Anti-Cache Kit is a development tool for WordPress developers and designers who need to bypass all caching and optimization mechanisms during development, testing, or troubleshooting.

Development tool only. Do not leave active on production sites.

Key features

Cache and optimization management

Automatically detects, flushes, and deactivates 20+ cache plugins
Removes cache drop-ins (object-cache.php) so caches that keep working through a drop-in actually stop
Deactivates optimization plugins that interfere with debugging (Perfmatters, FlyingPress, WP Asset CleanUp, and more)
Never deactivates Query Monitor, the debugging tool you need while troubleshooting
Clears object cache (Redis, Memcached) and OPcache
Clears hosting-specific caches (SiteGround, Cloudflare, Kinsta, and Varnish on demand)
Prevents browser caching for administrators

Server-level cache prevention

Injects .htaccess rules via the WordPress markers API, no backup file needed
Disables SiteGround cache via environment variables
Sets no-cache, no-store headers at server level for all visitors
Disables ETags and mod_expires to prevent conditional caching
Sends CDN/proxy bypass headers (X-Accel-Expires, Surrogate-Control)
Detects nginx and Caddy and skips rules that would not apply there, offering an equivalent nginx snippet to copy instead
Cleanly removes only its own rules on deactivation, leaving the rest of .htaccess untouched

Debug mode activation

Enables WP_DEBUG, WP_DEBUG_LOG, and SCRIPT_DEBUG (errors go to wp-content/debug.log)
Sets WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY to false so errors are logged, not shown on screen
Disables WordPress cache (WP_CACHE = false)
Comments out conflicting definitions with visible markers instead of deleting them
Wraps its own definitions in markers and reverts them on deactivation, preserving any WP_DEBUG, WP_CACHE or SCRIPT_DEBUG you had set yourself
Modifies wp-config.php with the WordPress Filesystem API, validates the result before writing, and never keeps a copy of your credentials on disk

Maintenance mode

Optional status page for non-logged visitors
Quick toggle from admin bar
Customizable via filter hook
Self-contained output with aggressive cache prevention headers (503, no-store, Surrogate-Control)

Safety and environment

Detects production sites with wp_get_environment_type() and shows a dismissible warning, plus a red dot in the admin bar
Status panel reflects the real state: debug constants, server rules, detected environment, and whether wp-config.php is writable
Removes its options and any leftover backup directory from older versions on uninstall

Supported cache plugins

WP Rocket
W3 Total Cache
WP Super Cache
WP Fastest Cache
LiteSpeed Cache
SiteGround Optimizer
WP Optimize
Hummingbird (WPMU DEV)
Breeze (Cloudways)
Autoptimize
Cache Enabler
Surge
Redis Object Cache
Powered Cache
Comet Cache
Swift Performance
Nginx Helper
NitroPack
SpinupWP
Docket Cache
Object Cache Pro

Supported optimization plugins

Perfmatters
FlyingPress
WP Asset CleanUp
Object Cache 4 Everyone
DietPress (WPO Tweaks)
Clearfy Cache
EWWW Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer

Supported hosting caches

SiteGround (via .htaccess environment variables and plugin API)
Cloudflare (both new and legacy namespaces)
Kinsta
Varnish (opt-in, best-effort PURGE/BAN when detected)
Generic hosting cache systems

Developer Information

Hooks and Filters

ayudawp_anticache_maintenance_data – Filter to customize maintenance page data (heading, status, message, retry)
ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins – Filter to modify the list of supported cache and optimization plugins
ayudawp_anticache_purge_varnish – Filter to force the opt-in Varnish purge on or off (return true or false)

Constants

AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_VERSION – Plugin version
AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_DIR – Plugin directory path
AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_URL – Plugin directory URL
AYUDAWP_ANTICACHE_PLUGIN_BASENAME – Plugin basename for hooks

Code examples

Customize maintenance page:

add_filter( 'ayudawp_anticache_maintenance_data', function( $data ) {
    $data['heading'] = 'My Site Name';
    $data['status'] = 'Updating...';
    $data['message'] = 'We are deploying a new version. Back in a few minutes.';
    return $data;
} );

Add a custom cache plugin:

add_filter( 'ayudawp_anticache_cache_plugins', function( $plugins ) {
    $plugins['my-cache/my-cache.php'] = array(
        'name' => 'My Cache Plugin',
        'type' => 'cache',
    );
    return $plugins;
} );<h3>Support</h3>

Need private support or custom development?

Do you need one-on-one help, priority troubleshooting, or a custom feature, integration, or tweak built specifically for your site? I offer private support and custom development. Just contact me and tell me what you need.

Need help or have suggestions?

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About AyudaWP

We are specialists in WordPress security, SEO, and performance optimization plugins. We create tools that solve real problems for WordPress site owners while maintaining the highest coding standards and accessibility requirements.