[development] Referential integrity -- finally?

[Earnest Berry III]

Hm. Could there be a way to keep both optimization and the abstraction 
layer?
e.g. I can still do my case $db_type for fine grained schema creation 
control, and then after my switch run a general 
db_create_table($table_array) for tables that do not need the 
fine-grained control.....but then again....that's riding the 
fence...hmm...yeah, no win-win here. blah.

Dries Buytaert wrote:
>
> On 23 Jan 2007, at 13:04, Gerhard Killesreiter wrote:
>>> I think there needs to be some effort put in to better the 
>>> abstraction we currently have. e.g db_add_column() only exists for 
>>> PostgreSQL. We'd get rid of a mountain of code if all updates were 
>>> moved to use that function for both MySQL and PostgreSQL. It would 
>>> also reduce the barrier for module developers to write PostgreSQL 
>>> compatible code.
>>> What do you guys think of this?
>>
>> Problem is that Dries doesn't like this _at_ _all_. :p
>>
>> His argument is IIRC that we should stick to as plain SQL as possible 
>> to not further increase the barrier of entry for people already 
>> knowing SQL.
>
> When working with databases you want to know _exactly_ what is 
> happening with your fields, types, keys and indices -- and the order 
> thereof.  An abstraction layer makes that less transparant.
>
> Plus, SQL is already an abstraction layer so we'd be adding an 
> abstraction layer on top of an abstraction layer.  It's a little 
> implementing a new template language in PHP (cfr. Smarty) -- PHP is 
> already a template language.
>
> At the same time, an abstraction layer makes it easier to port and 
> update modules.
>
> Conclusion: there is no win-win situation -- each direction has 
> advantages and disadvantages.
>
>> While his argument has merit, I think it is put ad absurdum by the 
>> fact, that Drupal doesn't have any plain sql files anymore.
>
> Yes, with the install system, the facts has changed.  "Ad absurdum" is 
> too strong a word (but it sure sounds cool. ;)  I don't mind us 
> opening this discussion again.
>
> The more I think about it, the more it boils down to this question.  
> What do we care more about?  Optimizing Drupal for developers, or 
> getting more database experts on board?
>
> -- 
> Dries Buytaert  ::  http://www.buytaert.net/
>