Drupal Release: 7.0-unstable-9

TL;DR

Drupal 7.0-unstable-9 brings significant improvements to the admin interface, API enhancements, and performance optimizations. This release introduces translatable fields, a revamped toolbar, improved accessibility features, and a more intuitive content authoring experience. The update also includes major architectural changes like the removal of the function registry, standardized entity loading, and the addition of the File module to core. These changes provide a more robust foundation for developers while making the CMS more user-friendly for content creators and site administrators.

Highlight of the Release

• Added support for translatable fields to Field API
• Removed function registry while keeping class registry for autoloading
• Added File module to core
• Improved administration interface with reorganized sections and categories
• Enhanced accessibility features throughout the system
• Standardized entity loading for nodes, users, taxonomies, files, and comments
• Improved user roles and permissions API
• Added pluggable SMTP/mail framework
• Added drupal_render() cache pattern for improved performance

Migration Guide

Function Registry Removal

If your module relied on the function registry, you'll need to update your code. The class registry remains intact for autoloading.

Class Attribute Changes

The 'class' attribute now uses an array instead of a string. Update your theme functions and templates accordingly:

// Old way
$attributes['class'] = 'my-class another-class';

// New way
$attributes['class'] = array('my-class', 'another-class');

Block API Changes

hook_block_list() has been renamed to hook_block_info() for consistency. Update your block implementations:

// Old way
function mymodule_block_list() {
  // ...
}

// New way
function mymodule_block_info() {
  // ...
}

Elements API Changes

hook_elements() has been renamed to hook_elements_info() for consistency. Update your form element implementations:

// Old way
function mymodule_elements() {
  // ...
}

// New way
function mymodule_elements_info() {
  // ...
}

Field API Changes

Several Field API functions have been renamed or moved. Check the documentation for specific changes to field_attach_* functions.

Custom Block Naming

'box' has been renamed to 'custom block' throughout the system. If you referenced the 'box' table directly, update your code to use 'block_custom'.

Upgrade Recommendations

For Site Administrators

This is an unstable development release (7.0-unstable-9) and should not be used on production sites. It's recommended for testing purposes only.

If you're currently running 7.0-unstable-8, you can upgrade to test new features and provide feedback, but be prepared for potential issues.

For Developers

This is a good time to start testing your modules against Drupal 7 to identify compatibility issues. Key areas to focus on:

1. Field API changes, especially if you work with custom fields
2. Entity loading mechanisms
3. Block and filter system changes
4. Class attribute handling in themes

Testing Environment

Set up a separate testing environment before attempting to upgrade any site that contains valuable content or configuration.

Module Compatibility

Many contributed modules will not yet be compatible with this development version. Check each module's project page for Drupal 7 compatibility information.

Bug Fixes

Filter System Fixes

• Fixed 'Escape all HTML' filter which was not escaping any HTML
• Fixed filter settings storage and improved API

Menu and Navigation Fixes

• Fixed hierarchy generation in menu_tree_data()
• Fixed broken links in administration interface
• Fixed error when editing roles
• Fixed block titles not being copied when switching to a new theme

Form and Field Fixes

• Fixed bug with formatter settings getting lost when saving a field
• Fixed lost field weights when submitting 'Display fields' screen
• Fixed bug causing decimal places not to be saved in number module
• Fixed bug with autocomplete functionality
• Fixed autocomplete errors from whitespace entry

Performance and Caching Fixes

• Fixed bug causing authoring information to never be updated
• Fixed tracker performance issues
• Fixed block caching form_alter() which was in wrong file post-registry rip
• Fixed bug with language-specific caching

Security Fixes

• Fixed missing validation for hook_user()
• Fixed src attribute for external JavaScript to be HTML-encoded

Other Fixes

• Fixed broken trigger module
• Fixed non-by-reference use of drupal_static()
• Fixed collapsible fieldsets in Garland
• Fixed error with user registration when configured not to use emails
• Fixed menu_get_names() crash
• Fixed trailing commas in JavaScript causing syntax errors in IE

New Features

Translatable Fields

Field API now supports translatable fields, allowing for multilingual content management at the field level.

File Module in Core

The File module has been added to core, providing improved file handling capabilities throughout Drupal.

Maintenance Mode Permission

A new permission has been added to allow specific roles to access the site while it's in maintenance mode.

Pluggable SMTP/Mail Framework

Added a pluggable SMTP/mail framework to make email configuration more flexible.

CDN Integration Support

Added hook_file_alter() to facilitate integration with Content Delivery Networks.

Improved Administration Interface

• Created 'People and permissions' section in configuration
• Added 'Regional and language' section
• Created 'Search and metadata' category
• Added 'Web services' category
• Created 'Content authoring' category
• Added 'System' configuration section

Enhanced Entity API

Standardized, pluggable entity loading for nodes, users, taxonomies, files, and comments.

New Hooks and APIs

• hook_page_build() that runs before hook_page_alter()
• hook_goto_alter() for SSL support
• hook_file_alter() for CDN integration
• Text format API to manipulate formats
• User roles and permission API improvements

Security Updates

Hook_user() Validation

Fixed missing validation for hook_user(), addressing security advisory SA-CORE-2009-001.

HTML Encoding

Fixed src attribute for external JavaScript to ensure it's properly HTML-encoded, preventing potential XSS vulnerabilities.

SSL Support

Made SSL support easier by providing two cookies and hook_goto_alter(), improving secure connections.

Private File Transfers

Fixed incorrect expiration headers with private file transfers, ensuring better security for protected files.

Performance Improvements

Function Registry Removal

Removed the function registry while keeping the class registry intact. This improves development experience while maintaining autoloading capabilities.

Tracker Performance

Significant performance improvements to the tracker module.

Caching Enhancements

• Added drupal_render() cache pattern and started using it for blocks
• Improved performance of field_attach_query() by adding indices
• Fixed and improved the caching code for better performance with language-specific content

Menu Rebuild Optimization

Instead of a full menu rebuild, set a variable indicating it's needed. This speeds up tests by a factor of at least two.

Memory Management

Reset statics after each update to conserve memory and avoid odd bugs.

Database Optimizations

• Removed global placeholder counter to support Views caching
• Moved query_alter() into a preExecute() method for better query handling
• Added support for random ordering in dynamic select queries

Impact Summary

Drupal 7.0-unstable-9 represents a significant step forward in Drupal's evolution with major architectural improvements and user experience enhancements. The addition of translatable fields opens new possibilities for multilingual sites, while the standardized entity loading system provides a more consistent API for developers. The inclusion of the File module in core addresses a long-standing need for better file handling.

For site administrators, the reorganized administration interface with logical categories makes site management more intuitive. Content creators will appreciate the improved editing experience, particularly for summary/body fields.

Developers benefit from numerous API improvements, including better hooks, a more robust database layer with UNION support, and enhanced caching mechanisms. The removal of the function registry while maintaining the class registry for autoloading strikes a balance between performance and developer experience.

Accessibility improvements throughout the system demonstrate Drupal's commitment to being inclusive, with better screen reader support and more semantic markup.

As an unstable development release, this version showcases the direction Drupal 7 is taking, with a focus on improved APIs, better user experience, and enhanced performance. These changes lay the groundwork for a more powerful and flexible content management system.