Going mobile? Choose Drupal

   
Since it was officially released, Drupal has been one of the most sought after languages for those who wish to build responsive web applications. Now as mobile devices open up new frontiers and step on to 24*7 interactions, it is imperative that Drupal reinvents itself to suit the needs of the changing times.

One of the oft-heard complaints against it is that it is incompatible for the small screen. If we make the small- and touch-screen experience more acceptable, everyone would want the freedom of using Drupal from anywhere-but-a-desk.

Mobile phones are personal devices: There is no other device that provides proximity, privacy and ease-of-use as much as a mobile phone. By restricting or dissuading users from interacting with Drupal on the go, one is limiting their connections to their needs.

For interactions called "just-in-time interactions"; user tasks are urgent and immediate. Speed is essential and waiting is not an option. Like the saying, "The best camera is the one you have with you." The same is true for computers. In the coming years people are going to be using Drupal from everywhere, whether we like it or not. Drupal 8 has to embrace this.

Attempting to build a mobile UI from the ground up is a large task with many facets. Design principles can help keep us on track, and give us a wider perspective. With global objectives we always have a good idea what "good" looks like.

Simple

Simplicity is Key to any language and any app that aims to connect with users.

Fast

This is an essential criterion be it a mobile or a desktop app. We need to keep in mind that no one likes to wait.

Consistency

We're designing a whole system of tools and objects. New situations will arrive that we won't expect; we can soften this pain by implementing framework components instead of one-shot solutions.We need to keep in mind that we’re not solving problems for individual pages.

New Toolbar

It’s alright if you can’t show all the menu items at once, what we need is some method of revealing them. What becomes really interesting is the thoughts on what else we could use the rest of the toolbar space for. Contextual actions include filter, add, delete, bulk edit and sort.

Finger Friendly

A thumb is more than a fat cursor. End of story.

Global Search

A global search function allows users who know they want to get there quickly..A nice, friendly, easy to use navigation tree is great but some users want to get around fast. This spotlight style feature is also a great safety net for new users who have lost their way in Drupal.