Drupal for Mobile

Is Drupal really a viable option for a mobile website? As the percentage of mobile users skyrockets, it's a question a lot of people have started asking. With all the conflicting recommendations and buzzwords flying about, it's easy to see why some aren't quite sure. Let's cut through the noise and look at where things really stand.

Mobile vs. Responsive Design

I recently wrote a piece on some of the responsive themes available for Drupal. The post explained how responsive design techniques can be used to make a site display in a way that is optimized for a variety of devices, including mobile. But does responsive design really result in a 'mobile site'? Unfortunately, not always.

Although it's true that a designer can use responsive design techniques and a 'mobile first' philosophy to create a top notch mobile site, in practice responsive design is most often used to adapt a site for mobile devices. The difference here is important to understand.

Let's use an example from a project I'm currently working on. It has a number of features that are quite useful for desktop and tablet users such as an image rotator and a rather complex product calculator. However, on a mobile, neither of these features really make sense.

Because the site is built on top of Omega theme using responsive design principles, these page elements are hidden from mobile users to enhance the usability of the site when viewed on those devices. The problem with all such designs is that even though the elements aren't displayed, they are downloaded to the device, resulting in undesirable page bloat. So what's the answer to this problem?

Building A Mobile Website

Last month I was in San Francisco for An Event Apart where I was lucky enough to hear presentations from both Ethan Marcotte (responsive design) and Luke Wroblewski (mobile). The debate between responsive design vs. mobile design was front and center not only on stage but in many conversations in the hall as well.

The strong support for responsive design was evident, but so was the realization that it isn't the answer for every site. There are definitely situations where the business requirements point to the development of a separate mobile site.

Yes, this can be a big pain with a lot of extra overhead. And I think most small businesses should think very carefully before taking on all of the additional work this entails. But if your business case calls for it and your organization has the resources, a mobile-only website may be the way to go.

Drupal Mobile Solutions

So is Drupal a viable option for a mobile site? Absolutely! And here are a few of the best solutions I've found to get you started.

First up is the Mobile Tools module which redirects users to your mobile website. It also supports theme switching and notifications that inform users that a mobile site is available when they are browsing the full site. Another module you might want to take a look at is Adaptive Image which can help serve device-appropriate images.

But what about mobile themes for Drupal? The good news here is that any of the quality responsive themes that are available will do the trick. You'll simply be developing for the mobile layout and not for the layouts displayed at larger resolutions. There are a number of good responsive base themes that will work including Omega, Arctica and AdaptiveTheme.

With these few modules and themes you are well on your way to building a mobile-only site. 

The Future of Drupal Mobile

Looking ahead, there is a Drupal 8 Mobile Initiative underway headed up by John Albin Wilkins that is working to make sure that Drupal is a first class mobile platform in the future. One of the things this team is focusing on is developing a mobile theme for the Drupal admin interface. Currently I believe the only real option in this area is an iPhone app.

If you're interested in some related reading, take a look at my post on responsive themes and another I wrote on Omega theme. Oh, and be sure to let me know about any cool developments you're aware of down in the comments - I love to keep up on the latest!