Hello, community! Today, I want to share with you how to use Lithe Cache, a simple and efficient caching module that utilizes the filesystem. Lithe Cache is a great option for anyone looking to improve the performance of their PHP applications, allowing you to store and retrieve data quickly. Let’s take a look at how to set it up and use it in your project.

What is Lithe Cache?

Lithe Cache is a module that allows you to store data in cache, which can help reduce the response time of your application by avoiding repeated database queries or unnecessary calculations. It stores data in files on the filesystem, making it easy to use and implement.

Installing Lithe Cache

To install the lithemod/cache module, you can use Composer. Run the following command in the root directory of your project:

composer require lithemod/cache

Using Lithe Cache

After installation, follow the steps below to configure and use Lithe Cache:

1. Configuring the Cache Directory

Before using the cache, you need to define the directory where cached data will be stored. You can do this by calling the dir method of the Cache class:

use Lithe\Support\Cache;

// Define the cache directory
Cache::dir(__DIR__ . '/cache');

2. Storing Data in Cache

To store data, use the add method. You can specify a key, the data to be stored, the expiration time, and the serialization method to use:

// Add data to the cache
Cache::add('my_data', ['foo' => 'bar'], 3600, 'serialize'); // Using serialize

3. Retrieving Data from Cache

To retrieve stored data, use the get method:

// Retrieve data from the cache
$data = Cache::get('my_data');

if ($data === null) {
    echo "Data not found or expired.";
} else {
    print_r($data);
}

4. Checking Data Existence in Cache

To check if a cache entry exists and is valid, you can use the has method, which now accepts both a single key and an array of keys:

// Check if a single key exists
if (Cache::has('my_data')) {
    echo "Data is in the cache.";
}

// Check multiple keys
if (Cache::has(['key1', 'key2'])) {
    echo "All keys are in the cache.";
} else {
    echo "One or more keys were not found or are expired.";
}

5. Invalidating Cache Data

If you need to remove data from the cache, use the invalidate method. You can now invalidate a single key or an array of keys:

// Invalidate a single cache key
Cache::invalidate('my_data');

// Invalidate multiple keys
Cache::invalidate(['key1', 'key2', 'key3']);

6. Using `remember`

The remember method allows you to retrieve data from the cache or execute a callback to fetch fresh data if it is not found in the cache:

$data = Cache::remember('my_key', function () {
    // Logic to fetch data if not in cache
    return ['foo' => 'bar'];
}, 3600, 'serialize'); // Using serialize

print_r($data);

Final Considerations

Permissions: Ensure that the cache directory has appropriate write permissions to avoid access issues.
Serialization Methods: Lithe Cache supports both serialize and json for serializing data before storing it. Choose the method that best fits your application’s needs.
Directory Structure: Lithe Cache organizes cache files into subdirectories for easier searching and improved performance in large directories.

With Lithe Cache, you have a lightweight and easy-to-use caching solution that can be integrated into various PHP applications, providing improved performance and a smoother user experience. Give it a try and see the difference that caching can make in your application!

Improving the Performance of Your PHP Application with Lithe Cache