Vaadin @Javascript : clear cache for updated JS file

Question

I have a @JavaScript annotation in my application to load a .js file from the classpath.

Now I've made an update to the file and redeployed (locally), but I always get the old version back. I've tried reloading everything (ctrl+R, ctrl+F5) but that doesn't work and also I wouldn't want the users to have to do that.

A trick I used in the past (without Vaadin) was to append a request parameter with the version (e.g. ?version=1) and update that so that the URL changes. But apparently that isn't allowed for the @JavaScript annotation (Vaadin doesn't even try to load the file).

Answer 1

I have overcome this by utilizing the resourceCacheTime parameter of the Vaadin servlet configuration:

@VaadinServletConfiguration(ui = MyUI.class, resourceCacheTime = 0)

Although it has its limitation as described in my answer to another question here.

Answer 2

This is browser feature to localy cache JS files, nothing to do with Vaadin.

As you figure it out yourself: If you want to make sure users have latest version of JS file, you should rename JS file name to: script_buildNumber.js.

Answer 3

Use the Chrome's incognito feature (and not use it when visiting spicy/unpleasant websites).

Just open your browser in Incognito mode https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464?hl=en and the browser will cache nothing.

Other browsers have this feature as well (Opera, IE, Firefox, Safari).

Answer 4

As I noted in my comment on the question on January 12th, renaming the file worked. This seems to be currently the only way, although it's far from ideal.