# Deactivate page cache for development? **URL:** \ **Category:** Radiant CMS\ **Created:** [December 29, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664 "2006-12-29T18:57:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/1 "2006-12-29T18:57:10Z")
Hello list! Is it possible to disable the page caching mechanism during development of a Radiant web site? Thanks in advance! Best regards, Andreas S. ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/2 "2006-12-29T19:21:21Z")
Andreas, I believe if you comment line 8 of environment.rb and restart your web server it will, be default, not cache pages. ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 10:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/3 "2006-12-30T22:21:15Z")
Thanks! it works … BUT: After deactivation of the caching mechanism i clicked the ‘Clear page cache’ button … oh my! Only the files ‘.htaccess’ and ‘index.yml’ are still in the ‘public’ directory under the radiant root dir. _All_ other files - inclusive the ‘images’ subdirectory - are gone. Is that a feature??? Best regards, Andreas S. Ruben D. Orduz schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/4 "2006-12-30T22:25:18Z")
On 12/30/06, Andreas S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > After deactivation of the caching mechanism i clicked the > ‘Clear page cache’ button … oh my! > Only the files ‘.htaccess’ and ‘index.yml’ are still in > the ‘public’ directory under the radiant root dir. _All_ > other files - inclusive the ‘images’ subdirectory - are > gone. Is that a feature??? Gee, I hope not! :-/ -M ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/5 "2006-12-30T22:51:27Z")
errr…being in development mode should do nothing to your file system. That is really, really, really weird. PS.: You all Radiantists have a happy and safe new year. ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/6 "2006-12-30T22:33:21Z")
Mislav Marohnić schrieb: > Gee, I hope not! :-/ If so, then i am happy that i encountered that behavior during development 😉 Best regards, Andreas S. Mislav Marohnić schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/7 "2006-12-31T14:16:33Z")
Hi Andreas, I’m at a loss here, cause 1) am not sure why you’re losing your files inside RAILS\_ROOT/public and 2)am not too familiar with the ideocincracies of Mongrel. I run all my apps with Apache/FCGI and works pretty good–and it has never erased any of my files. It’s a scary thought that a web server (Mongrel) can – and does – delete physical files from the file system with a change of settings. I’d look into Mongrel documentation, instead of Radiant, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/8 "2006-12-31T15:18:42Z")
Hi Ruben, same behavior with Webrick: My startup command (location: ‘’): ‘sudo ruby script/server webrick -e production’. The only files still in ‘/public’ (after ‘Clear page cache’) are ‘index.yml’ and ‘.htaccess’. Wanna try for yourself (i have no Apache-FCGI setup) ;-\ ? _A happy and healthy new year to all list members!_ Best regards, Andreas S. Ruben D. Orduz schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/9 "2006-12-31T16:56:53Z")
Andreas, Can you try ommiting the “-e production” flag when starting either Mongrel or WEBrick? Or try replacing it with “-e development”? Still I think it’s REALLY weird that your files in public are gone…that’s baffling. Happy new year to you too! ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/10 "2006-12-31T11:54:15Z")
@Ruben: I have to correct something: My start command for Radiant is: ‘sudo mongrel\_rails start -e production’. So I believe i use Radiant in ‘production mode’ (unlike ‘development mode’), yet i developing the website (my meaning of ‘during development’). That’s not the preferred way of working with a Rails app, isn’t it? However: If i deactivate the caching (in ‘environment.rb’) and then start Radiant with ‘sudo mongrel\_rails start -e production’ and then click the ‘Clear page cache’ button in the admin interface and then loosing most files in ‘/public/’ … looks still like a malpractice to me. Best regards, Andreas S. Ruben D. Orduz schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/11 "2006-12-31T20:29:24Z")
Andreas, I have used Radiant in all its released versions and the mental branch, and I can assure you that it DOES NOT delete any files in public/ for any reason, whether in development or production mode. Check your system settings, make sure that some other process, cron job or system tool hasn’t “cleaned” the folder. Rather than being inflammatory, it would help more if you could identify offending lines of code or trace the evidence of your problem and submit the results as a trouble ticket on the Trac. I’m sorry you are having difficulty with it, but we can help you better if you provide more information. Sean C. [seancribbs.com](http://seancribbs.com) ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/12 "2006-12-31T18:29:02Z")
