Using Drupal "Features" to Build and Deploy Sites

The Features module enables the capture and management of features in Drupal. A feature is a collection of Drupal entities which when taken together satisfy a certain use-case. This module provides an easy-to-use mechanism for converting site configurations such as views and taxonomies into code – which ultimately can be version controlled and deployed.

During this presentation, we will walk you through everything you need to know about working with the Features module through the Drupal user interface, including best practices with:

  • Creating a new feature and packaging site configuration data
  • Using Features with Drush
  • Deploying Features on different sites
  • Strategies for effectively organizing Features to avoid common pitfalls (circular dependencies)
  • Drupal 8 and Features – Configuration Management Initiative
Experience level: 
Beginner
Session Time Slot(s): 
Time: 
Sep 13 2014 - 12:00pm-Sep 13 2014 - 12:50pm
Room: 
168C
Allowed Types: 
Session
Session Track: 

Session Tracks (NERDSummit 2014)

Sessions Topics: 
DrupalCampMA
Speaker Bio(s): 
Dan Drapeau is a Consultant at NorthPoint Digital. He is an open source developer with a passion for emerging technologies and development tools. Prior to joining NorthPoint Digital, he specialized in applied machine learning and cyber security research and development. Dan received a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maine in 2007.

Comments

[email protected] replied on

Features is always mentioned as a primary staging tool; but I've had trouble using it as such. Can you find some time to discuss staging? Points of difficulty: -- Some modules do not subscribe to the methods necessary to allow Features to export configs. e.g.: pathauto How should one make note of which of those that do not conform (other than carefully combing)? -- Some modules need alternate settings (usually paths and/or debug/devel flags) when progressing from "devel" to "test" to "production." Can the Features module settings be modified on the fly. Perhaps by a drush script? Thank you.

kelly's picture kelly replied on

I've added notifications for when comment are left. This one has a discussion that would have benefitted from it.