Prove Your Independence. Earn the Architect Badge.
This is the final hurdle. In this module, you will not be "taught" new material. You will be tested on your ability to apply everything you have learned in the previous 9 modules. To graduate as a JCS Certified Drupal Architect, you must clear two distinct milestones:
- The Theory Gate: A rigorous scenario-based exam to prove your architectural understanding.
- The Practical Defense: A complex build where you must engineer a solution from vague requirements and defend your code in a live review.
Step 1: The Architect Qualification Exam (The Gatekeeper)
Before you write a single line of code for your final project, you must demonstrate that you understand the "Why" behind Drupal's architecture. This exam is designed to mimic the rigor of professional certifications.
- Format: Online Assessment (Timed: 60 Minutes)
- Passing Score: 80% (Required to unlock Step 2)
- Focus: You will face "Real-world Scenarios," not simple definitions.
Sample Concepts Covered:
- Caching Strategy: Choosing the right Cache Contexts and Max-Age strategies for high-traffic dynamic blocks.
- Security Auditing: Identifying vulnerabilities (e.g., missing permission checks or improper sanitization) in code snippets.
- Architecture Choices: Justifying the use of Custom Entities vs. Nodes, or deciding between Plugins vs. Services for specific business logic.
Step 2: The Capstone Project (The Build)
Once you pass the theory gate, you will receive your Capstone Client Brief. This is not a "follow-along" tutorial. You will receive a set of business requirements similar to what a demanding enterprise client would send.
The Challenge: You will be assigned a complex, real-world architectural problem that requires you to integrate multiple Drupal subsystems. The specific scenario will vary for each trainee to ensure authenticity.
Your Mission Will Require:
- Advanced Data Architecture: You must architect a data model that scales to hundreds of thousands of records, choosing the right storage strategy (Custom Entities vs. Nodes) based on the specific constraints given.
- System Integration: You will need to write custom modules to connect Drupal with external systems, requiring mastery of APIs, Queues, or Event Subscribers.
- Performance Engineering: Your solution must demonstrate "Senior-Level" caching strategies. A working feature is not enough; it must be performant under load.
- Quality Assurance: You must submit automated tests (PHPUnit) proving your business logic is stable.
Note: The specific project brief is released only after you pass the Qualification Exam. No two cohorts get the exact same challenge.
Step 3: The Live Defense (The Review)
This is the most valuable hour of the entire course. You will schedule a 1-on-1 session with the Senior Architect.
The Process:
- Code Audit: We will open your IDE and review your module line-by-line.
- The Defense: You must explain why you made specific architectural choices (e.g., "Why did you use a Service here instead of a Helper class?").
- The Verdict: Only when your code meets Agency Production Standards will you be awarded the JCS Certified Drupal Architect certificate.