[development] memcache

[Robert Douglass]

The API for this is in place. Steve Rude and I will be overhauling the 
current memcache code to better utilize the built-in cache 
infrasctructure. Basically, it should all start with a cache_{custom 
table name} table and use cache_get and cache_set. Module developers are 
getting wise to the benefits of having their own cache tables (Views), 
and when I've evaluated and committed Steve's code, we'll have a caching 
system that first looks to memory based caching and then to db based 
caching for any given resource. This way, we can approach all caching 
issues in a general way, and the merits of node caching, for example, 
can be discussed in the context of Drupal core without having to worry 
about compatibility with the caching layer.

-Robert

Chris Johnson wrote:
> I don't quite understand Dries remark "I'm fairly convinced that 
> memory-based caching ... is the way forward rather than file-based 
> caching."  That remark seems to presuppose knowing every site's and 
> host's situation (impossible) or to say that file-based caching will 
> never provide enough performance benefit over what we have now.
>
> I think the real way forward is object-based caching hooks in core and 
> a pluggable cache interface.  Ideally, one would have tiered caching, 
> so that more than one cache mechanism could be plugged in, and various 
> types of caching (object, page, menu, query, etc.) could be assigned 
> to one of the available mechanisms.  However, that ideal would be many 
> steps down the road, if ever, due to the complexity involved.
>
> Instead, we should at least allow site owners to chose amongst memory, 
> file and database caching at a minimum.
>
> As for object-based caching, start with nodes.  Eventually, add other 
> common objects, e.g. users, and provide an API(?) to make it easy for 
> contrib modules which create new objects to cache their objects  as well.


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