This document outlines 21 ways to make WordPress fast by optimizing performance at different levels: 1. Client-side optimizations like valid code, CSS sprites and minification can speed up rendering. 2. Network optimizations such as content delivery networks, compression and caching can reduce page size and load times. 3. WordPress optimizations like reducing plugins and enabling caching can decrease PHP processing. 4. Server-side optimizations to Apache, PHP and the database also contribute to improved performance.

1. 21 Ways to Make WordPress Fast

2. JMac

3. 21 Ways to Make WordPress Fast

4. “I hate slow sites. I hate them. I hate
slow sites even more than I like fast
sites. And there’s a difference…”

5. Yes, WordPress is slow.

6. !in_array($focus,'performance');

7. in_array($focus,'compatibility');

8. You can make
WordPress fast!

9. But weight…

11. time[total] = time[client] + time[network]
+ time[server]
+ time[wordpress]
+ time[database]

12. Client

13. Goal

14. facilitate the browser in rendering
the page as quickly as possible

15. “80-90% of the end-user response
time is spent on the front-end. Start
there.”
- Steve Sounders, “Performance Golden Rule”

16. #1 Valid Code

18. #2 Move CSS to the top,
JavaScript to the bottom

19. #3 Use CSS Image Sprites

20. .nav-logo-large #nav-logo {!
background-image: url(sprite.png);!
background-position: -119px -9px;!
height: 35px;!
width: 111px;!
}

21. Network

22. Goal
• Optimize traffic
• Limit or parallelize requests
• Decrease size and frequency of responses

23. #4 Multiple/Static Domains

25. #5 Content Delivery Networks

27. #6 Minification

28. #7 Compression

29. AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE!
text/html!
text/css!
text/javascript

30. #8 Resource Caching

31. Header unset ETag!
FileETag None
!
ExpiresActive On!
ExpiresByType image/gif "access plus 6 months"!
ExpiresByType image/jpeg "access plus 6 months"!
ExpiresByType image/png "access plus 6 months"!
ExpiresByType text/css "access plus 6 months"!
ExpiresByType text/javascript "access plus 6 months"

33. #9 Redirects

34. WordPress

35. Goals
• Facilitate Client goals
• Facilitate Network goals
• Execute as little WordPress code as possible

36. #10 Trackbacks and Pingbacks

37. #11 Permalink Settings

39. #12 Reading Settings

41. #13 Comments and Gravatar

43. #14 Sharing Widgets

44. #15 Use Less Plugins

45. #16 WordPress Caching

46. Server

47. Goal

48. respond as quickly as possible

49. #17 Apache Configuration

50. RewriteEngine On!
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]!
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f!
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d!
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]

51. FallbackResource /index.php

52. #18 PHP Caching

53. #19 Page Caching

54. Database

55. Goal

56. understand how WordPress uses
your database

57. #20 Database Optimizations

58. #21 Extra Data

60. tl;dl
#16 WordPress Caching
#7 Compression
#8 Resource Caching
#3 Move CSS to the top, JavaScript to the bottom

61. To the extreme…
• Change Hosting
• Reverse Proxy Server (nginx, varnish, etc)
• Don’t use WordPress (in production)

62. Tools and Resources
• Firebug with YSlow!
• siege and ab
• www.wpspeedometer.com
• Yahoo! Performance Rules
• Google PageSpeed
•High Performance Web Sites
•Even Faster Web Sites

63. Ask Questions!
@gonedark
jason@pureconcepts.net