@rangojs/router 0.0.0-experimental.ea6d5eec → 0.0.0-experimental.ea9f40f2

package/skills/cache-guide/SKILL.md

@@ -1,13 +1,147 @@
 ---
 name: cache-guide
-description: When to use cache() DSL vs "use cache" directive — key differences and decision guide
+description: When to use cache() DSL vs "use cache" directive — key differences and decision guide. Use when unsure which caching mechanism fits a given problem, comparing route/segment caching, function-level caching, and document-level caching, or asking "which cache API should I use".
 argument-hint:
 ---
 
 # cache() vs "use cache" — When to Use Which
 
-Both mechanisms share the same backing store, cache profiles, and tag-based
-invalidation. They differ in scope, cache key, execution model, and runtime control.
+Both mechanisms share the same backing store and cache profiles, and both accept
+an optional `tags` field (honored by the built-in stores — invalidate with
+`updateTag`/`revalidateTag`; see "Two axes" below). They differ in scope, cache
+key, execution model, and runtime control.
+
+## Two axes — do not conflate
+
+Everything on this page is **axis 1: stored-value freshness** — _is a cached
+value still good?_ There is a second, orthogonal axis it is easy to mistake for
+caching:
+
+1. **Stored-value freshness** — _is a cached value still good?_
+   → `"use cache"` (fn/component), `cache()` (segment), loader `cache()` (loader data).
+   Entries expire by **TTL/SWR** and can be tagged (`cache({ tags })` or runtime
+   `cacheTag(...tags)` — inside `"use cache"` it tags that entry; called during a
+   request render outside `"use cache"` it tags the document/shell artifact).
+   Built-in stores (`MemorySegmentCacheStore`, `CFCacheStore`)
+   index by tag; invalidate on demand with `updateTag(...tags)` (awaitable,
+   read-your-own-writes) or `revalidateTag(...tags)` (background, non-blocking).
+   Both hard-purge; the difference is awaitability, not stale-serving.
+2. **Client-update selection** — _should this segment re-run and stream to the
+   client on this navigation/action?_
+   → `revalidate()`. Covered in `/loader` and `/route`, **not here**.
+
+They are orthogonal and compose: a segment selected by `revalidate()` still
+consults its cache (hit → no recompute); a cache bust does **not** force a client
+update, and `revalidate()` never reads, writes, or expires a cached value. If you
+know React Router, `revalidate()` is `shouldRevalidate`, not `Cache-Control`. See
+`/rango` → "Coming from another framework" for the cross-framework mapping.
+
+## Fast choice
+
+Read this first; use the rest of the page when the choice has edge cases.
+
+1. Do you want to cache an entire route or group of routes?
+   **Yes** -> `cache()`
+2. Do you need runtime conditions, such as skip for authed users or key by
+   locale?
+   **Yes** -> `cache()` with `condition` / `key`
+3. Do you want to cache a data fetch or helper shared across routes?
+   **Yes** -> `"use cache"`
+4. Do you need different cache entries for different function arguments?
+   **Yes** -> `"use cache"` (keyed by args)
+5. Is the expensive part rendering a subtree?
+   **Yes** -> `cache()` (caches rendered segments)
+6. Is the expensive part one query inside a larger live handler?
+   **Yes** -> `"use cache"` on the query function
+
+## Correctness & invalidation
+
+rango's caches are built so a hit can't serve wrong or stale-shaped data. These
+guarantees are mostly automatic — worth knowing so you don't reimplement
+protection the framework already gives you (or assume one it deliberately
+doesn't).
+
+There are two guard models to keep separate. Both block response side effects
+(`ctx.header()`, cookie writes) that would be lost on a hit; they differ in what
+else they allow:
+
+- **`cache()` boundary guard** (route-level) — fires while the handler runs on a
+  miss. `cookies()` and `headers()` throw (request-scoped data would be baked into
+  the shared cached shell), `ctx.get(nonCacheableVar)` throws (a tainted value
+  would be baked in), and response side effects (`ctx.header()`, `ctx.setCookie()`,
+  `ctx.setStatus()`, `ctx.onResponse()`) throw. `ctx.set()` of a cacheable var is
