Caching XML?

[jayc]

I'm going to be heavily using an XML configuration file on an upcoming project. However, logic tells me loading a XML parser object to display every page isn't going to be too efficient.

Perhaps I could extend Smarty's behavior. In other words, as long as the configuration file hasn't changed, don't change the page any. Otherwise, recompile. I'm sure there would be some way to add this to Smarty.

Or, incorporate some sort of caching technique into the XML class. In my CS studies (2 semesters, not very lengthy) I haven't come across any caching topics. If anybody knows of any general CS caching discussions, those too would be of help.

Any random comments would be greatly appreciated!

[drawmack]

you could do what I call server side caching.

When you edit the xml file it's modified date will change.

With this bit of information run a cron job that checks your xml change dates. If those dates don't jive with what the cron job 'remembers' them being then you update the relevent html pages from the xml files.

Now when someone comes to your site they can just view the html files and you've got the most efficient, load time, xml parser on earth.