[Catalyst] What value does an ORM add?

[Dami Laurent (PJ)]

> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 08:33:56 -0700
> From: Steve Atkins <steve at blighty.com>
> Subject: [Catalyst] What value does an ORM add?
> 
> I'm comfortable with SQL, and with DBI. I write basic SQL 
> that runs just fine on all databases, or more complex SQL 
> when I want to target a single database (ususally postgresql).
> 
> What value does an ORM add for a user like me?
> 

Hi Steve,

There are lots of ORMs around, and each of them stresses different
functionalities, so this shows there are definitely many areas where
people feel an ORM can help. You already mentioned caching. Here is a
short list of some other features :

  - automatic navigation between tables, filling join criteria
(sometimes with 
    automatic choice of INNER/OUTER joins).

  - automatic data conversions when reading or writing to the database
(scalar
    conversions or 'inflating/deflating' between scalars and Perl
objects)

  - help to generate complex SQL queries from Perl datastructures

  - automatic expansion of tree data structures coded in the relational
model

  - transaction encapsulation 

  - automatic data validation at update

  - auto-filling some columns at update (i.e. with username and
date/time of modif)



Best regards, Laurent Dami