+  **allowed** — children are cached too and can read it. **Loaders are exempt**
+  (they always run fresh) — read request data inside a loader.
+- **`"use cache"` exec-guard** (function-level) — the same request-scoped APIs
+  throw inside the cached function (`cookies()`, `headers()`, `ctx.set()`,
+  `ctx.header()`); additionally, tainted `ctx`/`env`/`req` args are excluded from
+  the cache key.
+
+### Cross-deploy safety: version-segmented store keys
+
+`CFCacheStore` prefixes every **physical** store key (the CF Cache API URL and
+the KV key) with the build version — auto-generated from the
+`@rangojs/router:version` virtual module, overridable via the store's `version`
+option. A new deploy reads under a new prefix, so it can **never** read a
+previous build's entries: no cross-deploy shape drift, and no dead client-chunk
+references baked into cached RSC.
+
+The tradeoff to know: **loader/data caches use the same store**, so they're
+version-segmented too. Every deploy is therefore a _cold data cache_ — SWR can't
+soften it, because no stale entry exists under the new key. For high-traffic,
+frequently-deploying, data-bound apps that's a deploy-time origin warm-up. Decide
+deliberately: accept it (correctness over hit-rate), or split the policy — let
+the render/edge cache auto-version while a separate data store gets a stable
+`version` so its entries survive deploys. (Per-process stores like
+`MemorySegmentCacheStore` are cold on every restart anyway; this matters for
+persistent stores.) See `/caching` for store setup.
+
+### Client cache: forward/back is mutation-aware
+
+The browser keeps a history (forward/back) cache of rendered segments. Any
+client-side mutation (a server action) marks those entries **stale** and
+broadcasts it to other tabs. On back/forward (popstate) the router looks up the
+entry, sees it's stale, and revalidates — so your `revalidate()` predicates re-run
+and the segment refreshes (SWR: the stale view paints instantly, fresh data
+streams in). It's the client-side analog of the server-cache correctness problem,
+solved on the partial-render axis.
+
+### Request-scoped data: the `cache: false` taint
+
+`createVar({ cache: false })` (or a `ctx.set(var, v, { cache: false })` write)
+taints a value as request-scoped; reading it **directly** with `ctx.get()` inside
+a `cache()` boundary throws — the guard against the catastrophic "serve user A's
+data to user B" bug. The guarantee is precise and intentionally narrow — see
+"Context Variable Cache Safety" below for exactly what it does and does not catch.
+
+## Stale-while-revalidate
+
+SWR is a first-class cache behavior when the backing store supports it: while an
+entry is within its SWR window the cache serves the **stale value instantly** and
+refreshes it in the **background** (`waitUntil`), so users never wait on a
+recompute for a merely-aging entry.
+
+- **`"use cache"`** resolves to the `default` profile `{ ttl: 900, swr: 1800 }`,
+  so function/component caching gets a 30-minute SWR window **out of the box**.
+  Tune or add profiles via `createRouter({ cacheProfiles: { … } })`
+  (`"use cache: short"` → the `short` profile).
+- **`cache()` DSL and loader caches** take an explicit `swr` in seconds (or
+  inherit `store.defaults.swr`): `cache({ ttl: 60, swr: 300 })` → fresh ≤60s,
+  stale-served 60–360s, miss after 360s in stores that implement SWR for that
+  layer.
+- **Client forward/back** is SWR after a mutation — see "Correctness &
+  invalidation" → Client cache.
+- **Edge / document layer** uses the HTTP `stale-while-revalidate` directive; see
+  `/document-cache`.
+
+SWR softens normal TTL expiry, **not** a cross-deploy cold cache — a new build
+has no stale entry to serve (see version-segmented store keys above).
+
+Store support is layer-specific. `CFCacheStore` supports SWR for segment,
+document/response, and `"use cache"` item entries. `MemorySegmentCacheStore`
+supports SWR for response and `"use cache"` item entries, but its route-segment
+entries expire at TTL and never background-revalidate. Use the memory store for
+local/dev behavior, not as proof that segment SWR is active.
 
