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🔄 Rebuilds

A rebuild is the step that regenerates the public site so your changes show up, and it runs a short wait after the last change readers can see. This page will guide you through what triggers a rebuild, how long it waits, following its progress on the Dashboard and when to use "Rebuild now".

Summary

The public site is a static rebuild. It starts one wait after the last public change, by default 5 minutes, and "Rebuild now" starts one straight away.

What triggers a rebuild​

The site rebuilds only when something readers can see changes:

  • Publishing, unpublishing and scheduling stories.
  • Edits to published stories, including their choices.
  • Tags, writers, Briefs and pages.
  • Navigation and site settings.

Drafts and planned stories never trigger a rebuild. This ensures you can write freely without the public site changing under you.

How the wait works​

The site waits for a quiet moment after the last change, so a burst of edits becomes one update.

  • Wait time: 5 minutes by default. Each new public change restarts the wait.
  • Changing the wait: the owner sets it under "Settings", then "Rebuild", between 5 seconds and 24 hours. See Site settings.
  • A steady stream of edits cannot hold the update back for ever. It starts after at most four wait periods from the first change not yet built.

Following a rebuild​

The Dashboard's "Next site update" shows a countdown, then "Updating…" while the site rebuilds, then "Up to date". It also gives a short reason when one is available. The same box appears under "Settings", then "Rebuild".

After a build you may need to refresh the page to see the change.

Rebuild now​

"Rebuild now", on the Dashboard or under "Settings", starts a rebuild straight away instead of waiting. Use it for urgent fixes, such as a wrong name or a broken link in a published story.

tip

"Rebuild now" does not make the build itself faster. It only skips the wait, so the change still takes a short while to appear.

Best Practices​

  • Publish in one go: finish a batch of edits, then let the wait pass, so readers get one update.
  • Use "Rebuild now" sparingly: it is meant for urgent fixes.
  • Check the live page after "Up to date", especially for new topics.