List ECA module as an alternative in module description

It looks like the number of Rules installations → for Drupal 10 has stalled at ~14.000. ECA → usage is growing rapidly (currently at ~ 4.000 → ) and could surpass 10.000 later this year, with the current growth rate.

ECA was just included in the Starshot project (see Starshot should include ECA, to allow custom business logic to be implemented in the admin UI #99) and is under heavy development. Rules on the other hand:

The last update for Rules was in October 2023 so its current maintenance status is a bit unclear.

From 📌 Update 10.3 release notes to indicate Rules module is not compatible Active .

Would it make sense to add a more prominent text above the fold on the project page ( https://www.drupal.org/project/rules → ) highlighting the existence of ECA, to guide Drupal 11 users to that project? Perhaps add a block with this text at the very top of the project page?

ECA → is recommended for new Drupal 11 projects.

Why is ECA not listed as alternative? Drupal is a community project and we should help each other to find the best possible solution. Could you explain the reasons @tr?

Updating the issue text, since Rules is in a much better condition now, with a growing user base at ~18.000 Drupal 10/11 installs, and is also now Drupal 11 ready. Thank you @tr :)

I just tried Rules in Drupal 11 -- it works perfectly, and I created my first simple rule, redirecting and showing a message in no time. Awesome!

The Rules user interface is so much easier than ECA, which is extremely complicated to use.

How about a table, highlighting differences between them, like I added in the Issue Summary? (copied from Menu Migration → )

Updating title and Issue Summary.

+1 for at least adding ECA as an alternative on the Rules description page. Also agree an easy to understand breakdown of pros/cons and key differences would be great for new Drupal users (or even old ones).

Sounds great @w01f, you and @anybody should feel free to expand the list with more items :)

@jurgenhaas, hey Jurgen - would you or another ECA maintainer be able to help build out the above comparison table to help describe the differences between the Rules and ECA modules for new (and existing) implementers/decision makers?

Similar question on the ECA queue - 💬 A honest comparison / contrast of ECA vs Rules? Active .

I Just turned most of my response into a blog post, here: https://www.freelock.com/blog/john-locke/2025-01/ask-freelock-eca-vs-rules ... would love any comments people have on that, especially from people who have used Rules recently.

Comments there are now auto-moderated by AI -- if you leave a relevant comment, it should get automatically published within 5 minutes!

@w01f I wonder if you could get a reasonable starting place on a comparison table by asking Claude or something for one...

@freelock Hey John, I haven't changed any of the Rules on older sites in a while, haven't used Rules since they had that semi-recent overhaul to be D10/11 compatible, and am just getting started with ECA myself.

I was considering myself as more one of the eager target audience for this comparison information than a knowledgeable found of existing knowledge for... though I can contribute to a table when I find time to learn ECA better myself.