Eloquent Driver Pros & Cons

[webzes]

Hello all

I am looking to start my next project and I am hoping to use Statamic as the CMS.

I would like to use the eloquent driver for collection content as this would allow me to utilize some native Laravel packages that require adding traits to the models etc...

I have seen somewhere that the eloquent driver for Statamic does not support eager loading relationships, is this true?

Also is there a document somewhere that lists the pros and cons of using either flat file vs eloquent? I am fully aware flat file would be faster, I am just more interested in a comparison of functionality.

I have seen the Runway plugin but for now, I am looking to stay first-party as much as possible.

Thanks!

[joshuablum]

Hey @webzes,

I would like to use the eloquent driver for collection content as this would allow me to utilize some native Laravel packages that require adding traits to the models etc...

Feel free to use the Eloquent Driver just for collection content. You can configure what's stored in files and what's in the database in the driver's config. On top of that, the Eloquent Driver supports importing from files and exporting back to flat files at any time. So you can just give it a try, see here.

I have seen somewhere that the eloquent driver for Statamic does not support eager loading relationships, is this true?

Yes, iirc.

Also is there a document somewhere that lists the pros and cons of using either flat file vs eloquent? I am fully aware flat file would be faster, I am just more interested in a comparison of functionality.

No, there is no such document (yet). We usually recommend to stay flat file as long as it works for you or specific requirements of your project require a database. Again, you can move to the database (or back) at any point.

I have seen the Runway plugin but for now, I am looking to stay first-party as much as possible.

Runway is an awesome addon and might be even better for your project depending on your needs. And it's part of the Rad Pack and the creator, @duncanmcclean, joined Statamic and is part of the Core Team. So no need to worry about it not being "first-party".

[ryanmitchell]

FWIW I help maintain the eloquent driver, and I always reach for Runway before I consider going to eloquent. More often than not its one or two collections that require database support and Runway fits the bill perfectly for that.

[webzes]

Great, thanks for your replies. I did not realise Rad Pack was part of the core team so that gives me the confidence to use Runway for such an important part of the CMS 👍