Back from DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: A Milestone Moment for OpenSense Labs

“Fit. Fast. Built to Last.” That wasn’t just a tagline, it was the mindset we brought to DrupalCon Atlanta 2025. And judging by the energy on the ground, the Drupal community was ready to match that momentum.

From impromptu hallway debates to packed sessions on AI’s role in Drupal, this year’s conference wasn’t business as usual. It felt like a turning point—for the community, for the platform, and for those of us building the tools that power the future of the web.

Held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta from March 24–27, DrupalCon brought together thousands of developers, strategists, and leaders to shape the future of the web. And for OpenSense Labs, it marked a big leap forward—not only for our products but for our purpose.

In this recap, we break down:

1. What we unveiled (hint: DrupalFit and RAIL made waves),

2. What we learned (from the keynote to BoFs), and

3. Why 2025 might be Drupal’s most important year yet.

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Let’s dive in!

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: Day 1 Community and Foundations

Before the official start of DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, a pre-DrupalCon meetup was held on Sunday, focusing on the intersection of Drupal and AI. Our team participated in this insightful gathering, where our CEO, Pritam Prasun, engaged in meaningful conversations with James Abrahams and Vincenzo Gambino.

The first day kicked off with inspiring keynote speeches from industry leaders who shared their visions for the future of web development and Drupal’s role in that evolving landscape. A strong emphasis was placed on community engagement, especially in fostering inclusivity and collaboration within the Drupal community.

Attendees actively took part in hands-on workshops, ranging from basic Drupal site building to advanced theming techniques. These sessions were thoughtfully designed to cater to all skill levels, ensuring that every participant walked away with something valuable.

The main topics at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 were Drupal CMS and AI. Along with the continuous improvements in Drupal core, there was evident progress in enhancing the Recipes system and establishing strategic plans for Drupal’s connection with the AI ecosystem.

“After a packed week at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, I’m taking a moment to reflect, and honestly, it’s hard to put into words how energizing the experience was. This was my third time attending DrupalCon, and while each one has been special, this year felt like a turning point—not just for me, but for our team.” — Pritam Prasun, CEO, OpenSense Labs 

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DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: Day 2 What Happened Across the Hallways

The second day focused on innovation, showcasing the latest tools and technologies that shape the Drupal ecosystem.

Product Demos: Various companies presented their products and services, highlighting how they integrate with Drupal. This was a great opportunity for attendees to see real-world applications and ask questions directly to the developers.

Panel Discussions: Engaging panel discussions tackled pressing issues such as security, performance optimization, and the future of content management systems. These conversations sparked lively debates and provided insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the community.

Sessions: The sessions covered a range of topics, from actionable tips for refining content management workflows to in-depth discussions on privacy, AI, and open-source governance, along with UI design strategies and production applications. Every session was packed with valuable lessons for developers, marketers, and site builders.

All around the hall, people were preparing their booths, aiming to connect with the community by displaying everything from merchandise to various products. Our team also focused on establishing our booth and connecting with the Drupal community.

While the community spirit is always a highlight, our focus this year was clear: drive impact through innovation.

1. Introduce DrupalFit, our new 360-degree Drupal site audit tool, to a wider audience.

DrupalFit drew attention from both technical and non-technical attendees for its holistic audit capabilities. It’s more than a technical audit tool. It’s a performance, accessibility, and security compass for site owners who want clarity on where they stand.

Our team ran live audits at our booth, and the response was overwhelming. Site owners appreciated the simplicity, while developers dug into the details. It was one of those moments where we realized we weren’t just “building a tool.” We were solving a real problem that’s been quietly bothering people for years. 

2. Kick off Responsible AI Labs (RAIL), our initiative focused on building ethical, transparent, and accountable AI systems.

RAIL was our boldest bet, and we’re glad that we took it. At a time when everyone’s chasing the latest AI models, our team was asking a different question: Can we trust what we build?

Our team showcased RAIL as a framework to help organizations measure the reliability, fairness, and transparency of their AI solutions. Think: audit mechanisms, scorecards, bias detection—and above all, a mindset shift.

The reception was beyond encouraging. Conversations at our booth turned into deep discussions about governance, ethical frameworks, and how Drupal (and open source in general) can lead the charge in responsible AI adoption.

3. Expand Agency++, a flexible partnership model that helps agencies scale their development teams with minimal friction.

Agency++ continued to resonate with growing agencies. The model is simple: We plug into your team when you need us, and step back when you don’t. No bloated retainers. No long-term lock-ins.

