Complex Drupal 7 to Drupal 10 Migration

Introduction:

Background: The client, a prominent organization with a well-established online presence, had been running a Drupal 7 website for several years. With the end of Drupal 7 support approaching, they recognized the need to upgrade to Drupal 10 for security, performance, and feature enhancements.

Challenges:

  1. Outdated Modules and Themes:
    • The Drupal 7 site heavily relied on contributed modules and custom themes that needed updating or replacement for Drupal 10 compatibility.
  2. Data Structure and Content Migration:
    • The content structure and data architecture in Drupal 7 were different from Drupal 10. A comprehensive strategy was required for a smooth migration of content and data.
  3. Custom Code Refactoring:
    • The site had a significant amount of custom code written in Drupal 7, which needed refactoring to adhere to the coding standards and changes in Drupal 10.
  4. Third-party Integrations:
    • The site integrated with several third-party services and APIs. Ensuring seamless integration with these services in the new Drupal 10 environment was crucial.

Migration Process:

  1. Assessment and Planning:
    • Conducted a thorough audit of the existing Drupal 7 site to identify modules, themes, and custom functionalities that required updates or replacement.
    • Developed a detailed migration plan, outlining the steps, dependencies, and timelines.
  2. Codebase and Module Updates:
    • Updated or replaced deprecated modules and themes with Drupal 10-compatible alternatives.
    • Refactored custom code to adhere to Drupal 10 coding standards.
  3. Data Migration:
    • Designed and implemented a strategy for migrating content types, taxonomies, and other data structures from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10.
    • Utilized migration scripts and tools to automate the data migration process.
  4. Configuration and Settings:
    • Transferred site configurations, settings, and permissions from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10.
    • Ensured consistency in configuration between the two versions.
  5. Theme and Frontend Upgrades:
    • Upgraded or redesigned the theme to be compatible with Drupal 10.
    • Ensured responsive design and optimal user experience on various devices.
  6. Quality Assurance:
    • Conducted extensive testing, including functional testing, regression testing, and performance testing.
    • Addressed issues related to data integrity, functionality, and user experience.
  7. Deployment:
    • Executed a seamless deployment plan, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth transition from Drupal 7 to Drupal 10.

Results and Benefits:

  1. Improved Performance and Security:
    • The migration to Drupal 10 resulted in improved site performance and security, leveraging the latest features and advancements.
  2. Enhanced User Experience:
    • The redesigned theme and updated frontend contributed to an enhanced user experience across devices.
  3. Future-ready Platform:
    • The client now operates on a Drupal 10 platform, ensuring long-term support, stability, and compatibility with future Drupal releases.
  4. Streamlined Development Workflow:
    • The migration process included adopting modern development practices, contributing to a more streamlined and maintainable codebase.

Conclusion:

The successful migration of the complex Drupal 7 site to Drupal 10 not only addressed immediate concerns regarding end-of-life support but also positioned the client for ongoing success with a modern, secure, and feature-rich web platform. The case study highlights the importance of meticulous planning, codebase analysis, and testing in ensuring a smooth and successful migration process.