PortalJS vs DKAN
Escape Drupal complexity with modern React technology and simplified maintenance.
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Organizations migrating from DKAN to PortalJS
See what organizations achieved by moving from Drupal-based DKAN to modern PortalJS.
DKAN's Drupal dependency was creating maintenance overhead and limiting our frontend possibilities. PortalJS gave us modern React capabilities while keeping our existing data infrastructure. Our development team's productivity doubled.
SD
Senior Developer
State Data Portal Team
We were struggling with DKAN's complex Drupal customizations and slow performance. PortalJS delivered a faster, more maintainable solution with better user experience and significantly reduced hosting costs.
ID
IT Director
Municipal Government
Technology Comparison
See how PortalJS's modern approach compares to DKAN's Drupal-based platform.
Technology Foundation
| Feature | PortalJS | DKAN |
|---|---|---|
| Core Technology | Modern React/Next.js with API-first architecture | Drupal CMS with DKAN modules |
| Language & Runtime | JavaScript/TypeScript with Node.js ecosystem | PHP with Drupal dependencies |
| Architecture Style | Decoupled frontend with API integration | Monolithic Drupal application |
| Performance | Static generation with edge CDN delivery | Server-rendered Drupal with database queries |
Development & Maintenance
| Feature | PortalJS | DKAN |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Curve | Modern web development skills (React/JS) | Drupal expertise and module system knowledge |
| Development Speed | Rapid development with component libraries | Slower due to Drupal complexity and dependencies |
| Security Updates | Frontend updates independent of data layer | Complex Drupal core and module updates |
| Customization | Full control with React components | Limited by Drupal theming and module constraints |
User Experience
| Feature | PortalJS | DKAN |
|---|---|---|
| Page Load Speed | Lightning fast with pre-generated static pages | Slower due to Drupal overhead and processing |
| Mobile Experience | Mobile-first responsive design | Basic responsive Drupal themes |
| Search & Discovery | Modern search with faceted filtering | Drupal Search API with limited customization |
| Accessibility | Built-in accessibility with modern standards | Dependent on Drupal theme accessibility |
Operations & Hosting
| Feature | PortalJS | DKAN |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Requirements | Static hosting (CDN) + API backend | Full LAMP stack with Drupal requirements |
| Scaling | Frontend scales globally via CDN | Complex Drupal application scaling |
| Monitoring | Separate frontend and API monitoring | Drupal application monitoring |
| Backup & Recovery | Simple frontend deployment + data backups | Complex Drupal site and database backups |
Flexibility & Integration
| Feature | PortalJS | DKAN |
|---|---|---|
| Data Source Support | Any API - CKAN, custom backends, headless CMS | Primarily DKAN data structures |
| Content Management | Choose any headless CMS or Git-based content | Drupal content management system |
| Third-party Services | Easy integration of modern services and APIs | Limited to Drupal module ecosystem |
| Future-proofing | Technology-agnostic, easy to migrate | Tied to Drupal's evolution and lifecycle |