Coder vs. Themer: Ultimate Grudge Smackdown Fight to the Death!

by Campbell Vertesi and Adam Juran

Watch coder ohthehugemanatee face off in the ring against themer scaragucc' in this ultimate Drupalist showdown!

Starting from the same mockup, these two hardcore Drupalists will compete to build it better in white-knuckle, split-screen action! Scaragucc' is only allowed to use the theme layer, ohthehugemanatee is only allowed to use the module layer. Who will build the best site in this epic competition?

Gasp as scaragucc' manages complex data elements entirely in the theme layer. Feel your heart race as ohthehugemanatee themes from Views. You've never seen Drupal like this before!

After the title bout, you will be grouped into project teams to have your own sparring matches, Coder vs Themer style! We'll compare different approaches to team organization and compartmentalization, and simulate real-world project experiences. See for yourself which methods work in our intense virtual battlefield simulation!

Most shops have theme specialists and development specialists, and a large part of Drupal exists in the grey area between them. You'll learn:

• Where each side excels, and where it falls down.
• The gaping holes that are difficult for both themers and coders to navigate.
• Best practices for site building so that grudge matches like these don't happen.
• Organizational and workflow elements that help your team work together, for the best results.
• How the organization of your team members can affect project budget and timeline.

ohthehugemanatee and scargucc' are trained professionals. Please don't try this at home.