Requirements For Choosing A Drupal Developer

By Author: Lacey Grant
Total Articles: 5
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Drupal typically runs on Apache Linux servers and is Open Source. The codebase is always PHP and the Database is normally MYSQL. The Frontend code (as with other websites) will be in HTML(5), CSS(3) and Javascript.
It is important that a Drupal developer has a rounded knowledge of
* HTML(5)
* CSS(3)
* Jquery (easy to work with Javascript framework built into Drupal)
* Javascript
* PHP
* MYSQL

It is also essential that any Drupal developer has a working knowledge of other important factors:-
* Helper functions; ‘Helpers’ is a library, or toolbox, with lots of very useful functions to help build modules and sites more easily, faster and smarter. Because it is six modules in a single package; you only need to enable the parts that are needed.
* Knowledge of Ajax
* Knowledge of Drupal contributed modules
* Understanding of Drupal performance architecture (or your site will be slow)
* Understanding of security protocols

1) Drupal Helper Functions: Drupal comes with a series of helper functions and "hooks" which serve two main purposes.
i) ...
... They ensure new modules can be built without conflicts. It is possible to use Drupal as a base and ignore the inbuilt functions, using custom PHP alone, but what inevitably results is a 'car crash'.
ii) They dramatically speed up coding by avoiding re-inventing the wheel, and they ensure best practise, handling data securely.

If a developer is a PHP guru, but is not familiar with Drupal helper functions, they will not know all the Drupal helper functions they should be using. If they think they do not need to know these functions, because they can just write all their own code from scratch, this can cause significant problems in the future.

2) Knowledge of Ajax: Some developers specialise in backend or server side code (e.g. PHP), other developers specialise in Frontend code (HTML / CSS / Javascript). An Ajax developer can do both and connect the two together.
Why is this important? Imagine a scenario where there is a 'drag and drop' shopping cart, with a dynamic price and shipping calculator. The 'drag and drop' part would be coded in 'the Frontend' and the price calculator happens on the backend. The problem with backend code is that the entire page has to reload to execute, this is both ugly and more importantly, problematic, unless Ajax is used. By using Ajax, the developers frontend code can talk to the backend code without reloading the page; information is updated whilst the user looks at the screen. This gives a very slick user experience.

3) Drupal Contributed Modules: There are so many contributed modules that practical experience is very desirable. If in doubt, there is a 'most used' filter which can be selected during a search module search.

4) Drupal comes with Worldwide Community Support, who have contributed to documentation and hold events, forums and meetings; these often introduce innovation and new ideas.

Conclusion
Experienced drupal developers are in demand. A PHP guru who is also a developer and excels at writing code, might not be the ‘drupal developer' of choice. It is also important to have knowledge of helper functions, Ajax etc., and practical experience of the numerous contributed modules.

The author Dave Hudson, is a Drupal developer and has written numerous articles on HTML5, Drupal Web Design, What is Drupal for Beginners and What Is Drupal Phonegap