I’m Gaurav, and I’ve been contributing to the Drupal community since 2020. This year marked a major milestone in my journey—I attended my first-ever in-person DrupalCon, hosted in the historic and culturally rich city of Nara, Japan, in 2025. It was everything I had imagined and more.
I am incredibly grateful to the Drupal Association for the scholarship that made my participation possible, and to Digital Polygon for sponsoring my trip. Your support not only enabled me to attend but also encouraged me to deepen my contribution to the global Drupal ecosystem.
A week of learning, inspiration, and innovation
Walking into DrupalCon for the first time was an overwhelming yet deeply motivating experience. Being surrounded by hundreds of open-source enthusiasts, developers, designers, strategists, and community leaders felt energizing. It was a reminder of the scale and impact of the Drupal ecosystem that we contribute to every day.
One of the highlights was attending the sessions throughout the event. I especially enjoyed Dries Buytaert’s Q&A, where he shared insights into the future of Drupal, the evolution of the open web, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Hearing directly from the project founder always brings clarity and direction.
The session that stood out most for me was by Lauri Timmanee, who presented the current state of Drupal Canvas. The showcased features were not only innovative but also deeply aligned with the direction modern CMS users expect today—visual, flexible, and developer-friendly. I had the opportunity to meet Lauri afterward, and we had a great conversation about integrating React and JavaScript components into the evolving Canvas ecosystem. Those insights alone sparked several ideas I’m eager to experiment with in our own WebOps projects.
A moment of recognition that meant the world
Another unforgettable part of my DrupalCon experience was meeting people throughout the event and introducing myself. Each time I said, “Hi, I’m Gaurav,” I was taken aback by the responses I received. More than a few people smiled and said, “Oh, you’re that Gaurav—the one who contributes a lot to Drupal open source!”
Hearing that was an incredibly humbling and heartwarming moment. It’s one thing to quietly contribute behind a laptop, but it’s another to see that your work has made an impact and is recognized by the community you admire. Those interactions made me feel even more connected to Drupal and reinforced why I love being part of this ecosystem.
Come for the software, stay for the community
While the sessions were informative, what truly makes DrupalCon special is the community. The people, the shared passion, the open conversations, and the willingness to help each other—these are what make Drupal more than just software.
Throughout the week, I connected with contributors from around the world—some new faces, some familiar from online interactions over the years. The sense of belonging and collaboration made the entire experience memorable.
Contribution Day: Ending on the best note
The final day of DrupalCon is always dedicated to Contribution Day, and participating in it was one of the most fulfilling moments of the event for me. There’s something powerful about sitting together with contributors—beginners and experts alike—working side by side to improve Drupal.
Whether it was reviewing issues, discussing approaches, or writing small patches, the environment was filled with enthusiasm and shared purpose. It was a clear reminder of why the phrase “Come for the software, stay for the community” resonates so deeply.
Moving forward
Returning from Nara, I’m carrying a renewed sense of motivation and appreciation for the Drupal project. DrupalCon 2025 not only expanded my knowledge but also strengthened my commitment to contributing and giving back. This is critical as we continually develop scalable digital ecosystems for our clients.
A huge thank you again to the Drupal Association and Digital Polygon for making this unforgettable experience possible. I look forward to applying what I learned, sharing insights with my team, and continuing to grow within this amazing community.
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