wp-cache experiences?

[jshaffstall]

I've just recently enabled wp-cache on my blog and suffered through some initial problems with my RSS feed. I've got that sorted out, but it appears that the cached version of the feed is labeled as "text/html" rather than whatever feeds are supposed to be.

I saw this using FeedValidator.org. The first time I validated (and the page was generated dynamically) it validated fine. Everytime after that (when it was served from the cache) it gave me a warning about "text/html".

Has anyone seen any adverse effects on their RSS feeds from running wp-cache? My blog doesn't need a cache right now, but I'd wanted to play with it while traffic is low.

Jay

[jshaffstall]

Well, I thought I'd worked out the RSS problems, but the forum's still displaying an error for the RSS feed, even though FeedValidator says it's okay except for the encoding.

Jay

[jshaffstall]

With wp-cache disabled, FeedValidator.org says the feed is okay. This post is primarily a test to see if the forum software thinks it's okay.

Jay

[Bloggeries]

Hi Jeff,

I don't have much experience playing with wp-cache. Care to expand on it a bit as to why you were for the benefit of the other forum members? Regarding your feed everything seems to be working alright now though.

[jshaffstall]

I currently have wp-cache deactivated so the feed's back to normal. When I get another chance I'll activate it and see if the feed still goes wonky.

The idea behind wp-cache is that a normal Wordpress page, with plugins active, is the result of a series of database queries. Each of these queries takes time, although normally the amount of time is lost in the normal lag on the Internet so you don't really notice it.

If a site starts getting a lot of traffic, though, the cumulative effects of the small delays starts to slow down the server. wp-cache saves the result of the database queries so that they don't need to be made again. So the first time that a page is accessed, the database queries are made normally...the second and future times, the page is provided without needing to perform the database queries, and theoretically this means less delay.

On a site with high traffic, the difference can be significant.

My site isn't anywhere near needing a cache yet, but I figure that's the time to play with it and get it working.

In defense of wp-cache, I tracked my original problem down to a modification I'd made to get wp-cache to play with another plugin (but I'd subsequently not used that other plugin, which caused an error in wp-cache).

So my instinct is that wp-cache itself probably isn't going to affect the RSS feed, I just haven't had the chance to reactivate it and spend some time verifying that.

[Bloggeries]

The idea behind wp-cache is that a normal Wordpress page, with plugins active, is the result of a series of database queries. Each of these queries takes time, although normally the amount of time is lost in the normal lag on the Internet so you don't really notice it.

So my instinct is that wp-cache itself probably isn't going to affect the RSS feed, I just haven't had the chance to reactivate it and spend some time verifying that.

Very interesting and something I'll be looking into. I had never really taken the time to explore that area so thank you for sharing with it with all of us. Always better to tinker and plan for the big time before you get there. How is your RSS working now?

Rob

[jshaffstall]

Well, in a classic example of changing too many variables at once, I've started using FeedBurner for my RSS feeds, along with enabling wp-cache again.

It seems to have mostly worked out, though. This forum's properly picking up the feed, but the DP forums aren't picking up the latest post. I'll have to check into that, but I think it's more a FeedBurner issue than anything related to the cache.

Jay

[Bloggeries]

Originally Posted by jshaffstall

Well, in a classic example of changing too many variables at once, I've started using FeedBurner for my RSS feeds, along with enabling wp-cache again.
Jay

Well good luck with it and let us know if it was feedburner. I agree on the classic example over time I've learned to only ever make 1 change at a time so you can know what it did. I've done the too many variables changed at a time. Wht a headache!

[jshaffstall]

The issue with the DP forums was FeedBurner. When I pointed them back to the standard Wordpress feed, they started picking up the latest post again.

Jay