2025-03-27

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: back to normal life (😭)

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: the Driesnote, the AI booth, Belgian beer graffiti, Makers vs Takers, the Drupal Marketplace idea, and why Drupal runs in Tesla cars and Icelandic greenhouses.

The Dropsolid booth at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 with four team members

DrupalCon Atlanta is over. A brief write-up.

The Dropsolid AI booth

The Dropsolid booth with Biscoff cookies and Belgian chocolates as European ambassador snacks

Many people tried the Dropsolid AI booth, which is Drupal-based (PWA), and it was fantastic to see the smiles. Check out my Hide the Pain Harold faceswap.

Atlanta

I wasn't outside much (the hotel was also the venue) but exploring the city was surprisingly nice. I stumbled upon some Belgian beer graffiti. You'll be able to taste that beer at the Drupal Developer Days in Leuven. The Georgia Institute of Technology campus and sports grounds are an amazing place to be, just a good vibe all around.

My highlights

Frederik selfie at the DrupalCon keynote with a packed auditorium and speaker on stage behind him

Dries Buytaert's Driesnote was my highlight of the entire conference.

Makers vs Takers: I loved how Dries emphasised giving makers more visibility. Dropsolid included.

The Marketplace: An idea I absolutely love. I would have used this so much in my early days. I hope Tiffany Farriss can make it a reality.

Do It With Drupal

James Abrahams and I were reminded of the incredible versatility of Drupal. Drupal is being used as a CRM, ERP, claims management system, digital signage, and sensor management for temperature, air quality, and energy. There are Drupal installations managing greenhouses in Iceland, farms in Australia, and entertainment systems in Tesla cars and airlines. Wind turbine monitoring. If you can think it, you can build it with Drupal.

On stage

Frederik presenting at a DrupalCon Atlanta session podium in blue blazer and Aloha shirt

Talking, talking, talking

Group selfie in front of the giant inflatable Drupal drop: Frederik, Jeroen, Mattias, Jeremy, plus two others

Meeting people from the US, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Canada. Seeing Jeremy Houchens and Jeroen Spitaels. Good conversations with Dr. Christoph Breidert, Baddy Sonja Breidert (1xINTERNET), Glenn Hilton (ImageX), and James Abrahams (FreelyGive). Maybe someday an international cooperation comes out of this.

Sadly Mattias Michaux was crushed by the Druplicon and we had to leave him behind.

The full herd

Full DrupalCon Atlanta group photo - hundreds of attendees in front of the giant Drupal drop

The contribution space

Buzzing. At some point I thought more chairs wouldn't hurt. The enthusiasm around the initiatives, and in particular AI, is energising. I only got one little issue fixed but was helping people the entire day.

What I came back with

New AI anecdotes, company improvement ideas, and personal ambitions. Not sharing all of these, because now I must go back to work. That mailbox really needs some love.

Special thanks to Dominique De Cooman for making this happen.