Are you planning to upgrade your Drupal site and wondering which Drupal version will work best for your Drupal site? This article gives a complete comparison of Drupal 9 vs Drupal 8 which will give you an idea which approach will be more suitable for your Drupal upgrade.
With the release of the Drupal 9 version on June 3, 2020, both Drupal 7 and 8 will soon reach the end-of-life by November 2021. Drupal depends on the vendor support lifecycles of PHP and Symfony which will no longer receive security patches and upgrades. So, if you’re planning to migrate to the newer version of Drupal, here’s what you need to consider for your Drupal website development.
Drupal’s Dependence on PHP and Symfony
Drupal is dependent on PHP and Symphony and therefore, every move Drupal makes largely depends on the release cycles of these two key elements. Symfony releases a new minor version at an interval of six months and a major version every two years. To ensure compatibility with new Symfony’s releases, Drupal also releases minor versions on month after every Symfony release. And since Drupal 8 depends on Symfony 3 which will soon reach its end-of-life in November 2021, Drupal 8 also has to end its life by November 2021.
Similarly, the latest PHP version 7.3 is supported by Drupal 8.7, however, this PHP version will also stop receiving security patches by November 2021, thereby leading to the end of Drupal 8 as well.
A Quick Drupal 9 vs Drupal 8 Comparison
Should You Migrate to Drupal 8 or Directly to Drupal 9?
Yes, you can directly upgrade to Drupal 9 before Drupal 7 and 8’s end-of-life (Nov 2021). However, if you plan to run on Drupal 7 or Drupal 8, then you need to make sure you update your PHP version for better performance and security support. You could also hire Drupal developers or vendors who will provide you with extended support for your Drupal 7 or Drupal 8 website even after their end-of-life.
Furthermore, if you’re planning to start a Drupal project in Q3 2020, it’s best to directly upgrade to Drupal 9 and thrive on this new platform in one fell swoop.
Advantages of Upgrading to Drupal 8
• Easy Upgrade to Drupal 9
It is always best to keep up with the latest Drupal version to ensure the best performance of your Drupal site. Drupal 8’s minor version upgrades require no rebuild of the entire websites Drupal 9 is very similar to the Drupal 8’s last minor version. However, Drupal 9 eliminates deprecated code and updates any third-party dependencies. Therefore, upgrading to Drupal 9 from Drupal 8 will be as easy as a pie.
• Enhanced Contributed Modules Compatibility
Drupal 7 comes with the largest number of contributed modules while Drupal 8 has the most number of popular and high-performing modules in core. The Drupal community promises to make contributed modules more compatible with both Drupal 8 and Drupal 9 provided they do not use any deprecated APIs.
• Now is the Time!
As both Drupal 7 and Drupal 8 will end-their-lives in November 2021, you should consider upgrading directly to the Drupal 9 version. Migrating large-scale complex Drupal websites takes significant time and effort, and so, it is recommended to start your Drupal migration process to Drupal 8 for now and then upgrade to Drupal 9. This will lead to a much faster and easier migration process. You still have a few months in hand, so do not delay anymore! Hire Drupal developers from a professional Drupal development company and start migrating to the latest Drupal version today!
Like any other CMSs, Drupal CMS has also evolved over the years and now provides a more structured roadmap that can help you overcome most of its common hindrances. With every new release, Drupal is getting better by eliminating deprecated codes and other outdated or unsecured elements. Today, any Drupal 9 vs Drupal 8 comparison will have 2 major differences – 1.) Different approaches to Drupal upgrades, and 2.) Different versions of the underlying technologies. However, when it comes to deciding which Drupal version you should upgrade to, you need to consider your business goals, website size and complexity, budget, and time constraints. Drupal India is a stellar Drupal development company in India and our Drupal consultants can help you make a better decision for your Drupal site. So, what are you waiting for? Hire Drupal developers at Drupal India and take your Drupal site to the uppermost level.
Also Read: Drupal Features and Advantages
FAQs
How much time it will take to migrate to Drupal 9?
The time take to migrate to Drupal 9 will depend on the current Drupal version that you’re using, the number of webpages, complexity of your website, and the size of your database. To know more in detail, get in touch with our Drupal experts today!
Do I really need to upgrade my Drupal 8 site to Drupal 9?
Drupal 9 is quite similar to Drupal 8 and will offer backward-compatibility. Since Drupal 8 will end-its-life in November 2021, it is wise to upgrade to Drupal 9. Moreover, if you’re running your website on the latest version of Drupal 8, the migration process will be much easier and faster.
Can you help me migrate to Drupal 9 if I’m using a different platform?
Yes, of course, we can. Our competent Drupal experts can provide seamless migration to Drupal 9 regardless of the CMS you’re currently using. Get in touch with our experts today!
