Getting Started with Custom Module Development in Drupal

July 27th, 2024

Drupal Modules Development Console Tutorial

Create a Module Using the Drupal Console:
Developing custom modules in Drupal can seem daunting, but it's a rewarding process that unlocks many capabilities for your website. Drupal represents a significant shift in architecture, making it more powerful and flexible.

What is the Drupal Console?
The Drupal Console is a Command Line Interface (CLI) built specifically for Drupal. It allows you to perform various tasks like rebuilding caches, connecting to databases, and installing modules. It also generates boilerplate code, saving you time on setup.

Installation Steps:

Get Drupal Console:

curl https://drupalconsole.com/installer -L -o drupal.phar

Move it to your local bin:
```
mv drupal.phar /usr/local/bin/drupal
```
Make it executable:
```
chmod +x /usr/local/bin/drupal
```

Generating a New Module:

To generate a new custom module, use the following command:

$ drupal generate:module

During the prompts, provide the module name "Welcome" and a description like "Display a message when a user logs in."

Basic Structure:

The Drupal Console creates the necessary files for your module:

composer.json
welcome.info.yml
welcome.module

Creating a Custom Path:

To create a path that returns a welcome message, generate a controller and route:

$ drupal generate:controller

Follow the prompts to create the controller class WelcomeController and map the route path /welcome.

Summary:

With these steps, you've created a custom path and returned some output without writing a line of code. Stay tuned for more insights on diving deeper into the generated code and understanding Drupal modules.