DrupalCon Seattle 2019: Backwards Compatibility 🆚 Evolvability 🆚 Maintainability

This talk explores the importance of backwards compatibility in software development, particularly focusing on Drupal 8 and its extensive API surface. The speaker, who has worked on Drupal 8 core at Acquia since its inception, shares insights from their experience in improving RESTful Web Services support, enhancing JSON API, and addressing the challenges of maintaining compatibility with architectural decisions. The session delves into strategies for making modules more evolvable, examining the balance between the benefits of backwards compatibility and the potential burdens it entails, as well as emphasizing the necessity for conscientious decision-making regarding API design. The speaker invites ongoing discussion and critical thinking about backwards compatibility as a crucial aspect of Drupal's development process.