 ## Key Differences
 
@@ -18,7 +152,7 @@ invalidation. They differ in scope, cache key, execution model, and runtime cont
 | **Cache key**        | Request type + pathname + params (+ optional custom)  | Function identity + serialized non-tainted args    |
 | **Execution on hit** | All-or-nothing: entire handler skipped                | Partial: function body skipped, calling code runs  |
 | **Runtime control**  | `condition` to disable, custom `key` function         | None — if the directive is present, it caches      |
-| **Side effects**     | No guards needed — handler doesn't run on hit         | `ctx.header()`, `ctx.set()`, etc. throw at runtime |
+| **Side effects**     | Response side effects throw inside the boundary       | `ctx.header()`, `ctx.set()`, etc. throw at runtime |
 | **Handle data**      | Captured and replayed                                 | Captured and replayed                              |
 | **Loaders**          | Always fresh — excluded from cache, opt-in per loader | Can be used inside loaders                         |
 | **Nesting**          | Nest `cache()` boundaries with different TTLs         | Compose by calling cached functions from uncached  |
@@ -144,13 +278,38 @@ On cache hit for the route, the handler doesn't run and `getProductData` is neve
 called. On cache miss, the handler runs and `getProductData` may itself return a
 cached value from a previous call with the same slug.
 
+### Nesting rule: the outer window bounds the inner
+
+A cache's window bounds everything rendered inside it (loaders excepted). An
+inner shorter TTL only takes effect when the **enclosing** cache recomputes — it
+does **not** keep a value fresher than its parent:
+
+- Outer `cache()` **fresh hit** → the subtree is served from stored RSC, so inner
+  `"use cache"` functions are **not consulted** (frozen at the outer's age — no
+  code inside the boundary runs on a hit).
+- Outer **miss / SWR revalidation** → inner caches are consulted, each per its own
+  ttl/swr. With SWR on the outer, a stale subtree serves instantly and refreshes
+  in the background, so under traffic it keeps refreshing rather than rotting to
+  the worst case.
+- **Loaders are the exception** — excluded from the segment cache, re-resolved
+  live even on an outer hit.
+
+So `"use cache: short"` (60s) inside `cache({ ttl: 600 })` yields ~600s freshness
+on hits, **not** 60s. This is not a bug: setting `cache({ ttl: 600 })` declares
+"this subtree may be ~600s stale." **If a value must be fresher than its
+enclosing segment, put it in a loader** (always live). `debugPerformance` prints
+cache hits per layer, so the actual per-request behavior is observable.
+
 ## Headers and Cookies
 
 Neither mechanism caches response headers or cookies.
 
-- **cache()**: Headers set by handlers are naturally absent on hit because no
-  handler runs. If you need headers on every response, set them in middleware
-  (which runs before cache lookup).
+- **cache()**: Response-level side effects throw inside the cache boundary even
+  on a miss: `ctx.header()`, `ctx.setCookie()`, `ctx.deleteCookie()`,
+  `ctx.setStatus()`, `ctx.onResponse()`, and direct `ctx.headers` mutation. On a
+  hit the handler would be skipped, so allowing the write on a miss would produce
+  inconsistent responses. If you need headers or cookies on every response, set
+  them in middleware or a live segment outside the cache boundary.
 - **"use cache"**: cookies() and headers() throw inside the cached function
   (both reads and writes). ctx.header() also throws. Move them outside.
 
