DrupalCon Sydney 2013: Managing Code and Configuration with Update Functions (and staying sane)

This talk examines the importance of managing changes across development, staging, and production environments in Drupal site development. The speaker discusses how using hook_update_N() can streamline the process of adding custom fields to content types, ensuring consistency in deployments. Aimed at developers familiar with building custom modules and install profiles, the session covers general concepts, planning strategies, and provides practical examples of update functions for both beginner and intermediate levels. By adopting these practices, developers can avoid the chaos of manual updates and maintain peace of mind during site management.