drupalplanet

I often find myself describing the digital domain to people who don't live and breathe it like I do. It's an intangible thing, and many of the concepts are coded in jargon. It doesn't help that every technology tool set uses it's own specific language, sometimes using the same words for very different things, or different words for the same things. What's a page? A widget? A layout? A template? A module, plugin or extension? It varies. The answer "depends".

Analogies can be a helpful communication tool to get the message across, and get everyone thinking in parallel.

I've given a "Constructive Conflict Resolution" talk twice now. First at DrupalCon Amsterdam, and again at DrupalCon Los Angeles. It's something I've been thinking about since joining the Drupal community working group a couple of years ago. I'm giving the talk again at OSCON in a couple of weeks. But this time, it will be different. Very different. Here's why.

I wrote this as a comment in response to Dries' post about the Acquia certification program - I thought I'd share it here too. I've commented there before.

I've also been conflicted about certifications. I still am. And this is because I fully appreciate the pros and cons. The more I've followed the issue, the more conflicted I've become about it.

My current stand, is this. Certifications are a necessary evil. Let me say a little on why that is.

I did another video the other day. This time I've got a D7 and D8 install open side by side, and compare the process of adding an article.

I'm speaking at DrupalCon Los Angeles. 5pm, Tuesday 12 May in the 518 - Trellon room.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghzp7nWccwQ

Slides: https://www.slideshare.net/kattekrab/constructive-conflict-resolution-slides

PSA: If you are a web professional, work in a digital agency or build mobile apps, please read this article now: Taking the social model of disability online

Done? Great.

"The social model of disability reframes discussion of disability as a problem of the world, rather than of the individual. The stairs at the train station are the problem, rather than using a wheelchair."

UPDATE 21 March 2015: I cancelled the chook raffle in favour of a bigger better crowdfunding initiative by the whole board of the DrupalAssocation. We are using crowdrise.

And in honour of the humble chookraffle - Everyone who donates over $100 via my page still wins a customised digital chicken badge with their name on it!

http://kknet.nl/D8accelerate

update: republishing with some notes from  Peter Wolanin , who has been working directly on the issues that caused me dive in here in the first place. Many thanks Peter for the clarifications and corrections!

The number of critical issues holding up the release of Drupal 8 is now in the 50s. When will it be released? When it's ready. In the meantime there are some great opportunities around to start to get up to speed on what Drupal 8 is all about. Not least of which are 7 sessions at DrupalSouth in Melbourne next month.

Check them out:

First up, our keynote by Angela "webchick" Byron: Drupal 8: What you need to know

Accessibility matters. For everyone. For those of us who build the web, and for those who use it too. All of us.

Here's some great resources that caught my attention in recent days.