@@ -162,6 +321,88 @@ middleware(async (ctx, next) => {
 });
 ```
 
+## Context Variable Cache Safety
+
+Context variables created with `createVar()` are cacheable by default and can
+be read freely inside cached scopes. A non-cacheable var throws when read
+**directly** with `ctx.get()` inside a `cache()` boundary — where the value would
+otherwise be serialized into the stored segment.
+
+There are two ways to mark a value as non-cacheable:
+
+```typescript
+// Var-level policy — inherently request-specific data
+const Session = createVar<SessionData>({ cache: false });
+
+// Write-level escalation — this specific write is non-cacheable
+ctx.set(Theme, derivedTheme, { cache: false });
+```
+
+"Least cacheable wins": if either the var definition or the `ctx.set()` call
+specifies `cache: false`, the value is non-cacheable.
+
+**Behavior inside a `cache()` boundary:**
+
+| Operation                                 | Inside a `cache()` boundary                            |
+| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
+| `cookies()` / `headers()` (read or write) | Throws (request-scoped, would poison the shared entry) |
+| `ctx.get(cacheableVar)`                   | Allowed                                                |
+| `ctx.get(nonCacheableVar)`                | Throws (would be baked in)                             |
+| `ctx.set(var, value)` (cacheable)         | Allowed                                                |
+| `ctx.header()` / cookie writes            | Throws (response side effect would be lost on hit)     |
+| Any of the above **inside a loader**      | Allowed (loaders always run fresh)                     |
+
+(Both scopes block the same request-scoped APIs — `cookies()`, `headers()`,
+response side effects, and non-cacheable `ctx.get()` — because each would leak
+per-request data into a shared cache entry. The `cache()` boundary tracks the
+scope via `isInsideCacheScope()`; `"use cache"` uses the exec guard and also
+excludes tainted `ctx`/`env`/`req` args from the cache key. Loaders are exempt in
+both — see "Headers and Cookies" and the precise guarantee below.)
+
+Write is dumb — `ctx.set()` stores the cache metadata but does not enforce.
+Enforcement happens at read time (`ctx.get()`), where ALS detects the cache
+scope and rejects non-cacheable reads.
+
+### The guarantee is precise — a direct read inside `cache()`, not propagating
+
+The guard fires on a **direct** `ctx.get(taintedVar)` **inside a `cache()`
+boundary** (the scope `isInsideCacheScope` detects). The taint lives on the
+variable; a value **derived** from it and read **outside** the boundary is not
+tracked:
+
+```typescript
+// CAUGHT — direct read of a tainted var inside a cache() boundary
+cache({ ttl: 60 }, () => [
+  path("/dashboard", (ctx) => {
+    const user = ctx.get(User); // throws: non-cacheable read inside cache()
+    return <Dashboard user={user} />;
+  }, { name: "dashboard" }),
+]);
+
+// NOT CAUGHT — read outside the boundary, derived value cached
+layout((ctx) => {
+  const name = ctx.get(User).name; // allowed — this layout is not cached
+  ctx.set(UserName, name); // now a plain (cacheable) string
+  return <Outlet />;
+}, () => [
+  cache({ ttl: 60 }, () => [
+    // a child reads ctx.get(UserName) and silently caches user-derived data
+  ]),
+]);
+```
+
+So do **not** read this as "you can't cache user data" — that overstates it and
+breeds the false confidence that makes the derived leak _more_ likely. The guard
+is deliberately non-propagating (propagation would cost a wrapper per derivation
+on the hot path), and it is scoped to the `cache()` segment boundary. `"use
+cache"` functions block the same request-scoped reads (`cookies()` / `headers()`
+throw inside them) and additionally exclude tainted `ctx`/`env`/`req` args from
+the cache key. The pattern that stays safe is also the natural one:
+**read tainted context at the point of use, in the path that needs it (a loader or
+live segment) — never extract user data into a plain value and cache that.**
+Loaders are exempt because they run outside the cache scope and resolve fresh
+every request.
+
 ## Loaders Are Always Fresh
 
 Loaders are **never cached** by route-level `cache()`. Even on a full cache hit
@@ -185,7 +426,7 @@ subsequent siblings. Everything below the cache boundary is cached as one unit:
 
 ```typescript
 path("/dashboard", DashboardPage, { name: "dashboard" }, () => [
-  cache("long"),
+  cache({ ttl: 300 }),
   layout(DashboardSidebar, () => [
     parallel("@stats", StatsPanel),
     parallel("@activity", ActivityFeed),
@@ -205,7 +446,7 @@ boundary are not cached and always re-render:
 layout(RootLayout, () => [
   // RootLayout is NOT cached — runs every request
   path("/products/:slug", ProductPage, { name: "product" }, () => [
-    cache("long"),
+    cache({ ttl: 300 }),
     layout(ProductSidebar),
     parallel("@reviews", ReviewsPanel),
     parallel("@related", RelatedProducts),
@@ -240,23 +481,9 @@ data is cached independently from the route's segment cache. Loader caching
 supports custom keys, tags, SWR, conditional bypass, and per-loader store
 overrides — see `/loader` for the full reference.
 
-## Decision Flowchart
-
-1. Do you want to cache an entire route or group of routes?
-   **Yes** -> `cache()`
-2. Do you need runtime conditions (skip for auth users, key by locale)?
-   **Yes** -> `cache()` with `condition` / `key`
-3. Do you want to cache a data fetch shared across routes?
-   **Yes** -> `"use cache"`
-4. Do you need different cache entries for different arguments?
-   **Yes** -> `"use cache"` (keyed by args)
-5. Is the expensive part rendering, not data fetching?
-   **Yes** -> `cache()` (caches rendered segments)
-6. Is the expensive part a single query inside a larger handler?
-   **Yes** -> `"use cache"` on the query function
-
 ## See Also
 
 - `/caching` — cache() DSL setup, stores, nested boundaries
 - `/use-cache` — "use cache" directive details, profiles, transforms, guards
 - `/document-cache` — Edge caching with Cache-Control headers (different layer)
+- `/ppr` — PPR shell caching: cached HTML shell + live loader holes (different layer)