@Ruben: Not good. I’ve created a new Radiant site ‘test\_site’ and a mysql database ‘test\_site’. Then i filled the development tables with ‘script/setup\_database development’. I use the option 3, full featured blog. Starting: ‘mongrel\_rails start -e development’. I use the browser to see the new blog website, all fine. Then logging in to the admin interface of Radiant and change the blog title. Save that change (‘Save changes’) and BANG! All files in ‘\/public’ (except for ‘styles.css’, ‘.htaccess’, ‘index.yml’) are gone … In development mode Rails caching (thus Radiant caching) is general deactivated. I believe the caching of Radiant needs some improvements. So: _DON’T USE RADIANT IN DEVELOPMENT MODE FOR WEBSITE CONSTRUCTION!_ From the presentation of the ‘Denver Derailed meeting September 27, 2006’ by Nathan W.: “Please note that because Radiant is already a complete and tested application, we will NOT be running it in development mode; instead we will be using production mode. Radiant is significantly faster in production mode, and it is only in production mode that page caching takes place.” Greetings, Andreas S. Ruben D. Orduz schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/13 "2006-12-31T20:51:26Z")
I agree with Sean. I have used both development and production modes liberally and hitherto it has worked flawlessly and have not lost ANY files and have not lost ANY DB records. I’m fairly sure it is not a Radiant issue (at least not as direct consequence). ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/14 "2006-12-31T21:29:33Z")
It is possible that it was using #{RAILS\_ROOT}/public as the cache directory and clearing the cache deleted items in your /public directory. In development mode you should see changes immediately, but even so, I would say put that line back in environment.rb and see what happens. Cheers, Sean ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/15 "2006-12-31T21:09:30Z")
@Sean, @Ruben, it was not my intent to be inflammatory, really. Please consider: I’ve commented out line 44 of ‘config/environment.rb’ (line 44: config.action\_controller.page\_cache\_directory = “#{RAILS\_ROOT}/cache”). Perhaps that is a subtle distinction to your setup. I made that to see changes in children of pages without clicking ‘Clear page cache’ first. If i have time i will look at the source code (after finishing the client project). Best regards, Andreas S. Sean C. schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/16 "2006-12-31T21:47:39Z")
@Sean, yes, I’ve put line 44 back in ‘environment.rb’ and all seems fine. Now - where i know that development mode gives me instant feedbacks - i will use development mode during development of my Radiant website (without doubt that makes sense …). Sorry for all the traffic here. Best regards and a happy new year, Andreas S. P.S.: Is it possible to verify your assumption with the rails console (‘script/console’)? Sean C. schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/17 "2006-12-31T22:05:40Z")
Yes, Andreas S. wrote: > Andreas S. > > P.S.: Is it possible to verify your assumption with the rails console > (‘script/console’)? Yes, you can verify where it puts the cache in script/console with this line: puts ActionController::Base.page\_cache\_directory Cheers, Sean ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/18 "2006-12-31T22:37:51Z")
@Sean, ## line 44 of ‘config/environment.rb’ _in_: > > puts ActionController::Base.page\_cache\_directory > > script/…/config/…/config/…/cache > > =\> nil * * * ## line 44 of ‘config/environment.rb’ _out_: > > puts ActionController::Base.page\_cache\_directory > > script/…/config/…/config/…/public > > =\> nil * * * You’re right! Thanks! No more mystery for me! … now i can eat my quiche 🙂 Best regards, Andreas S. Sean C. schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/19 "2006-12-31T23:18:01Z")
Okay, ‘Agile Web D. with Rails’ (First Edition), page 335 says: “Page cache files are by default stored in the public directory of your application.” Perhaps it would be nice to include a warning in ‘config/environment.rb’ NOT to comment out line 44 … to avoid such mail threads 😉 (Or perhaps it would be nice to have educated users …) Best regards, Andreas S. Andreas S. schrieb: ---
**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664/20 "2008-12-17T02:48:24Z")
Andreas S. wrote: > Okay, ‘Agile Web D. with Rails’ (First Edition), page 335 > says: > “Page cache files are by default stored in the public directory of > your application.” > > Perhaps it would be nice to include a warning in ‘config/environment.rb’ > NOT to comment out line 44 … to avoid such mail threads 😉 > (Or perhaps it would be nice to have educated users …) I just experienced this too. So how do I disable page caching without erasing my public directory contents? Thanks, Steve [Next page](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deactivate-page-cache-for-development/80664.md?page=2)