Drupal 9 End of Life FAQ: What You Need to Know

Drupal 9 end-of-life is set for November 1st 2023. This makes it crucial for businesses to plan for a seamless Drupal 10 migration regardless of whether you're currently using Drupal 7, Drupal 8, or Drupal 9. And to help you navigate this process, we have compiled an exhaustive list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that you might want to consider with the D9 EOL looming. The FAQs below cover a wide range of topics to ensure you're well-prepared for your upgrade journey - no matter which version of Drupal you’re using. 

Let's get started with your questions on Drupal 9’s EOL and migration.

Q1: Will a Drupal 9 CMS still function after November 2023?

Though Drupal 9 will function even after its end-of-life, there are critical considerations to keep in mind, including security risks, no more official updates etc. lt is therefore recommended to upgrade to a or Drupal 10 to ensure continued functionality and security.

Q2: What’s the risk of further delaying migration from Drupal 8 or 9 to Drupal 10?

Further delaying migration from Drupal 8 or 9 to Drupal 10 poses several risks including:

• Security Vulnerabilities: With the end of official support for older versions, any security vulnerabilities discovered post-end-of-life won't be patched. 
• Compliance Issues: Delaying migration may lead to non-compliance with data privacy and security regulations, which can result in legal and financial consequences.
• Compatibility Challenges: As Drupal evolves, modules and themes for older versions may become obsolete or incompatible, making future upgrades more complex and costly.
• Performance Degradation: Outdated versions may suffer from performance issues, affecting user experience and potentially leading to reduced traffic and conversions.
• Technical Debt: Delaying migration accumulates technical debt, making future migrations more challenging and costly.
• Missed Features: You may miss out on the latest features, improvements, and innovations available in Drupal 10, which can impact your website's competitiveness.
• Community and Vendor Support: Delaying migration may result in a lack of community and vendor support for your Drupal version, making it challenging to resolve issues and get updates.

Q3: What if my Drupal 9 site has a module that does not have a Drupal 10 version?

If your Drupal 9 site relies on a module that does not yet have a Drupal 10 version, you may encounter some challenges during the migration process. Here are some steps to consider:

• First, assess the importance of the module to your website's functionality. Determine if it's a critical component or if there are alternative modules or custom solutions that can replace its functionality.
• Reach out to the module maintainers and inquire if modules are in the process of being updated.
• Look for alternative modules or solutions that can fulfill the same or similar functionality. 

Q4: Will there be any sort of extension for Drupal 9 upgrading to Drupal 10 following the November 2023 end of life date?

Recently, Drupal.org has confirmed the EOL for Drupal 9, hence there is no extension. 

Q5: What is Symfony? How will Symfony 4 impact Drupal 9 EOL? How does CK Editor 4 impact the same?

Symfony is a widely used PHP web application framework that provides a foundation for building web applications and websites. Drupal 8 and Drupal 9, leverage Symfony components to power its architecture. Here's how Symfony 4 relate to Drupal 9's End-of-Life (EOL):

1. Symfony 4 is a major version of the Symfony framework that brought significant changes and improvements. Drupal 8 was built on top of Symfony 3, while Drupal 9 incorporated Symfony 4 components.
2. Symfony's release schedule is independent of Drupal's, and Symfony versions have their own lifecycle. Symfony 3 reached EOL in November 2021 and similarly Symfony 4 will reach EOL in November 2023.

Q6: How does CK Editor 4 impact the same?

CKEditor is a popular open-source rich text editor used in various web applications, including Drupal. CKEditor 4 has reached its end of life too. Though it is widely used in Drupal 8 and Drupal 9, CKEditor 5 has been included in Drupal 9.3. So, before moving to Drupal 10, assess your current CKEditor configurations, plugins, and customizations in D9 Ensure your D9 is updated to the latest minor release. This will make the transition to D10 smoother.

Q7: When will Composer 1 & Guzzle 6 end-of-life happen?

Composer 1 is a dependency management tool for PHP projects that reached its EOL on January 19, 2023. This means that after this date, Composer 1 is no longer officially supported or maintained, and users are encouraged to upgrade to Composer 2.

