drupaltools Drupal Onboarding Guide
A step-by-step, opinionated checklist for Drupal rookies starting their journey.
Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/theodorosploumis/notes/refs/heads/master/drupal/start-drupal.md
Overview
This skill guides complete beginners through the foundational knowledge and setup required to become a Drupal developer.
Phase 1: Technical Prerequisites
Before touching Drupal, ensure you know these basics:
- PHP - The programming language Drupal is built on (php.net)
- MySQL - Primary database used by Drupal (mysql.com)
- Composer - PHP dependency manager (getcomposer.org)
- Git - Version control system (git-scm.com)
- CLI - Comfortable using command-line interfaces (Wikipedia)
- Markdown - Documentation format (Wikipedia)
- YAML - Configuration file format used extensively in Drupal (Wikipedia)
- IDE - Integrated Development Environment (PhpStorm recommended, or VSCode)
Phase 2: Drupal Fundamentals
Core Drupal concepts and tools:
- Drupal.org navigation - Understand project versions, issue queues, and contribution workflow
- Drush - Drupal's command-line tool for administration and development
- Drupal installation - Can install Drupal 9.x+ using modern tools (recommend DDEV from drupaltools.com)
- Admin UI - Enable/disable modules, configure settings through the web interface
Phase 3: Local Development Environment
Complete your machine setup:
- Developer tools - Install all required software following the Drupal Developer Setup checklist
- Local server - Working local environment (Apache/Nginx, PHP, MySQL/PostgreSQL)
- Debugging tools - Xdebug, IDE configuration for breakpoints
Phase 4: Community Engagement
Join the Drupal ecosystem:
- Drupal.org account - Create account at drupal.org
- Drupal Slack - Join drupal.slack.com for real-time community chat
- Drupal StackExchange - Account at drupal.stackexchange.com for Q&A
- Local community - Find and join your local Drupal user group at drupal.org/community
- Scholarship program - Learn about the Discover Drupal scholarship for career changers and underrepresented groups
Learning Resources
Getting Started
- How to Become a Drupal Developer - Drupalize.me, 2021
- Drupal.org - Overview of Drupal
- Drupal Lessons - Structured learning path
Recommended Next Steps
After completing this checklist:
- Build a simple "Hello World" custom module
- Create a content type and view
- Contribute to an issue on Drupal.org (documentation, testing, or code)
- Attend a local Drupal camp or meetup
Using This Skill
When a user says they're new to Drupal or asks how to get started:
- Assess their background - Do they know PHP/Git/Composer already?
- Guide through phases - Start with Phase 1 basics, don't skip prerequisites
- Recommend DDEV - For local setup, emphasize DDEV as the easiest path
- Encourage community - Drupal has a welcoming community; joining accelerates learning
- Point to resources - Share the official docs and community spaces
Ready to start your journey with Drupal!