Making a decision on whether to opt for Drupal 8 migration certainly depends on the type of website that a user is running and how much it relies on the custom or contributed modules. This is because the module maintainers require time for upgrading their contributions towards work with the new Drupal version. Mostly, modules are sustained & upgraded to the latest version on the volunteer basis.
Though Drupal is a flexible content management system, it has been critiqued by the users and developers for lacking user-friendliness. Lack of WYSIWYG editor or tool in the Drupal core was frustrating for some users. Yes, there were a few custom modules that enabled clean WYSIWYG editing, if configured correctly, but getting it done right in Drupal has been tricky for non-tech-savvy users.
Drupal 8 resolves most of the issues with this tool in core and promises to offer pleasing experience. If you have ever tried Drupal 6 to 7 migration through your mobile device, then you would have noticed that it is quite possible, but is not optimized for editing pleasure. Whereas, Drupal 8 Mobile Initiative makes it a leading mobile platform, ensuring responsive themes. This shows that accessing Drupal 8 powered website from mobile devices will be an incredible experience.
When To Consider Dupal 7 to Drupal 8 Migration
Drupal 7 has always been a solid content management system and will be supported by its community at least till 2017. While there is no such necessity to upgrade it as your website will function perfectly, but passionate business owners, who are looking forward to leverage Drupal 8’s features, may want to be the early adopters. Moreover, if you are thinking of revamping your version 7 or want to enhance the functionality of your existing site, then migrating to Drupal 8 is a worthwhile choice.
If your website depends heavily on contributed modules, then you should upgrade it to the new Drupal 8 version. This might take some time based upon the complexity of your site.
Drupal 6 To Drupal 8 Migration: A Glance At Essential Aspects
Drupal 6 website owners are likely to face an imminent decision with the inception of version 8 as official security support for old version is ending. Therefore, there are risks for not migrating to the newest version. Also, Drupal’s security team urges D6 website owners to migrate as soon as possible. The question is not ‘should you upgrade’, but instead ‘should you upgrade to 7 or 8. The best way is to start researching & planning and then decide your budget.
If your existing site (D6) is simple and needs to be redesigned or revamped, then it is recommended to upgrade it to Drupal 8. And if, you have a sophisticated site, which relies on custom modules that might not have D8 on its horizon, then upgrading to Drupal 7 is another option you can opt for. If your website redesign cycle is 3 to 4 years, first migrating to version and then to D8, before release of D9, is a smart option.