On the other hand, Guzzle 6 is a tool used for PHP HTTP client and framework for building web service clients received no active support after its EOL on December 31, 2019. Upgrade to Guzzle 7.3.0 and check its requirement on psr/http-client 1.0.1, which has been added as a dependency by Drupal.

Q8: What if I have custom modules or themes on my website?

If you have custom modules or themes on your Drupal website, migrating to a new version, like Drupal 10 requires some additional considerations. Here's what you should keep in mind:

1. Start by assessing the compatibility of your custom modules and check if updated versions or alternative themes are available with the latest Drupal version. 
2. In case of lack of compatibility, consider updating or rewriting the custom code. 
3. If your custom modules or themes have been developed by third-party developers or agencies, contact them to inquire about Drupal 10 compatibility. 
4. Thoroughly test your custom modules and themes for Drupal 10 to ensure they function correctly. Pay attention to any issues related to functionality, styling, and performance.
5. Develop a migration plan that includes specific steps for updating your custom modules and themes. Consider creating a staging environment for testing and making necessary adjustments before applying changes to your production site.
6. If you are uncertain about the migration process for custom modules and themes, or if you encounter challenges, consider consulting with Drupal experts or development agencies with experience in Drupal migrations.

Q9: What are some upgraded features of D10 as compared to D9?

Drupal’s new frontend and backend theme - Olivero and Claro replace Bartik and Seven respectively. It provides higher media functionality and layout building with better decoupled developer and site builder experiences, particularly for menus and URL handling.

D10 replaces jQuery with modern JavaScript components and enables a new custom theme creation process using the Starterkit tools. Symfony 6.2 replaces Symfony 4 and D10 offers advanced features by shifting from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.0. CKEditor 5 enables a vastly improved authoring experience by replacing CKEditor 4.

Q10: How to prepare for Drupal 10 as a D7, D8 and D9 user?

Evolution of Drupal (Source: Drupal.org)

To get all information about the Drupal EOL refer to https://dev.acquia.com/blog/what-do-about-drupal-9s-end-life-november-2023)

Q12: Can I migrate my Drupal 8.x application directly to Drupal 10.x?

No, you cannot migrate your Drupal 8.x application directly to Drupal 10.x. Drupal follows a sequential upgrade path, and you need to follow a specific upgrade sequence to move from Drupal 8 to Drupal 10. Here's the recommended upgrade path:

1. Start by upgrading your Drupal 8.x application to the latest version of Drupal 9. This involves updating contributed modules and custom code to be compatible with Drupal 9.
2. During the Drupal 9 upgrade, verify that all modules, themes, and custom code are compatible with Drupal 9. Address any compatibility issues as needed.
3. Thoroughly test your Drupal 9 site to ensure that everything functions correctly. Resolve any issues that arise during testing.
4. When your Drupal 9 site is stable and ready, plan for the migration to Drupal 10.
5. Review and update any custom code to be compatible with Drupal 10. Use tools like the Upgrade Status module and the Drupal Rector tool to identify and address code compatibility issues.
6. Set up a staging environment to perform migration tests. This includes migrating data, configurations, and content to Drupal 10.

Q13: How long does it take to upgrade a site from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10?

The time required to upgrade a site from Drupal 9 to Drupal 10 can vary significantly depending on several factors including site complexity, custom code, module and theme compatibility, testing and QA, data & content migration, staging & backup and the expertise & resources available.  

Although it's crucial to maintain the availability and reliability of your Drupal applications, it's equally vital to implement timely improvements that align with the changing demands of your business. In pursuit of this goal, companies encounter obstacles such as the absence of dedicated teams responsible for handling Drupal core updates and upgrades, resulting in issues related to performance, security, and accrued technical debt.

As a general guideline, upgrading a relatively straightforward Drupal 9 site to Drupal 10 could take several weeks to a few months. However, for more complex sites with extensive customizations and dependencies, the process could take longer.Whether you’re on D7, D8 or D9 and planning for an upgrade, Srijan’s Drupal experts can provide valuable insights and assistance in estimating and managing the upgrade timeline. So, don't wait, reach out to us and make the best of Drupal-based solutions and seamless Drupal migration services today!