Entity Builder for Drupal 11#

Visual entity architecture management for Drupal 11. Define bundles, fields, displays, and field groups using a spreadsheet-like UI or flat YAML format with automatic dependency resolution and smart sync.

Why Entity Builder?#

Visual UI

Spreadsheet-like grid interface with AG Grid - no YAML required
Spreadsheet-Friendly

Flat format exports/imports easily to Google Sheets or Excel
Automatic Dependencies

No manual operation ordering required (Kahn's topological sort)
Smart Sync

Create new, update changed, skip unchanged - automatically
Definition-Centric

Import once, apply multiple times, track with rollbacks
Production Ready

Two-stage validation, rollback support, and comprehensive error handling
Extensible

Plugin system for adding custom integrations

Features Overview#

Category	Features
UI	Visual spreadsheet-like grid interface with tabs for bundles, fields, groups
Format	Flat YAML, spreadsheet-compatible, one row per item
Workflow	Definition-centric (create > review > apply), reusable definitions
Operations	14 operation types: bundles, fields, displays, roles, menus
Sync Modes	sync (default), create_only, update_only, replace
Validation	Two-stage: operation-specific + cross-cutting validator plugins
Rollback	Full undo support using ContentEntity storage
Audit Logging	Two-tier logging: session tracking + operation details
Discovery	Runtime detection of field types, widgets, formatters
CLI	Complete Drush integration for automation and CI/CD

Quick Start#

Using the UI (Recommended)Using CLI

Install Entity Builder and dependencies:

composer require drupal/eb drupal/eb_aggrid drupal/eb_field_group drupal/eb_pathauto drupal/eb_auto_entitylabel

Install AG-Grid library (requires Asset Packagist - see Installation Guide):
1
composer require npm-asset/ag-grid-community:33.0.0
Enable all modules:
1
drush en eb eb_ui eb_aggrid eb_field_group eb_pathauto eb_auto_entitylabel field_group pathauto auto_entitylabel -y && drush cr
Recommended: AG-Grid Interface

The eb_aggrid module provides a powerful spreadsheet-like AG-Grid interface for managing definitions. Strongly recommended for the best visual editing experience. Requires the AG-Grid library via Asset Packagist.
Navigate to Configuration > Development > Entity Builder
Create a definition - Click "Add definition" and enter a label (e.g., "Job Board Platform")

Add bundles - Use the Bundles tab to add content types and vocabularies:

Entity Type	Bundle ID	Label	Description
taxonomy_term	job_categories	Job Categories	Main job classification
taxonomy_term	job_types	Job Types	Full-time, part-time, etc.
node	job_listing	Job Listing	Job postings with details
node	company_profile	Company Profile	Employer profiles

Add fields - Use the Fields tab to add fields to bundles:

Entity Type	Bundle	Field Name	Field Type	Label	Widget
node	job_listing	field_job_summary	text_with_summary	Job Summary	text_textarea_with_summary
node	job_listing	field_job_category	entity_reference	Category	options_select
node	job_listing	field_salary_min	integer	Min Salary	number
node	job_listing	field_company	entity_reference	Company	entity_reference_autocomplete

Add field groups (optional) - Use the Field Groups tab to organize forms:

Bundle	Group Name	Label	Format	Parent
job_listing	group_job_tabs	Job Info	tabs	-
job_listing	group_job_basic	Basic Info	tab	group_job_tabs
job_listing	group_job_compensation	Compensation	tab	group_job_tabs

Preview and Apply - Click Preview to see operations, then Apply to execute

Install Entity Builder and dependencies:

composer require drupal/eb drupal/eb_aggrid drupal/eb_field_group drupal/eb_pathauto drupal/eb_auto_entitylabel

Install AG-Grid library (requires Asset Packagist - see Installation Guide):
1
composer require npm-asset/ag-grid-community:33.0.0
Enable all modules:
1
drush en eb eb_ui eb_aggrid eb_field_group eb_pathauto eb_auto_entitylabel field_group pathauto auto_entitylabel -y && drush cr
Recommended: AG-Grid Interface

The eb_aggrid module provides a powerful spreadsheet-like AG-Grid interface for managing definitions. Strongly recommended for the best visual editing experience. Requires the AG-Grid library via Asset Packagist.

Import the included job board example:

1	`drush eb:import tests/fixtures/examples/job_board_platform.yml`

Review and Apply - Either review in the UI at /admin/config/development/eb and click Apply, or apply via Drush:
1
drush eb:apply job_board_platform

See the YAML Format Reference for creating your own definitions.

Real-World Example#

Entity Builder includes a complete Job Board Platform example with:

Component	Count	Details
Taxonomies	7	Categories, Types, Levels, Industries, Skills, Locations, Statuses
Content Types	4	Job Listing, Company Profile, Job Application, Company Review
Fields	60+	Text, entity references, images, files, lists, dates, booleans
Field Groups	40+	Tabbed layouts for organized forms and displays
Display Modes	Multiple	Default, teaser views with custom formatters
Extensions	All	Pathauto patterns, auto entity labels

See tests/fixtures/examples/job_board_platform.yml for the complete definition.

Architecture Diagram#

flowchart TB
    subgraph Phase1["Phase 1: Data Entry"]
        UI[Entity Builder UI]
        YAML[YAML Import]
        UI --> DEF
        YAML --> DEF
        DEF[(EbDefinition<br/>Config Entity)]
    end

    subgraph Phase2["Phase 2: Apply Workflow"]
        ODB[OperationDataBuilder]
        DR[DependencyResolver]
        CD[ChangeDetector]
        VM[ValidationManager]
        OP[OperationProcessor]
        RM[RollbackManager]

        DEF --> ODB
        ODB --> DR
        DR --> CD
        CD --> VM
        VM --> OP
        OP --> RM
    end

    subgraph Result["Result"]
        Drupal[Drupal Entities]
        Log[(EbLog)]
        Rollback[(EbRollback)]

        OP --> Drupal
        OP --> Log
        OP --> Rollback
    end

Available Extensions#

Extension	Requires	Adds
eb_ui	-	Interactive YAML editor UI for managing definitions
eb_aggrid	`npm-asset/ag-grid-community:33.0.0` via Asset Packagist	AG-Grid spreadsheet interface (strongly recommended)
eb_field_group	`drupal/field_group`	`field_group_definitions` array, `group` column
eb_pathauto	`drupal/pathauto`	`pathauto_pattern` column on bundles
eb_auto_entitylabel	`drupal/auto_entitylabel`	`auto_entitylabel_*` columns on bundles

Getting Started#

Ready to get started? See the Quick Start Guide for installation and your first definition.

Contributing#

Entity Builder is open source. See the Contributing Guide to get involved.