Traditionally in ColdFusion we have used <cfquery/> to hold SQL code that interacts with our data for inserting, updating, and returning one or more records back from our data stores. At best, most developers find this process to be redundant for simple functions. We will be looking at a new paradigm where our code that interacts with databases is easier to write, easier to update, and in some cases, more featured.
A side benefit to using ORM that most have not considered is that it makes code more portable. If you want to share code you write or code that others write in your applications, one of the historical obstacles would be making sure they were using the same SQL platform as you. ColdFusion 9 has put a superb interface on a technology created for the Java world called Hibernate. In the same style that working with <cfquery/> has kept data interaction simple, this interface is somewhat like data technology 2.0 for ColdFusion developers...