Live Auto Refresh (Hot Reload / Live Reload for WordPress Developers)

FAQ

What files are monitored?

By default: .php, .js, and .css files in your active theme (parent and child) plus any plugins you select in settings. Changes are detected via modification time and file size.

Which page builders are supported?

Gutenberg, Elementor, Beaver Builder, Bricks Builder, WPBakery, Divi, Visual Composer, and ACF.

Can I monitor my own plugin during development?

Yes. Select it in Settings → Live Auto Refresh.

How do I add support for a custom builder?

Use the perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks filter:

add_filter( 'perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks', function( $hooks ) {
    $hooks[] = 'my_builder_save_action';
    return $hooks;
} );

Available filters

• perron_auto_refresh_capability – required capability (default: edit_others_posts)
• perron_auto_refresh_reload_mode – 'hard' (full reload) or 'soft' (CSS hot reload only)
• perron_auto_refresh_poll_interval – seconds between filesystem checks (default: the Poll Interval setting; filter takes precedence)
• perron_auto_refresh_scan_budget_seconds – max scan time per check (default: the Scan Budget setting; filter takes precedence)
• perron_auto_refresh_sse_max_runtime – SSE connection lifetime (default: 180)
• perron_auto_refresh_follow_symlinks – return true to monitor symlinked themes/plugins, e.g. when symlinking projects into wp-content during local development (default: false; cycles are guarded)

Host Configuration Tips

For best SSE performance, ensure your host supports:
– PHP execution time of 180s+ (or set_time_limit(0))
– Idle timeouts > 30s (for keep-alive pings)
– Disabled proxy buffering on SSE endpoints

If SSE fails, the plugin automatically falls back to AJAX polling.

Do you accept donations?

Yes! Donate here