As more agencies face talent crunches and unpredictable demand cycles, this kind of flexible engagement is exactly what’s needed. Our team met several potential partners who are now exploring ways to scale their delivery without scaling their overhead.

Each of these is rooted in something bigger: our belief that the future of digital experiences depends on speed, trust, accessibility, and increasingly, responsibility.

Apart from all this, Dries took the stage not only to give the keynote speech but also to roll out the three-year strategic plan for Drupal CMS.

Concluding that 2025 is poised to be a significant year for innovation in Drupal, featuring advancements in marketing tools, AI frameworks, Experience Builder, and Site Templates. As of now, the Marketplace idea is still under consideration. Additionally, exciting news: DrupalCon North America 2026 is set to take place in Chicago!

DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: Day 3 Beyond the Booths

Day 3 at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 was buzzing with excitement. The atmosphere remains electric, filled with engaging sessions and lively community interactions. A couple of standout moments included two thought-provoking Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions led by our CEO, Pritam Prasun, and Engineering Manager Pritish Kumar, which ignited meaningful discussions and offered valuable insights.

LMS Dreams with Drupal: Is It Possible or Problematic? Presented by Pritam Prasun. This session examined Drupal’s capabilities as an LMS platform, discussing its advantages, challenges, and practical applications. It encouraged sharing thoughts and experiences from e-learning professionals and those passionate about higher education.

Beyond Static Pages: Crafting Context-Aware Listings with Decoupled Drupal Presented by Pritish Kumar, with decoupled architectures gaining traction, this session was focused on creating dynamic, interactive listings using React alongside search technologies like Elasticsearch or Type Sense—moving past conventional Drupal APIs to enhance content delivery.
 
After an entire day of insightful learning, we embraced the spirit of DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 at Skyline Park, located atop THE ROOF in Ponce City!

We concluded the week with an incredible evening featuring signature cocktails, artisanal drinks, live music, and vibrant networking, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the city. This event welcomed all DrupalCon participants and members of the local Drupal community.

“DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 was Beyond the Booths…

Of course, DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 is more than booths and business cards.

It’s where I had serendipitous hallway chats that led to unexpected ideas. I saw old friends from previous years and made new ones. Where talks about code turned into talks about culture, sustainability, and what it means to 'do tech right.'

There’s a sense of belonging at DrupalCon that’s hard to describe—but deeply felt. It’s a reminder that open source is not just software; it’s a people movement.” - Pritam Prasun

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DrupalCon Atlanta 2025: Day 4 The Contribution Day

The essence of any open-source project lies in its contributions, and this is especially true for a large, diverse community like Drupal.

And here’s why it matters:

1. Learn from the best: The contribution day at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025 was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with and learn from some of the brightest minds in the community.

2. Meet your remote team IRL: For teams that usually work together from different locations, it’s a unique chance to meet and collaborate in person.

3. Accelerate progress: Developers and reviewers work side by side, leading to immediate feedback and faster iteration.

For Drupal, these contribution days are a valuable opportunity to enhance progress on important matters, enabling developers and reviewers to work closely and receive immediate feedback.

The idea of contribution day involves selecting an issue that has been addressed by someone who is contributing to the core for the first time. There’s a ceremonial aspect when their work is merged into Drupal core, celebrating the significance of contributions from developers of all skill levels and the potential for newcomers to enhance the experience for all Drupal users.

Ultimately, each person’s experience during DrupalCon’s well-known contribution days is unique, influenced by their chosen focus and the individuals they collaborate with on similar projects.

Our team came back from Atlanta with more than leads and feedback. They came back with clarity: that what we’re building, DrupalFit, RAIL, Agency++, isn’t just technically sound. It’s timely. It’s needed. And it’s aligned with where the digital world is heading.

To everyone who dropped by our booth, gave feedback, asked questions, or simply shared a smile—thank you. Let’s keep the conversations going. Let’s keep building together.

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3. Free Learning Content Management System: Best 10 List For 2025

4. What Is A Content Management System: Top 10 CMS For 2025

Key Takeaways

1. Drupal CMS and AI were the prominent themes at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025.

2. Three key objectives of OpenSense Labs at DrupalCon Atlanta were that the future of digital experiences relies on speed, trust, accessibility, and a growing sense of responsibility.

3. 2025 is set to be an important year for innovation in Drupal, with improvements in marketing tools, AI frameworks, Experience Builder, and Site Templates.

4. Two engaging Birds of a Feather (BoF) sessions led by our team sparked important discussions and provided useful insights.

5. Contribution day is about choosing a problem that someone new to the core has worked on.