Speeding up Firefox
Category: Internet...
Posted Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 09:06 PM [GMT-6]

Here's a performance tip for those who are using Firefox (and why, pray tell, wouldn't you be?): to speed up the loading of webpages, turn on HTTP Pipelining.

HTTP Pipelining essentially allows your browser to send multiple requests to the server at one time -- during one connection -- as opposed to the more usual behavior of sending one request, closing the connection, opening a new connection and sending another request, and so on. Since your browser makes a separate request for each object imbedded in the webpage you wish to view, these requests and connections can add up and cause perceptible delays. (An object can be an image, a script or stylesheet, an audio file or a number of other things besides the simple HTML coding that forms the basis for a page.) HTTP Pipelining cuts down on the lag between the browser's requests and the server's fulfillment of those requests.

You can do this by typing about:config in your address bar and in the resulting window (which displays a long alphabetical list of browser configuration variables) scroll down to "network.http.pipelining" and click on it to toggle the setting from "false" (off) to "true" (on). The setting for "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" can then be set for any value from 1 to 8; the default is 4. (Visit this page for documentation about the various Firefox configuration variables.)

There are a couple of caveats. Not every server supports HTTP Pipelining and even though the latest standards are such that non-support is not supposed to cause a detrimental effect, you could experience problems with a given page. If you set maxrequests to 8 and experience problems, try changing it to a lower number.

More likely, you might find that you don't notice a significant improvement in page-loading speed. Tests have shown that the theoretical improvement in speed of HTTP Pipelining is signficant, but this doesn't always translate into practice.

However, in my limited testing thus far, I think some pages, especially those with a lot of images like SI.com, seem to load quicker. If nothing else, you'll perhaps understand a little more about your browser and how to control it.

Tip o'the hat to SitePoint's unfortunately named "You Don't Know Jack about FireFox"

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Comments

Thanks Eric!!! I've speeded up my loading time :) (Big smile!).

Posted by: Rachel at July 31, 2005 09:23 PM

Well, I know how things slow down in Kiwiland, so I'm happy to help. ;-)

Posted by: Eric at July 31, 2005 09:38 PM

Cool! Thanks.

Posted by: Jim at July 31, 2005 09:50 PM

De nada. Use wisely the time you save!

Posted by: Eric at July 31, 2005 09:53 PM

Eric
Thanks...I've made the changes per your instructions and wait to see if it helps.
I'm wondering if you have any problem with the new windows you open in Firefox not being in standard alignment on the screen? All new windows I open are too low, leaving a clear spot at the top and covering a portion of the bottom bar. Don't like it. Would like to fix that. Can you help?

Posted by: Clarence at August 1, 2005 05:05 AM

Clarence, this may be a "feature" and not a "bug" depending on the amount of space that's being left at the top of the screen.

The "proper" behavior of a program that opens a new window while leaving a previous one intact is that the new window should not completely obscure the old one. Thus, you'll see a tiling effect as you continue to open new windows. This is intended to make sure that you can easily tell that you have more than one window open. Some people find this helpful and others -- such as you -- find it annoying. I'm not aware of anything you can do to modify this behavior, although I'd be surprised if someone hasn't come up with a Javascript that automatically moves an open window to a particular location on the monitor.

I have to admit that with the advent of tabs, I hardly ever open a new browser window...I just keep adding tabs.

Posted by: Eric at August 1, 2005 06:41 AM

At home, I always have both Firefox, IE and occasionally Netscape open. It is helpful at times to view a site from different browsers.

When I get home this evening, will take a look at my Firefox. Thanks for the pointer!

Posted by: Cowtown Pattie at August 1, 2005 11:47 AM

Thanks Eric
That explains it clearly, and yes I do find it annoying. I've become so accustomed to looking down at the bottom of the screen to see how many windows I have open but Firefox covers most of them. I suppose I may never get the hang of TABS. Perhaps it's true...you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Posted by: Clarence at August 1, 2005 11:47 AM

Liz, you sound like a web designer! ;-) I thought we were the only folks who ran multiple browsers...

Clarence, you're selling yourself too short in terms of learning to use tabs. They make browsing so simple, you'll wonder how you ever lived without 'em. If you're having any specific problems or have questions about them, let me know and I'll try to help.

Posted by: Eric at August 1, 2005 01:23 PM

I hate the SI web site. It is the bane of dial-up, and sometimes even my office connection chokes on the antiquated code.

Posted by: bryan at August 1, 2005 08:13 PM
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