Caching Plugins and Anspress
I have spend all Weekend to try most caching plugins and Anspress (latest), to see what works and what needed to be excluded from caching.
So i would like to share what i found. Most caching plugins needed to exclude the pages from caching in order to have fresh data (replies and comments). Otherwise the new data was not updated.
BUT i found one caching plugin that out-of-the-box played well with Anspress and needed NO changes (excluded pages etc etc). That is ZenCache Lite (previously named QuickCache). ZenCache updates the cache when a new question is asked and when replies and comments are posted. Out of the box.
So if anybody is struggling with caching, maybe he could try ZenCache. Apart from compatibility with Anspress, ZenCache is also the best IMHO plugin for WP caching.
I hope i have helped.
I am using WP Super Cache plugin, with “Don’t cache pages for known users. (Recommended)” and “Clear all cache files when a post or page is published or updated.” both enabled.
Latter may cause some performance issues once I hit tens of thousands of visitors per hour, but since it’s not the case for 99% of us including me, works fine as it is.
I’ll make sure to post/brag after I hit performance issues with my current setup.
“Don’t Cache pages for known users” means Logged in users, am i right ?
But the second option you mention, should not be enabled. Why ? Because everything is cleared. So caching is not happening.
For my case: i have 8000+ blog posts. Imagine what will happen if i enable this.
The correct solution is for each plugin to check for the caching API and maybe write a patch or a plugin. Also WP Supercache is old software and poorly supported. People get it because it says “Automattic”.
Yes, for logged in users. Minority of my users are not served from cache at all.
Yes, in your case clearing 8000+ posts from cache could be an Issue.
First of all, we should understand why you have cache. I have it to survive possible frontpage of reddit. Meaning HUGE traffic to a single page. In described case, even in your circumstances there will be no problem with cache: every time a comment or answer is posted, whole cache is cleared, but then one query to a page under “reddit frontpage” attack – and it’s cached again until new comment is posted. This would mitigate 99.(9)% of load on that page, problem solved.
If on the other hand you want to use cache as a trick to make google think your site loads fast, then you’d have to have all pages cached all the time. Then some thought have to be applied, and I’d probably end up with setup you described in your “question”.
Just sharing my view of this situation: for people like me without special demands, other caching solutions might work well out of the box without any tuning required as well.
“WP Supercache is old software and poorly supported. People get it because it says “Automattic”.”
Oh, it is from creators of WordPress, I didn’t know.
It works perfect for me (20 ms page load instead of 800ms+, using mod_rewrite), when/if it will fail to cover any of my new needs, I’ll look into something else.
@Dima – Not sure what exactly you want to say about caching. Without caching my website(s) are constantly being “limited” or “throttled” as they say. Because of limitations on entry processes, cpu and disk i/o. Since my 8000+ posts are never changed, a static page for each is saving me a fortune. So clearing all that every hour or day because somebody posted a comment or a question, is crazy.
Also deleting 8000 posts will definitely put unwanted load to the server.
Supercache was initially developed by a guy and then bought by Automattic. For me and others it is outdated softwate. ZenCache or HyperCache are much better, faster and don’t put stress to the server.
btw: all this will change a bit with PHP 7 that will speed the whole internet.
See an example from my Home Page:
ZenCache file path: /cache/zencache/cache/http/www-website-com/index.html
ZenCache file built for (http://website.com/) in 0.50225 seconds, on: Nov 8th, 2015 @ 12:03 am UTC
This ZenCache file will auto-expire (and be rebuilt) on: Nov 8th, 2016 @ 12:03 am UTC (based on your configured expiration time).
ZenCache fully functional :Cache file served for (http://www.website.com/) in 0.00060 seconds, on: Nov 9th, 2015 @ 1:51 am UTC.
________________
Created the FIRST time in 0.50255 seconds (php & mysql) and then SERVED in .0.00060 seconds
Do you realize the gain ? I can server much-much-much more visitors at the same time.
Dear @Cagkiostro,
I have big site with more than 100,000,- posts and thinking about moving to anspress. So, I’m wondering how you are doing? Would you recommend any cache plugin?
Thanks a lot 🙂
@mike
If you have 100.000 posts with or without Anspress, then why on earth don’t you already have a caching plugin ?
Hi @Cagliostro …simple answer… I’m only thinking about moving to WordPress and AnsPress 😉
So, the the question is still the same 😉
WP Fastest Cache can clear cache just for a single post after it was updated. Moving my sites over to it from WPSC. Looks pretty ok for now. Most importantly, codebase is ok and author is super responsive.
Thanks a lot @Dima 🙂
Thanks for the tip! I Haven’t tried ZenCache before, but I’ll check it out