Drupal is a powerful and flexible open source framework for content management. As an open-source community-driven environment, Drupal has attracted mostly Linux and Macintosh programmers. Until now, that is.
Drupal 7 incorporates features that make it compatible with Windows servers and Windows development tools. The new version opens the doors for Windows developers to build Drupal sites, including custom modules, all without leaving Visual Studio. Many enterprises are in need of a secure, high-quality web solution that integrates seamlessly with their back-end systems. And many of these back-end systems are in enterprises and powered by Windows servers. Naturally, these organizations have developers who focus on Windows development tools. This book provides a bridge to Drupal for Windows developers by speaking their language.
It starts with the Drupal page model, which Windows programmers can contrast against the ASP.NET page model. The book then describes the various features of Drupal: the hook model, theming, roles, caching, and the data abstraction layer that lays the foundation for integration with enterprise-level databases and external systems.
'Pro Drupal 7 for Windows Developers' focuses on topics important for the programmer who is new to Drupal:
- Quick up-to-speed introduction to Drupal for developers so that they can get over that critical learning curve.
- A "just enough" introduction to the important features of Drupal, including the page model, the hook architecture, the theming layer, and custom module development.
- Step-by-step tutorials on building, testing, and deploying custom modules for internal use or for sharing with the Drupal community.
What you'll learn:
- How to install Drupal in your Windows development environment
- The Drupal page lifecycle and how it differs from ASP.NET
- How to invoke Visual Studio's step debugger with breakpoints
- The Drupal unit testing and web testing frameworks
- How to use Drupal with IIS and SQL Server
- How to program custom modules and customize existing modules
- The Drupal theming environment
This book is for .NET and ASP developers interested in integrating Drupal 7 into their current environment, and Drupal 7 developers who need to navigate the potential pitfalls of working with Windows back ends.
