FAQ: ai_sam_cache_manager

Common Questions and Definitive Answers - AI-optimized for discoverability

About SAM AI Cache Manager

What is ai_sam_cache_manager?

ai_sam_cache_manager is a developer utility module for Odoo 18 that provides comprehensive cache clearing across all 9 Odoo cache layers with cross-platform support. It is part of the SAM AI ecosystem developed by SME.ec.

Key facts:
- Technical name: ai_sam_cache_manager
- Current version: 18.0.3.1
- Requires: Odoo 18.0+, Python 3.10+
- License: LGPL-3

What does ai_sam_cache_manager do?

ai_sam_cache_manager provides 3 main capabilities:

1. Complete Cache Clearing - Clears all 9 Odoo cache layers in one click (Python bytecode, registry, ORM, assets, QWeb, translations, sessions, manifest LRU, logs)
2. Cross-Platform Operation - Auto-detects Docker, Windows, Linux, macOS and uses appropriate methods
3. Smart Service Restart - Properly stops processes before restarting to eliminate stale cached data

Who is ai_sam_cache_manager for?

ai_sam_cache_manager is designed for:
- Odoo developers experiencing "changes not showing" issues
- System administrators who need reliable cache management
- DevOps teams deploying to Docker containers
- Businesses using Odoo 18 that require production-ready cache clearing

Installation & Setup

How do I install ai_sam_cache_manager?

1. Ensure Odoo 18.0+ is running
2. Navigate to Apps menu
3. Search for "ai_sam_cache_manager" or "SAM AI Cache Manager"
4. Click Install
5. No additional configuration required - works out of the box

What are the dependencies for ai_sam_cache_manager?

ai_sam_cache_manager requires these Odoo modules:
- base - Core Odoo functionality
- web - Web framework for UI components
- samai_business_manager - Platform detection services (lazy-loaded)

Python libraries required:
- None additional (uses standard library: shutil, pathlib, subprocess)

How do I configure ai_sam_cache_manager?

After installation, you can optionally configure via Settings > Technical > System Parameters:

Usage

How do I clear all caches?

To clear all caches:
1. Go to Settings > Technical > Clear All Caches (or search "Clear Cache" in menu)
2. Read the confirmation dialog showing all 9 layers that will be cleared
3. Click "Yes, Clear All Caches"
4. Wait 10-30 seconds for completion
5. Service will restart automatically (users briefly disconnected)

How do I check what platform is detected?

The platform is shown in the success message after clearing. Or call the platform_info endpoint:
- The module auto-detects: Docker, Windows, Linux, macOS
- No manual platform configuration needed

Can I clear caches without restarting the service?

Yes. Set the system parameter ai_sam_cache_manager.enable_restart to False:

1. Go to Settings > Technical > System Parameters
2. Search for ai_sam_cache_manager.enable_restart
3. Set value to False
4. Now cache clearing will not restart the service

Troubleshooting

Why are my CSS/JS changes still not showing after cache clear?

Symptom: You clicked Clear Cache but styles/scripts still show old versions

Cause: Browser-side caching (not Odoo-side)

Solution:
1. Hard refresh browser: Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac)
2. Clear browser cache manually
3. Try incognito/private window to verify

Why did cache clearing fail with "Access Denied"?

Symptom: Error message "Access Denied: Only administrators can clear cache"

Cause: Your user doesn't have administrator rights

Solution:
1. Log in as a user with "Administration / Settings" group
2. Or ask your admin to clear the cache for you
3. Check user's groups in Settings > Users > [user] > Access Rights

Why is the service restart not working in Docker?

Symptom: Message says "Manual container restart required"

Cause: Docker container doesn't have supervisor or the module can't access it

Solution:
1. This is expected behavior if supervisor isn't configured
2. Manually restart your Docker container: docker restart <container_name>
3. Or configure supervisor in your Dockerfile

Cache cleared but module version still shows old number?

Symptom: Module info shows old version even after cache clear

Cause: This is rare - usually means the manifest wasn't properly cleared

Solution:
1. Run Clear Cache again
2. Check if samai_business_manager is installed (provides platform_service)
3. Manually restart Odoo service if auto-restart failed
4. Verify the actual file on disk has new version

Comparisons

How does ai_sam_cache_manager compare to manual cache clearing?

Why choose ai_sam_cache_manager over Odoo's built-in "Update Apps List"?

ai_sam_cache_manager goes far beyond "Update Apps List":

• Update Apps List: Only refreshes module list from filesystem
• ai_sam_cache_manager: Clears ALL 9 cache layers including:
• Python bytecode that holds old code
• ORM method caches that return stale data
• Asset caches that serve old CSS/JS
• Manifest LRU cache that blocks version updates

Integration

Does ai_sam_cache_manager work with ai_sam (SAM AI chat)?

Yes, indirectly. They're both part of the SAM AI ecosystem but operate independently. You can ask SAM to guide you through cache clearing, but the actual clearing is done by this module.

Can I use ai_sam_cache_manager with external monitoring?

Yes. The endpoint returns JSON with detailed breakdown:
- Call /ai_sam_cache_manager/clear_cache via RPC
- Response includes count of items cleared per layer
- Can be integrated into deployment scripts

Data & Privacy

Where is my data stored?

ai_sam_cache_manager doesn't store any data. It's a utility module that:
- Reads system configuration
- Clears caches (destructive operation on cache data)
- Logs operations to Odoo logs (which it then clears!)

No data is sent to external servers.

What exactly gets deleted when I clear caches?

Pricing & Licensing

Is ai_sam_cache_manager free?

Yes. ai_sam_cache_manager is licensed under LGPL-3. You can use it, modify it, and distribute it freely. No subscription required.

Do I need a SAM AI subscription?

No. This module works independently and doesn't require any subscription or external service.

Support

Where can I get help with ai_sam_cache_manager?

• Documentation: https://sme.ec/documentation/modules/ai-sam-cache-manager
• Email: [email protected]
• Chat: Ask SAM directly in your Odoo instance

How do I report a bug?

1. Check if the issue is documented in Known Issues below
2. Email [email protected] with:
3. Module version (18.0.3.1)
4. Odoo version
5. Platform (Docker/Windows/Linux)
6. Steps to reproduce
7. Error messages from Odoo logs

Known Issues

Version History

Last updated: 2025-01-26
Part of SAM AI by SME.ec