github.com/bixgomez/how2-drupal/tree/main/web/modules/custom/however_customizations

Please note: This module was created through an iterative process of learning and refinement, with support from the AI tools ChatGPT and Claude. These tools served as sounding boards and research aids and for basic scaffolding, not substitutes for thought or authorship. I’m proud to say that the final code reflects a healthy combination of human insight and the spirit of innovation AI can inspire.

This is a comprehensive custom Drupal 10 module built for the However project, managing the complex editorial workflows of two academic journals: How(ever) and How2. The module handles hierarchical publication content across volumes, issues, sections, and articles, automating relationships and streamlining the editorial experience.

This project demonstrates how I approach complex content architecture challenges: starting with core functionality, building incrementally, and maintaining clean code while the requirements evolve. The module emerged from real editorial needs: managing dozens of interconnected pieces of content across years of publication history. Rather than forcing editors into rigid workflows, I built systems that automate tedious tasks while preserving editorial control.

Important context:
This module handles production content for a live academic archive. It demonstrates my ability to work with complex, real-world content relationships while maintaining data integrity. The testing infrastructure shows I understand the importance of validation when dealing with irreplaceable scholarly content.

Key code to peruse:

1. PublicationNavigationService src/PublicationNavigationService.php
   Handles intelligent prev/next navigation across the publication hierarchy. Demonstrates clean service architecture, complex database queries, and edge case handling (like jumping between volumes when reaching boundaries).
2. Entity Auto-complete Enhancement src/EntityAutocompleteMatcher.php
   Extends Drupal core’s autocomplete to show contextual information (volume, issue, content type) in search results. Shows how to properly decorate core services while maintaining compatibility.
3. Hook Implementations however_customizations.module
   The heart of the automation — hook_entity_presave() handles field synchronization and title generation, hook_form_alter() improves the editorial experience, and node CRUD hooks manage dependent content lifecycle.
4. Drush Commands src/Drush/Commands/HoweverCustomizationsCommands.php
   Bulk maintenance commands using batch processing for large datasets. Essential for migrating legacy content and maintaining data consistency across hundreds of nodes.
5. Test Coverage tests/src/Kernel/PublicationNavigationServiceTest.php
   PHPUnit kernel tests validating core service functionality. Shows I understand testing complex Drupal services with real database interactions and entity relationships.

The entire repository can be found at https://github.com/bixgomez/how2-drupal