Site Modes in JCP – Live, Development and Debugging

The JCP provides three distinct Site Modes – Live, Development, and Debugging to help you manage your website effectively depending on its lifecycle stage. Each mode adjusts caching, search engine visibility, and diagnostic tools to suit your needs.

Live Mode

• Purpose: Default mode for production websites.
• Features:
  • Enables all caching mechanisms (Full Page Cache, PHP Op Cache, Browser Caching, GZIP compression).
  • Optimizes site performance for end users.
  • Makes the site discoverable by search engines like Google and Bing.
• Use Case: Recommended when your site is complete and ready for public access.

Development Mode

• Purpose: Ideal for building and editing websites.
• Features:
  • Disables all forms of caching to provide an up-to-date view of changes.
  • Blocks search engine crawling to prevent incomplete or draft content from being indexed.
• Use Case: Use during design, content creation, or code changes to ensure accurate previews without caching interference.

Debugging Mode

• Purpose: Designed for troubleshooting and performance analysis.
• Features:
  • Enables WordPress debug mode (if applicable).
  • Displays PHP errors and notices on the frontend for easier issue identification.
  • Disables caching and compression (Full Page Cache, PHP Op Cache, Browser Caching, GZIP).
  • Activates the PHP Slow Request log for performance monitoring.
  • Provides access to logs (access, error, debug logs) within JCP.
• Use Case: Use temporarily when diagnosing issues. Not recommended for long-term use due to performance impact.

How to Switch Modes

1. Log in to your JCP.
2. Navigate to the Site Management page.
3. Locate the Mode dropdown box in the Overview section.
4. Select Live or Development or Debugging depending on your use case.
5. Confirm your choice by clicking the tickbox next to the dropdown.

Best Practices

• Keep your site in Live Mode when serving real users.
• Use Development Mode during active site changes to avoid caching conflicts.
• Enable Debugging Mode only when troubleshooting, and disable it once issues are resolved to restore performance.