I had a question, that I don't want to continue with without getting more professional advice.

Should I be using a database abstraction layer ( class ) or stick with the mysql_functions? I want a fast app but I do plan on releasing it / having others contribute. The goal is speed and flexibility to have addons installed with relative ease on user and developer, giving them a barebones app from the start and allowing them to make something truely theirs once they are done.

Might be aimed more towards developers, but I just don't see the need in my case. Not like some large corporation will be using it and 5 months down the road decide they need their programmer to switch to Oracle.

Any advice?