initialize_acl.php

<?php

/**
 * Set up the application permissions
 *
 * @http_request(GET, /setup)
 * @return void
 */
public function setup()
{
  $development_mode = Configure::read('debug') > 0;

  $role = $this->User->Role;

  $role->id = 1;
  $this->Acl->allow( $role, 'controllers' );

  // Allow everything in development
  if( $development_mode ){
    $roles = $role->find( 'all', ['fields' => 'id'] );

    foreach($roles as $key => $value){

      // set the role id
      $role->id = $value[ 'Role' ][ 'id' ];

      // allow to every where
      $this->Acl->allow($role, 'controllers');
    }
  }

  echo "Generated permissions\n";
  exit;
}