Feature File Caching in SharePoint

Here’s an interesting one… I’m working with SWF powered WebParts. I wanted to replace one of the SWFs (using the same filename), so updated the feature and deployed it. The WebPart was still referencing the old SWF. I checked the 12 hive, and the new file was indeed there, but clearly SharePoint wasn’t picking it up. So I tried recycling the app-pool, nothing. IISReset, nothing. Server reboot, nothing.
So I figured SharePoint must be caching it somehow. Eventually I resorted to cracking open SharePoint Designer, opened the site and saw that the feature files appear in there. Deleted the old file, redeployed, and voila – the feature file was replaced.
And that was it! Any files that SharePoint caches for features can be found in SharePoint Designer. Knowing is half the battle, and all that.