v1.10.2: Add snapshots_create_interval acceleration parameter (#1282)

* localpod caching

* docs: Add snapshots_create_interval acceleration parameter

Document the new acceleration.params.snapshots_create_interval parameter that
schedules periodic snapshot creation independent of refresh cycles. This is
useful for datasets using refresh_mode: caching where row-level changes occur
frequently but traditional refresh cycles do not apply.

Updates:
- Reference documentation in datasets.md
- Feature documentation in snapshots.md

* Update website/docs/features/data-acceleration/snapshots.md

Co-authored-by: William <98815791+peasee@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: William <98815791+peasee@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: 2 people

website/docs/components/data-connectors/localpod.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ The dataset created by the `localpod` connector will logically have the same dat
 
 ## Synchronized Refreshes
 
-The `localpod` connector supports synchronized refreshes, which ensures that the child dataset is refreshed from the same data as the parent dataset. Synchronized refreshes require that both the parent and child datasets are accelerated with `refresh_mode: full` (which is the default).
+The `localpod` connector supports synchronized refreshes, which ensures that the child dataset is refreshed from the same data as the parent dataset. Synchronized refreshes require that both the parent and child datasets are accelerated with `refresh_mode: full` (which is the default) or `refresh_mode: caching`.
 
 When synchronization is enabled, the following logs will be emitted:
 

website/docs/features/data-acceleration/snapshots.md

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Acceleration snapshots are available in preview.
 - If the file is missing and snapshots are enabled, Spice looks under the configured snapshot location and downloads the newest snapshot for that dataset.
 - If no snapshot is available, the acceleration boots empty and refreshes from the source.
 - After each refresh, Spice writes a new snapshot unless the dataset is configured in `bootstrap_only` mode.
+- When `snapshots_create_interval` is configured, Spice writes additional periodic snapshots at the specified interval, independent of refresh cycles.
 
 Snapshots are organized with Hive-style partitioning so they are easy to retain and prune. For a dataset named `my_dataset`, Spice writes files such as:
 
@@ -82,6 +83,24 @@ Each dataset opts into snapshotting through the `acceleration.snapshots` field.
 - `create_only` – write new snapshots after refreshes, but never download them on startup.
 - `disabled` – disable snapshot usage for this dataset. (Default.)
 
+### Periodic snapshot creation
+
+By default, snapshots are created after each data refresh. For datasets using `refresh_mode: caching`, where row-level changes occur frequently but traditional refresh cycles do not apply, configure `acceleration.params.snapshots_create_interval` to write snapshots at a fixed interval:
+
+```yaml
+acceleration:
+  enabled: true
+  engine: duckdb
+  mode: file
+  refresh_mode: caching
+  snapshots: enabled
+  params:
+    snapshots_create_interval: 60s # Write a snapshot every 60 seconds
+    duckdb_file: /nvme/my_dataset.db
+```
+
+This ensures snapshot persistence even when no explicit refresh triggers occur.
+
 Example Spicepod configuration:
 
 ```yaml

website/docs/reference/spicepod/datasets.md

@@ -402,6 +402,31 @@ datasets:
 
 See [Caching Mode](../../features/data-acceleration/refresh-modes/caching.md#stale-if-error-behavior) for detailed behavior.
 
+## `acceleration.params.snapshots_create_interval`
+
+Optional. The interval at which snapshots are created for the accelerated dataset. Only applicable when `acceleration.snapshots` is set to `enabled` or `create_only`. Defaults to creating snapshots only after each refresh.
+
+When configured, Spice writes a new snapshot at the specified interval in addition to writing snapshots after refreshes. This is useful for datasets that use `refresh_mode: caching` where there is no refresh interval.
+
+**Example**:
+
+```yaml
+datasets:
+  - from: https://api.example.com
+    name: my_data
+    acceleration:
+      enabled: true
+      engine: duckdb
+      mode: file
+      refresh_mode: caching
+      snapshots: enabled
+      params:
+        snapshots_create_interval: 60s # Create a snapshot every 60 seconds
+        duckdb_file: /nvme/my_data.db
+```
+
+See [Duration](../duration/index.md) and [Acceleration Snapshots](../../features/data-acceleration/snapshots.md) for more details.
+
 ## `acceleration.refresh_sql`
 
 Optional. Filters the data fetched from the source to be stored in the accelerator engine. Only supported for `full` refresh_mode datasets.