Drupal Release: 8.2.0-beta2

TL;DR

Drupal 8.2.0-beta2: Introducing Content Moderation and Outside In

Drupal 8.2.0-beta2 introduces two major experimental modules: Content Moderation and Outside In. Content Moderation provides advanced workflow capabilities for content, while Outside In enables in-context editing through an off-canvas tray. This release also includes numerous bug fixes, testing improvements, and documentation updates that enhance Drupal's stability and developer experience.

This beta release is part of the path toward Drupal 8.2.0, bringing significant UX improvements while maintaining Drupal's robust foundation.

Highlight of the Release

• Introduction of experimental Content Moderation module for advanced content workflows
• New experimental Outside In module for in-context editing via off-canvas tray
• Improved mobile experience with optimized select boxes in Seven theme
• Enhanced testing infrastructure with multiple BrowserTestBase improvements
• Fixed performance issues with clearing large log/watchdog tables
• Improved private file handling for image styles

Migration Guide

Experimental Modules

The Content Moderation and Outside In modules are marked as experimental. This means:

• They are not covered by Drupal's backwards compatibility and security policies
• Their APIs may change in future releases
• They should be used with caution in production environments

Testing Framework Changes

If you're developing custom modules with tests:

• BrowserTestBase now includes the config schema checker like WebTestBase
• getTextContent() method in BrowserTestBase has been fixed to correctly return text content
• drupalGet() in BrowserTestBase now supports request headers
• assertCacheContext() has been moved to AssertPageCacheContextsAndTagsTrait

API Changes

• The hook_entity_query_alter() has been removed from entity.api.php as it was non-functional
• The Moderation Information interface has been cleaned up with improved method signatures
• Configuration system now allows importing a single item from a non-default collection

Upgrade Recommendations

For Development and Testing

This is a beta release and is recommended for development and testing environments. It contains experimental modules and features that are still evolving.

For Production Sites

Production sites should wait for the stable 8.2.0 release unless you specifically need to test the new experimental features or have encountered issues that are fixed in this beta.

Update Process

When updating to this beta:

1. Back up your database and files
2. Update your codebase to 8.2.0-beta2
3. Run the update script at /update.php
4. Clear caches

Experimental Module Consideration

If you choose to enable the experimental Content Moderation or Outside In modules, be aware that:

• Their APIs may change in future releases
• You should thoroughly test them in a development environment first
• Have a rollback plan in case of issues

Bug Fixes

User Email Notifications

Fixed an issue where _user_mail_notify() was always sending emails even when the notification setting was disabled.

Menu Link Content

Fixed a bug where MenuLinkContent menu links could not be set to no parent once they had one.

Private File Image Styles

Resolved an issue where image styles for private files were serving the original image instead of the derivative.

Comments Without Subject

Fixed a failure that occurred when processing comments with no subject.

Configuration System

Fixed an issue where config directories were not created by the installer if present in settings.php.

Dialog Button Placement

Fixed an issue where links styled as buttons were not properly placed inside Dialog's button pane, preventing "cancel" links/buttons from showing up.

Views Field Relationships

Fixed an issue where Views field relationships would break when the field name was too long.

New Features

Content Moderation Module

The new experimental Content Moderation module provides advanced workflow capabilities for content. This module allows content to exist in different states (like draft, review, and published) and enables transitions between these states based on defined workflows. This is a significant enhancement for editorial workflows in Drupal.

Outside In Module

The new experimental Outside In module enables in-context editing through an off-canvas tray. This module provides a more intuitive editing experience by allowing users to configure blocks and other elements directly on the page where they appear, rather than navigating to a separate administration page.

Mobile Optimized Select Boxes

The Seven administration theme now features select boxes optimized for small screens, improving the mobile experience for administrators and content editors.

Workflow Initiative Coordination

Dixon_ has been added as a Workflow Initiative coordinator, strengthening the team working on content workflow improvements in Drupal.

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were mentioned in this release. However, as with all Drupal updates, it's recommended to keep your site up-to-date to ensure you have the latest security improvements.

Performance Improvements

Log/Watchdog Clearing

Significantly improved performance when clearing log/watchdog tables that contain large amounts of data. This enhancement reduces the time required for this maintenance operation, particularly on sites with extensive logging history.

Node Access Rebuild

Improved the node access rebuild process by fixing queries that unnecessarily checked access, making the process more efficient.

Impact Summary

Drupal 8.2.0-beta2 represents a significant step forward in Drupal's evolution, particularly in the areas of content workflow management and in-context editing. The introduction of the experimental Content Moderation module addresses a long-standing need for more sophisticated content workflows in Drupal, while the Outside In module begins to deliver on the promise of more intuitive, in-context site building.

These new features, combined with numerous bug fixes and performance improvements, enhance Drupal's capabilities for content editors, site builders, and developers alike. The optimized mobile experience for the Seven administration theme also demonstrates Drupal's continued commitment to responsive design.

For developers, the improvements to the testing infrastructure and API documentation make it easier to build and maintain high-quality Drupal modules. The fixes for private file handling and configuration management address important edge cases that could cause issues in certain scenarios.

While this is a beta release and the experimental modules should be used with caution in production environments, it provides a valuable preview of the features that will be part of the stable 8.2.0 release. Organizations considering these new features should begin testing them now to provide feedback and prepare for their eventual stable release.