SilverStripe 4.0: Changes to Files

With SilverStripe 4.0 expected to be released this year, we thought it would be a good time to talk about some of the new features it will contain.

Keep in mind that the features we talk about today may not be exactly the same as those in a stable release. SilverStripe 4.0 isn't yet alpha, so the API may still change substantially. In general, the features should still remain the same though.

Almost a year ago, the first SilverStripe RFC was proposed. It outlined a new approach to asset management, and a new set of APIs with which to do so. The basic idea was that asset management can sometimes be complicated. Gone are the days when you could just move an uploaded file to a public directory, for the world to see. Applications are far more complex these days. They often span multiple nodes and data centres. They often separate CPU processing from the filesystem altogether. They are often sensitive, requiring authenticated access.

Abstract Persistence Layer

Yet I'm pleased to say that the new asset management system is designed to take these things into account. A new database field,  DBFile , has been introduced, which abstracts the details of file storage and retrieval. This abstraction is contained within an Asset Persistence Layer.

This persistence layer can be configured to upload files directly to places like Amazon S3. It gracefully handles conflicting file names. It generates derived files, such as thumbnails and combined JavaScript/CSS files. It even serves to replace direct file URL references with short-codes, in HTML text fields.

Versioned and Secure

In addition to these new features, files will now be versioned. That means you will be able to upload new versions of files without changes going live immediately. You'll be able to delay the release of files, and revert to older versions of files. You'll never lose another upload, thanks to this versioning! We're also bringing in the functionality of the Secure Files module. Files will be secure by default, with the option to open them up to the world.

New Files UI

We're also greatly improving the way you work with files, in the CMS. We've studied a few approaches, and decided ReactJS holds the most promise for this part of the CMS. We're even working towards incorporating features from popular modules like KickAssets, to bring the best the community has to offer into the core of SilverStripe.

We're keen to share more about this aspect of 4.0, but it deserves a post of its own. Are you as excited, about SilverStripe 4.0, as we are? Tell us what you think of these changes in the comments.

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Photo by Olga Berrios.