My Experience at DCP-2024: More Than Just a Drupal Camp

For the last five years, I’ve been fully immersed in the world of Drupal, working as a developer at different organizations. I’ve spent countless hours drupaling, contributing to projects, and learning from the community, but there was always something missing. I had never been to a Drupal Camp. That all changed in 2024 when I finally got the chance to attend one in Pune.

When I first heard about Drupal Camp Pune 2024 (DCP-2024), I didn’t think twice. I packed my bags and decided I was going, unaware that it would turn out to be one of the best experiences of my year. Not just for what I learned, but for the connections I made and the way it re-energized my passion for Drupal.

If I could sum it up in two words, they’d be AMAZING and SURREAL. I finally got to meet fellow Drupaler's in person, people whose work I had admired from afar on Drupal.org. Learning from them, exchanging ideas, and just being part of that incredible community was like living a dream.

Volunteering for the First Time: Stepping Beyond Code

This camp was special for another reason, it was my first time volunteering at a community event. I wanted to experience more than just being an attendee. I wanted to contribute, to give back, but in ways beyond just coding. Volunteering gave me a whole new appreciation for what goes into making these events happen. It made the experience so much richer and fulfilling, knowing I was helping out in ways I never had before.

The Event

DCP-2024 was a two-day event, held on October 19th and 20th, 2024. Here’s a breakdown of how the weekend went:

Day 1: Learning and Growing (Saturday)

The first day was packed with sessions that explored the latest innovations in Drupal, the future of web development, and how Drupal can be used in ways I hadn’t even imagined. Here are some of the sessions that really stood out to me:

The OpenAI Module for Drupal: This session blew my mind! It explored how artificial intelligence can be integrated with Drupal, offering new ways to enhance user experiences and make websites smarter. As someone who’s always looking for ways to push boundaries, this was a game-changer.

Responsive Design with Container Queries: As a developer, I’m always striving to build websites that look great on every device. This session introduced me to container queries and how they could make responsive design more intuitive and powerful. I left with tons of ideas I couldn’t wait to try out.

Current state of the Starshot / Drupal CMS: I’ve been following the Drupal Starshot project for a while, and hearing about its current status and future goals was inspiring. The ambition behind it—to make Drupal even more innovative and capable—is exactly why I love being part of this community.

Access to Justice Using AI: This was one of the more eye-opening sessions, showing how Drupal and AI could help in meaningful ways, like improving access to justice. Seeing Drupal being applied to real-world problems like this reminded me of the positive impact technology can have.

Day 2: Contribution Day (Sunday)

Sunday was all about giving back to the Drupal project itself. Whether it was working on issues listed on Drupal.org, reviewing others’ work, or even discovering new problems to solve, Contribution Day brought everyone together in a common goal: making Drupal better.

I chose a few issues to work on and loved the collaborative vibe. It felt like a true community effort - people helping each other, sharing knowledge, and collectively making progress. I had to leave a little earlier in the afternoon, which was hard because I wanted to stay longer, but the time I spent was incredibly rewarding.

Takeaways: More Than Just Code

Attending DCP-2024 wasn’t just about picking up new coding skills or sitting through technical sessions. It was about connecting with people who share the same passion for Drupal. It was about realizing that the Drupal community isn’t just a group of developers, it’s a family. And being able to contribute, both through volunteering and on Contribution Day, made me feel like I’m a part of something much bigger than just a project.

I came home from DCP-2024 inspired, more motivated than ever to keep pushing myself, and excited about the future of Drupal. If you’ve never attended a Drupal Camp, I can’t stress enough how much you should. It’s an experience that will leave you feeling energized, connected, and ready to dive deeper into the world of open source.

Already looking forward to the next Drupal Camp, where I hope to be an even more active participant - learning, contributing, and growing alongside this incredible community.