search on drupal.org which is getting increasingly sluggish.

Dub

Currently in Switzerland working as an Application Developer with UBS Investment Bank...using Drupal 7 and lots of swiss chocolate

jjeff’s picture

It would be really great if users could get some idea of the popularity of a module on its project page.

Possible options are:
- a raw download counter
- a 'downloads in the past 30 days' counter
- an iconic "Top 10% Module" banner or bold text
- a 'popularity' rank such as "#15 of 85 modules"
- - overall popularity
- - in the past 30 days
- comments on modules (labelled 'not for tech support!')
- a module-rating system

This would help new (and many experienced) Drupal users to get a quick idea of the popularity and importance of certain modules. I know it took me several months to discover Flexinode, for example. Any sort of comments, ratings, or statistics would have shouted, "Hey! This one is worth checking out!"

It would also provide some feedback to developers that could fuel enthusiasm and competition. I don't know about other developers, but I enjoy an ego boost every now and then. :-)

It would also be great if modules/themes could be sorted by popularity/downloads/whatever.

--= Jeff Robbins | www.jjeff.com =--

Robert Castelo’s picture

I'd prefer to know what modules are in use rather than just download statistics....

http://drupal.org/node/21277

[MegaGrunt]

------------------------------------------
Drupal Specialists: Consulting, Development & Training

Robert Castelo, CTO
Code Positive
London, United Kingdom
----

m3avrck’s picture

I think the best approach would be to list the development activity on each module.

For example, at least showing modules recently updates would be an easy first start.

Then after that, comparing modules and generating some sort of SourceForge like activity monitor ... based on how many updates/patches/etc are submitted, fixed, etc for each module. That would be really useful, show which modules are actively being developed verse modules that might have just been submitted as simple hacks but really aren't being developed, expanded, etc.

jeforma’s picture

yes i totally agree to that, and also indicating all the new modules with a new or something to tell us that they are new or got updated somehow...

fngatia’s picture

This forum/conversation is too old. It doesn't make sense in 2017 or later. Be careful when you read it, it was posted in 2005, 12years ago, alot has changed.

mrgoodfellow’s picture

13 years ago????? Can we get an updated list?

Phrae’s picture

You can sort by "Most Installed" at:

https://www.drupal.org/project/project_module

bertboerland’s picture

default is it sorted by most installed https://www.drupal.org/project/project_module

--
groets
bert boerland