Ways to speed up Joomla 1.5
Requests to increase the speed on Joomla 1.5 websites are common. What follows are the best techniques I have found. Please note: backup your site and database before trying any of these. Please perform these changes at your own risk.
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Turn off all components, modules & plugins you do not use.
This can save a few seconds on the frontend and backend.
Log into the administrator and locate the following. Disable the ones you are not using.Extensions > Install/Uninstall > Components
Extensions > Module Manager
Extensions > Plugin Manager -
Turn on caching in Global Configuration
Site > Global Configuration
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Optimize CSS and JS
Make sure you have well formed code and minimal white space.
CSS optimizer: http://www.cssoptimiser.com/index.php
JS code quality tool: http://www.jslint.com
JS optimizer: http://www.xtreeme.com/javascript-optimizer -
Compress CSS and JS
This can be done manually or via extensions.
Compress CSS manually:
http://perishablepress.com/press/2006/10/23/compressed-css-compression/
Compress JS manually:
http://perishablepress.com/press/2007/04/24/compressed-javascript-compression/
Compress both CSS & JS with an extension:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/site-management/cache/7350/details -
Don’t use statistics or logging – use Google Analytics.
The native logging and statistics in Joomla and those offered by extensions are very resource intensive. By disabling them you will gain performance.
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Use native SEF
Using Extensions to generate Search Engine Friendly URLs is useful and necessary for full control over your SEO, but you will get a performance hit. The native SEF in Joomla 1.5 has improved a lot and is sufficient in many instances.
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Try to keep queries under 30
Enable debugging in Global Configuration to check how many queries you have. If it is under 30 your site should be relatively fast. Over 50 and you will likely have issues.
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Don’t use bridges
These are brides to other CMS systems like OpenRealty or Gallery2. This will slow down your site.
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Optimize your images
This should go without saying, but make sure the images you use are optimized for the web.
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Optimize your server for php & mysql
Talk to your host and tell them you are using Joomla which is heavy on php and mysql resources. Ask them to optimize your site for this. There are several settings that can improve the speed of your site which mostly equate to allocating more memory on the server to php & mysql. You may have issues if you are using shared hosting, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
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Install Phil Taylor’s SPEED UP (for 1.5)
This one will increase the speed of your backend administrator only and uses Google Gears. I personally have had good luck with this extension.
http://www.phil-taylor.com/Turbo-Gears-Speed-Up-Joomla-1.5-Admin-Console
Sources:
- http://www.joomlaperformance.com/articles/performance/so_you_want_to_speed_up_joomla_3_14.html
- http://thenexus.tk/my-need-for-speed-14-ways-to-speed-up-joomlahtml/
- http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/administration/admin-add%252dons/6053/details
- http://www.phil-taylor.com/Turbo-Gears-Speed-Up-Joomla-1.5-Admin-Console
- http://www.seongyupyoo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=13:joomla&id=14:how-to-optimize-and-speed-up-joomla-15&Itemid=5
- http://www.joomspot.net/how-to-speed-up-optimize-joomlas-performance.html
I’m always weary of anything “google” as they are the master of the trojan horse. So my question is this:
What does google get in return for the use of Google Gears? What information do they have “access” to in regards to collecting data? What can they store about your activities?
I know a lot of people like google because they are just such great honest people trying to make the world a better place and they are only collecting data because they want to “help” everyone, but just in case, I like to know what is being collected.
I would like a faster Admin panel, so if you could provide insight in this regard, I would be curious to know what information Google is going to have access to.
Thanks!
These may be questions better asked to Google or the Extension publisher. I’ve only started using Google Gears and the extension recently. So I am unsure of the exact info provided to them. I do ‘trust’ it however – lots of applications besides Google use it (like MySpace and WordPress).
Here’s what wikipedia has to say about gears: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_gears
The publishers site: http://www.phil-taylor.com/Turbo-Gears-Speed-Up-Joomla-1.5-Admin-Console
Hope that helps!
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These are all pretty good concepts, I was surprised at how many I had already done. One quick update most people can do if they run c-Panel is make sure php is running in fast-cgi mode. But like you said more memory should be allocated to php and MySQL
thanks for the list
I’ve read your suggestions for speeding up Joomla and I’m trying to find out how to disable statistics in Joomla 1.5.15… there is not tab on the global settings area. How do I do this? I’m pulling my hair out…
You disable statistics in the:
Extensions/Module Manager/Statistics
There is no sutch thing as Extensions/Module Manager/Statistics in Joomla 1.5. Are you sure you are using 1.5?