Our Media Management work features in Driesnote Drupal CMS demo
Next week will see the eagerly anticipated launch of Drupal CMS. We're proud of the role that Annertechies have played in the creation of this new product, especially the work done on the way media is managed.
Drupal CMS is such an exciting addition to Drupal, and we are so excited about its launch on 15 January 2025. It will combine Drupal’s powerful capabilities with out-of-the-box configuration and features so people who previously may have been intimidated by its developer-focused interface can get up and running rapidly.
At DrupalCon Asia in Singapore, Drupal’s project lead Dries Buytaert’s much-anticipated “Driesnote“– which gives an update on the Drupal project – was a jaw-dropping acknowledgement of how quickly the low-code, easy-to-use version of Drupal has come along.
Among the highlights of Dries’s talk was a demonstration video by Tony Barker, Frontend Specialist at Annertech and the Drupal CMS Media Management Track Lead, that showcased some of the features curated in media management.
The media management initiative focuses on empowering marketers and editors by providing tools to present media assets – such as documents, images, and videos – in their best light. It aims to reduce friction in the editing experience, ensure media performs well across various metrics like page speed, accessibility and SEO and streamline workflows within Drupal CMS.
Enhanced media management
Tony's demo highlighted several key features and functionalities:
Comprehensive configuration
The media management recipes include over 150 pre-configured settings, actions, and tools derived from Drupal core and key contributed modules. These are designed to address the diverse needs of editors and marketers.
Simplified media upload and management
Users can easily upload media files directly into content using CKEditor without leaving the editing page. The media library offers robust search and filtering capabilities to find existing media assets efficiently.
Advanced image handling
With the Focal Point module, editors can define the primary subject of an image, ensuring it remains visible across various crops. The inclusion of responsive image styles allows editors to select predefined aspect ratios and sizes, such as "square medium," ensuring the media looks great on any device.
Editors can override alt text dynamically to ensure accessibility and context remain intact, even when an image is cropped.
Remote video enhancements
Remote video media types now support resizing options (small, medium, large) that maintain the original aspect ratio, offering flexibility while ensuring aesthetic consistency. Integration with privacy preferences ensures videos from third-party providers are blocked until user consent is granted, reflecting efforts to prioritise user trust and compliance.
Responsive design and accessibility
Optimised responsive image styles and media view modes ensure that media is rendered beautifully and performs well across all devices. Accessibility improvements like dynamic alt text updates align with Drupal CMS's broader goals of inclusivity.
The future of Drupal CMS
The first iteration of media management recipes were recently merged into Drupal CMS as part of preparations for the release of Drupal CMS 1.0 next week.
Other features demonstrated in the Driesnote include
- AI agents to help build out features,
- enhanced search functionality, privacy and consent features,
- accessibility tools that offer real time feedback,
- analytics tools that configure analytics and tag manager and
- the giant leap forward in content editing that is Experience Builder
With each new feature and enhancement, Drupal CMS becomes an even more powerful tool for storytellers and marketers to connect with their audiences effectively.
It’s been such an experience being part of the team that’s helping create this new product, and we can’t wait to see the final product.
Want to know more about Drupal CMS?
For a closer look at Tony Barker’s presentation and the progress of the Media Management track, you can watch the keynote here.
Alison Visser Head of Content
After more than two decades in journalism, Alison now collaborates with Annertech's clients to ensure that their content is the best it possibly can be.
