Drupal's new database layer

Submitted by Crell on June 8, 2009 - 21:47

drupal 7

Your session in a few words:

Overview of the new Drupal 7 database architecture

Track:

Code it, test it, deploy it

Session Type:

Lecture

Level of expertise:

Intermediate

Language:

English

Drupal's database layer has undergone a major overhaul in Drupal 7 to take advantage of new and powerful features in PHP 5. The new system includes over a dozen new features, from a query builder in core to support for Master/slave replication. As with most major overhauls, however, that means API changes. This session will cover the challenges of database abstraction, Drupal's approach, and how to fully leverage the new system in your own code and sites.

Agenda

Database abstraction: Why it's hard and even an unsolvable problem.
The old Drupal approach, and why it's not good.
The new Drupal approach, how to use it, and why it's awesome.
Leveraging the database on your own code.

Goals

After attending this session, you should have a good idea of ways to leverage the new, modernized database system for your own modules and sites.

Conference is sold out

Larry Garfield

After four years working with Drupal, Larry Garfield is the Senior Lead of Programming at Palantir.net. He also serves as the Director of Legal Affairs for the Drupal Association, and since 2008 has been the Drupal database system maintainer. He also maintains a number of modules, including several Views plugins. When he's not leading a crack team of Drupal gurus to build sites for universities and art museums, he can often be found gutting and rewriting major Drupal subsystems for fun, or visiting his therapist about that issue.