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Page errors on the lite cart

Item: #34
Date: 30 Aug 2001
Applies to
v3
v4
v5

Question

I have downloaded the lite version to test. Sometimes I get page errors. If I close out the browser and go back, everything is fine.

Answer

CactuShop Lite uses inferior 'session variables' to store the basket details from page to page. Session variables are held in memory at the server and are linked to users by tracking cookies. Many developers use these for ease but they are less robust. The server wipes them if the user appears to be inactive for more than a specified period in order to reclaim memory. This is what causes the errors on session-based carts - if you read a page for too long or break for a cup of tea, your basket is history.

Unlike most of the competition, the full version of our cart stores basket information on cookies. This is more robust. Cookies don't use server memory so are more suited to busy sites, they never time out, and they can even be used with clustered servers.

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