SUR What and Why

Now that I'm sitting down to write this, I'm beginning to think of this as a FAQ. So, I'll write it as such.

Q: What is Small Unit Raid?

A: A non-OO php db abstraction library. Lightweight, speed, and ease of use is the objective.


Q: Do we really need another abstraction library? 

A: Isn't that a matter of what one (as opposed to we) is after in a library? If what you're after has 
   tons of functionality, then I would suggest something like Adodb. If you don't need 800K methods (an 
   obvious exgaeration) but insist on OO, Eclipse. Most web developers for example seldom need more than 
   what Eclipse has to offer. If you feel that retrieval, update, and insertion of data in a web 
   application is critical and should also perform with utmost haste, and you don't need tons of 
   functionality and you don't insist on using classes, Small Unit Raid just may be what you are after.


Q: Why not OO?

A: 1) One of the things I wanted was something small. Eclipse allready does that using OO. 
   2) I personally can't justify the speed hit of OO in some circumstances. 


Q: Are you anti OO? 

A: Not at all! I think OO is awesome from an abstract AND practical point of view. BUT(!), that doesn't 
   mean it's suitable for all things and required for everything else, nor are you automically going to 
   get spaghetti code just becuase you don't OOP. Another fallacy is that non-OO code can not be written with 
   a high level of abstraction. Bad code is written all the time, regardless of the paradigm. With OO, that 
   bad code (or spaghetti if you prefer) is tucked away in a class. 


Q: Is the use of transactions supported?

A: Yes. And I know they function as I use them in here at work. That doesn't mean they're perfect! 


Q: What databases are supported now? 

A: MySQL is it for now. I'm looking next at Frontbase and Postgres. Want to help? 



I can't think of anything else, but I'm sure soemone will ask them. 

Cheers,
BDKR (Terrence Cox)