> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.varbase.vardot.com/developers/understanding-varbase/site-templates/varbase-starter.md). # Varbase Starter **Varbase Starter** is the default site template of Varbase 11, and the recipe-first successor to the older profile-based install. It works on both the Varbase project and Drupal CMS. ## Drupal.org Project ## Demo * Site: * Storybook: ## Release and Requirements * Latest release: **1.0.4** (27 September 2026), see the [release notes](https://www.drupal.org/project/varbase_starter/releases/1.0.4). * Drupal core `^11.4`, on Drupal CMS 2 or on Varbase 11 (`drupal/varbase_project:~11.0.0`). * PHP 8.4, see [Requirements](/developers/installing-varbase/requirements.md). ## Recipe Type Site recipe (full site template) ## Overview Varbase Starter is one site template recipe that composes the Drupal CMS and Varbase base recipes into a working site, then installs **Vartheme BS5** and sets the front page. It ships home, about, features, blog, and contact pages built with **Drupal Canvas**. The Varbase project requires Varbase Starter, so a new Varbase site already has it. The other Vardot site templates are built the same way. ## What You Get * **Drupal CMS recipes**: admin UI, authentication, media, forms, search, SEO basic and SEO tools, accessibility tools, anti-spam and privacy. * **Varbase base recipes**: users, admin, security, media, editor, content, Canvas, workflow, SEO, webform, page, blog and performance. * **Vartheme BS5** installed and set as the default theme, with the front page set to `/home`. * **A home page built with Drupal Canvas** out of Vartheme BS5 components, with ready-made patterns editors can drop onto any page. * **Demo content** from Varbase Demo Content: blog posts, pages, a media library and menus, so the site looks functional on first boot. * **Search preconfigured** with Search API, including a search block added by a config action. * **Editorial workflow**, content moderation and content access permissions ready out of the box. ## Recipe Dependencies Depends on the following recipes: | Recipe | Description | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [**Varbase Users Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-users-base.md) | Default user roles, account settings, and user management configurations. | | [**Drupal CMS Admin UI**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-admin-ui.md) | Administrative theme and navigation for Drupal CMS. | | [**Drupal CMS Anti-Spam**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-anti-spam.md) | Anti-spam and anti-abuse functionality. | | [**Drupal CMS Authentication**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-authentication.md) | Enhanced authentication features. | | [**Drupal CMS Forms**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-forms.md) | Contact form and form building tools. | | [**Drupal CMS Media**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-media.md) | Media types with responsive images, focal point, and SVG support. | | [**Drupal CMS Privacy Basic**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-privacy-basic.md) | Basic privacy features with consent management. | | [**Drupal CMS SEO Basic**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-seo-basic.md) | Basic SEO with URL aliases and redirect management. | | [**Drupal CMS SEO Tools**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-seo-tools.md) | Advanced SEO with meta tags and XML sitemaps. | | [**Drupal CMS Accessibility Tools**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-accessibility-tools.md) | Automated accessibility checks. | | [**Drupal CMS Search**](/developers/understanding-varbase/drupal-cms-recipes/drupal-cms-search.md) | Fast, flexible site search. | | [**Easy Email Express**](/developers/understanding-varbase/easy-email-recipes/easy-email-express.md) | All-in-one HTML email support. | | [**Varbase Admin Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-admin-base.md) | Default admin experience with Gin theme, navigation, and admin tools. | | [**Varbase Security Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-security-base.md) | Hardened security with password policies and spam prevention. | | [**Varbase Media Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-media-base.md) | Comprehensive media handling with image styles and media library. | | [**Varbase Editor Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-editor-base.md) | CKEditor 5 with rich text editing capabilities and plugins. | | [**Varbase Content Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-content-base.md) | Core content configuration including node types and taxonomy. | | **Varbase Canvas Base** | Installs Drupal Canvas and the Canvas Override module for per-content Canvas layout editing. | | [**Varbase Workflow Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-workflow-base.md) | Content moderation, scheduled publishing, and workflows. | | [**Varbase SEO Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-seo-base.md) | Comprehensive SEO modules and configurations. | | [**Varbase Webform Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-webform-base.md) | Webform modules for building and managing forms. | | [**Varbase Page Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-page-base.md) | Page content type with SEO fields, editorial workflow, and menu configuration. | | [**Varbase Blog Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-blog-base.md) | Blog post content type with listing page. | | [**Varbase Performance Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-performance-base.md) | Page caching, image optimization, and performance settings. | | [**Varbase Demo Content**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-demo-content.md) | Demo content for new Varbase sites. | {% hint style="info" %} On the Varbase project, the Varbase profile also downloads optional recipes into the project's `recipes/` folder without applying them: [**Varbase API Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-api-base.md), [**Varbase Auth Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-auth-base.md), [**Varbase Internationalization Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-i18n-base.md), [**Varbase Development Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-recipes/varbase-dev-base.md), and [**Varbase AI Base**](/developers/understanding-varbase/varbase-ai-recipes/varbase-ai-base.md). You can apply any of them on demand with Drush. A Drupal CMS site with Varbase Starter does not get them. {% endhint %} ## Included Themes | Theme | Description | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [**Vartheme BS5**](https://www.drupal.org/project/vartheme_bs5) | Starterkit theme for Varbase standard websites. Based on Bootstrap 5 framework using SASS. | ## Setup A site template is applied **during** the site installation, so it is chosen in the installer rather than applied to a site that is already installed. ### Install With the Drupal CMS Installer Varbase Starter is listed in the Drupal CMS installer. You need [DDEV](https://docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/install/) installed; see also the [DDEV Drupal CMS quickstart](https://docs.ddev.com/en/stable/users/quickstart/#drupal-drupal-cms). ```bash mkdir my-drupal-site && cd my-drupal-site ddev config --project-type=drupal11 --docroot=web ddev composer create-project drupal/cms ddev launch ``` In the browser, choose the **Varbase** card (Created by Vardot) on the **Choose a site template** step and finish the installation. No `composer require` is needed. The card is named **Varbase**; the package is still `drupal/varbase_starter`.
The Varbase card in the Drupal CMS installer, created by Vardot, with its description and the Learn more, Demo and Documentation links

The Varbase Card in the Drupal CMS Installer

### Scripted Install With Composer and Drush For scripted or CI installs, require the template and install the site with Drush. Tested on Drupal CMS 2.2.0 with Drupal core 11.4.8. ```bash mkdir my-drupal-site-varbase_starter cd my-drupal-site-varbase_starter ddev config --project-type=drupal11 --docroot=web --php-version=8.4 ddev start ddev composer create-project drupal/cms ddev composer require drupal/varbase_starter ddev drush site:install -y ../recipes/varbase_starter ddev drush cache:rebuild ddev launch ``` {% hint style="info" %} Add `--site-name="Varbase Starter"` to the `site:install` line to name the site; without it the site is named "Drush Site-Install". Keep the cache rebuild: right after install the home page can serve a cached 404 until the cache is rebuilt. Without DDEV, run the same `composer` and `drush` commands without the `ddev` prefix. {% endhint %} ### Set Up on the Varbase Project With DDEV See [Installing Varbase With DDEV](/developers/installing-varbase/installing-varbase-with-ddev.md) for the full guide. ```bash mkdir my-varbase-starter-site cd my-varbase-starter-site ddev config --project-type=drupal11 --docroot=web --php-version=8.4 ddev start ddev composer create-project drupal/varbase_project:~11 ddev launch ``` Varbase Starter comes with the Varbase project, so there is nothing to require. Finish the installation in the browser and select **Varbase Starter** in the **Choose a site template** step.