Introduction
Dries Buytaert is the founder of the popular open source content management system (CMS) Drupal. He is a Belgian entrepreneur, computer scientist, and software engineer. He is also a co-founder of Acquia, a software company that provides tools and services for Drupal. In this interview, we chat with Dries about his experience founding and running Drupal, his current projects, and his thoughts on the future of open source development.
The Origins of Drupal
Dries began developing Drupal as a personal project back in 2001 while he was studying computer science in Belgium. He was motivated by a desire to create something that would make it easier for him to collaborate with his friends. What started as a simple bulletin board system has since grown into one of the most popular open source content management systems in the world.
The Growth of Drupal
Dries credits the growth of Drupal to its open source model. By allowing anyone to contribute to the project and make modifications, the development of the platform is accelerated. This also allows developers to tailor the CMS to their own needs, which is one of its major advantages over proprietary systems.
Drupal Today
Today, Drupal is used by some of the world's largest companies and organizations, including the White House, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum. It is also used by millions of small businesses and individuals for everything from blogs and portfolios to e-commerce websites. Drupal 8, the latest version of the platform, was released in 2015 and includes a variety of new features and improvements.
The Future of Open Source
When asked about the future of open source, Dries is optimistic. He believes that open source has reached a tipping point where more and more companies are recognizing the value of open source software and investing in it. He also believes that the open source model will become increasingly important for large corporations and government organizations who are looking for secure and reliable software solutions.
Advice for Open Source Developers
When asked for advice for open source developers, Dries emphasizes the importance of creating a community around your project. He believes that building a strong community is essential for the success of any open source project. He also recommends staying focused on what you are trying to accomplish and not getting distracted by the latest trends or technologies.
Conclusion
Dries Buytaert has been at the forefront of open source development for over 15 years. His experience founding and running Drupal, one of the most popular open source content management systems in the world, is a testament to his commitment to open source software. We are excited to see what the future holds for open source development and Dries' projects.
