How do I force nodes to have revisions by default when using REST?

The node type setting mentioned by the other answers only applies to the node form, it does not affect programatically saved nodes.

You could try to implement hook_node_presave() and call setNewRevision(TRUE) or maybe the same in hook_node_load(). Or override the rest plugin (assuming you use that and not your own controllers).

You should be able to set this option to be checked by default. If you go to the edit page for your content bundle (i.e. admin/structure/types/manage/article), under Publishing options, you can enforce new revisions by default.

For Drupal 8 you can do the following in your custom .module file

use Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityInterface; /** * @param \Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityInterface $node * */ function my_module_node_presave(EntityInterface $node) { // Force creating of new revision $node->setNewRevision(TRUE); // Set data for the revision $node->setRevisionLogMessage('My custom revision message.'); $node->setRevisionUserId(123); $node->setRevisionCreationTime($_SERVER['REQUEST_TIME']); } 

I have developed a solution that works for us, based on Berdir's advice. My biggest trouble was improper implementation of hooks. I didn't know that in D8 hooks must (still) go into the .module file. Here's what we do to patch nodes via a rest route and force new revisions.

Patch via rest like this:

function patchNode(csrfToken, id, package) { $.ajax({ url: 'http://example.com/cms/node/' + id + '?_format=hal_json', method: "PATCH", data: JSON.stringify(package), headers: { "X-CSRF-Token": csrfToken, "Accept": "application/hal+json", "Content-Type": "application/hal+json" }, success: function(data, status, xhr) { console.log('patchNode successful.') } }); } 

Create a module to implement setNewRevision via hook_node_presave. Hooks should go in to the .module file for your module.

<?php /** * * @file * Force Revisions * * creates a new revision of a node on every save event * */ use Drupal\Core\Entity; use Drupal\node\Entity\Node; use Drupal\Core\Entity\EntityInterface; function force_revisions_node_presave(EntityInterface $node) { $node->setNewRevision(TRUE); }