Join us for the DrupalSouth 2023 Code Sprint in Wellington

As regular sponsors, we have tried and tested tips for getting involved and getting the most out of the DrupalSouth Code Sprint. It's a fantastic day of collaboration and contribution you won't want to miss!

by kim.pepper /

We’re excited to be running and sponsoring the Code Sprint again, this time at DrupalSouth 2023. 

We’re hoping to see you there too - either in-person or virtually!

It’s a chance for as many of us as possible to get together, work, and learn–all while contributing to the Drupal open-source project and community. 

There are many compelling reasons for individuals and businesses to contribute. 

An event of this nature adds an extra layer of possibility to what can be achieved–and it’s a lot of fun too!

When will the Code Sprint take place?

This year’s Sprint will take place on Friday, 19th May 2023, from 9 am to 3 pm (NZST). 

More details are available on the DrupalSouth registration form.

How do I register?

When you book your DrupalSouth ticket, you can also register for the Code Sprint. 

Attendance is free and open to all levels of experience.

The Sprint is always highly popular and regularly oversubscribed (last year in Brisbane was no exception), so please register early to avoid disappointment! 

Remote participants

Are you unable to attend in person? Join us remotely from wherever you are! 

Let us know if you'll be taking part, via the Slack channel (details below under Communication). Information for connecting via Zoom on the day will also be shared on Slack prior to the event. 

What is a Sprint, and why is it important?

Drupal is open-source, meaning it relies on organisations and individuals contributing to keep it moving forward and improving. A sprint is a focused effort, in this case, a day, where we can progress things and see tangible results.

Drupal contribution demonstrates your individual or organisational expertise, ensuring you gain recognition for your work. Participating in the Sprint is a great way to build your contribution levels for the Certified Partner Program. It’s also an opportunity to be mentored by other developers.

New to Drupal Sprints? Below are recorded sessions from the 2021 sprint that will help you prepare for the day.

Sprints are an excellent opportunity to put a face to a name and discuss common interests. Groups are loosely arranged by topic. e.g. Bug Smash, Media, Drupal 10 porting. Find a group working on an area you’re interested in and introduce yourself! 

Chatting directly with fellow contributors is a great opportunity to have discussions and put forward ideas. Don't feel like you need to come away from the day having completed lines and lines of code.

Communication 

We'll use #drupalsouth-code-sprint in Drupal Slack as the primary communication channel for the Sprint. 

For most of the day, we’ll use Slack threads to keep track of sprint topics and reduce the noise in the main channel.

If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to sign up and join the Australian / New Zealand Drupal community in Slack. Follow the instructions for how to join. 

Who can contribute and how?

Sprint day is for everyone, not just developers! Contribution comes in many forms. See the list of contributor tasks if you’re looking for different ways to contribute to this fantastic project. 

Find issues to work on

Looking for an interesting issue to work on? Head to the Drupal.org Issue Queue and look for issues tagged with 'DrupalSouth'. These are issues that others have tagged.

You can also tag an issue to add to the list.

Set up a development environment

There’s more than one way to shear a sheep and many ways to set up a local development environment for working on Drupal!

If you still need to get a local development environment setup, we recommend using Docker Compose for local development. Follow the instructions for installing Docker Compose on OSX, Windows and Linux.

If you don't already have a local development environment for Drupal contribution, a handy starter project can be set up using the following:

composer create-project mstrelan/drupal-contrib

See the README.md for more details. 

If you have any issues, join us on Drupal Slack in the #drupalsouth-code-sprint channel beforehand, and we'll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Install dreditor browser extension

Dreditor is a browser extension that makes it easier to review patches on Drupal.org. It's a must for anyone contributing to Drupal.

There are versions for Firefox and Chrome.

Code of conduct

The sprint day will abide by the DrupalSouth Code of Conduct to provide a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. 

Recap

Now you know everything you need for Sprint Day, it’s time to follow these steps:

  • Register (remember to get in fast!)
  • Watch the recorded sessions
  • Join the #drupalsouth-code-sprint Drupal Slack community
  • Check out the contributor tasks
  • Search for or tag interesting issues
  • Set up a development environment
  • Install the dreditor browser extension
  • Read the Code of Conduct

We can’t wait to see you there!

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