pcache: Erlang Process Based Cache

pcache uses erlang processes to auto-expire cache items.

pcache is an improved version of the cache described in http://duomark.com/erlang/publications/acm2006.pdf

Usage

The cache server is designed to memoize a specific Module:Fun. The key in a cache is the Argument passed to Module:Fun/1.

Start a cache:

    CacheName = my_cache,
    M = database,
    F = get_result,
    Size = 16,     % 16 MB cache
    Time = 300000, % 300k ms = 300s = 5 minute TTL
    Server = pcache_server:start_link(CacheName, M, F, Size, Time).

The TTL is an idle timer TTL. Each entry resets to the TTL when accessed. A cache with a five minute TTL will expire an entry when nothing touches it for five minutes. The entry timer resets to the TTL every time an item is read. You need to dirty a key when the result of M:F(Key) will change from what is in the cache.

Use a cache:

    Result = pcache:get(my_cache, <<"bob">>).
    pcache:dirty(my_cache, <<"bob">>, <<"newvalue">>).  % replace entry for <<"bob">>
    pcache:dirty(my_cache, <<"bob">>).  % remove entry from cache
    pcache:empty(my_cache).  % remove all entries from cache
    RandomValues = pcache:rand(my_cache, 12).
    RandomKeys = pcache:rand_keys(my_cache, 12).

Bonus feature: use arbitrary M:F/1 calls in a cache:

    Result = pcache:memoize(my_cache, OtherMod, OtherFun, Arg).
    pcache:dirty_memoize(my_cache, OtherMod, OtherFun, Arg).  % remove entry from cache

pcache:memoize/4 helps us get around annoying issues of one-cache-per-mod-fun. Your root cache Mod:Fun could be nonsense if you want to use pcache:memoize/4 everywhere.

Short-hand to make a supervisor entry:

   SupervisorWorkerTuple = pcache:cache_sup(Name, M, F, Size).

Status

pcache is production ready. It has been used by some of the smallest sites on the Internet for years.

Building

    rebar compile

Testing

    rebar eunit suite=pcache

TODO

Add tests for

• Other TTL variation
• Reaper
• Highly concurrent execution (guard against key collisions)

Future features

• Add option for storing cache entries in a compressed ETS table
  • Countdown processes can handle ets lookups
  • When the key times out, it deletes its own data from ets
• Cache pools? Cross-server awareness?