[Melbourne-pm] Apache Cache

[Mathew Robertson]

>> As to the origonal problem -> we want thumbnails, thus caching was
>> suggested.  Why caching?   What is the problem that we are trying to
>> solve?  To generate smaller images automatically?
> 
> The original problem - YES - the extended problem - NO - the question
> was - is there a standard way of using caches in Apache, as it seems
> every module does its own thing - in this particular case I don't think
> I should use a cache API. Explanation...
> 
> For Thumbnails - most likely: (n hours is configurable)
> 
>     * Create image with reasonable expiry (e.g. n hour)
>     * On a request for IMS (if mod since) - pass it through to the
> subrequest (i.e. leave it to the original file)
>       (this may be inefficient - might make it configurable)
>     * On new request get local file, if modified longer than n hours,
> then check headers of original file
>     * If out of date - regenerate, write to disk
>     * If in date - redirect to local file and update expiry
>     * Note: check the pragma nocache and expiry of original and inherit
> if smaller (for generated objects).
> 
> Nice thing about the solution above is that the cache is just files on
> the disk sure, but it is then using Apache to do all the hard work. And
> Apache is already insanely fast at providing files.
> 
> The only work it is therefore doing is checking some dates and
> generating the thumbnail if it must.
> 
> By checking pragma and expiry it covers the cases when thumbnails can't
> be cached (e.g. generated on the fly).
> 
> HOWEVER... If I write code that always generates the thumbnail from the
> original, and plug in mod_cache in front - it is the same thing :-)
> mod_cache already does almost all of the above.

As you just said, in this example caching buys you nothing as Apache
can already serve the files quite fast.

I guess what I was asking was, why cache at all?  What is it that
you are trying to do with the cache?

- Reduce CPU load when the inbound request asks for a thumbnail, by
pre-generating the thumbnails, rather than loading the origonal file
then making a temporary thumbnail?  (The original question sounded
like it might be this.)

- Are you trying to save bandwidth by sending smaller files?

Can you not cache?  ie: when you upload the image, you generate a
thumbnail there and then - no caching needed.

Mathew