Tip to speed up Firefox, defrag database without add-ons

[chrisgiz]

I just got this from Steve Bass (well-respected computer guru AND a decent human being too), I can confirm that this works. I'm fairly new to Firefox but I try to install as few add-ons as possible so this is interesting, especially for those like me who start browsing with 30-40 tabs open on any day.

Source: http://www.aweber.com/b/t1Jr

You'll also find other goodies.

Firefox Speedup Tweak

You can speed up Firefox by defragging its database. There are a couple of add-ins to do it, but this simple method is lots quicker and doesn't require a Firefox restart. Firefox should load faster and you'll see speedier performance.

In Firefox, press Control+Shift+J (or choose Tools and select Error Console). When the Firefox window opens, copy all the text in bold listed below into the Code field and click Evaluate (the button is at the end of the field). You won't see anything happen at first -- clicking Evaluate has no apparent effect. But you will notice a speedup when opening the program and browsing sites. Despite the line breaks, make sure the code below is one long line when you copy and paste it.

Components.classes["@mozilla.org/browser/nav-history-service;1"].getService(Components.interfaces.nsPIPlacesDataba se)
.DBConnection.executeSimpleSQL("VACUUM");

[Bob]

Originally Posted by chrisgiz

You'll also find other goodies.

After saving some time with the FF tweak, I scrolled straight down and spent half a bunch more messing around with this.
Nice one - thanks!

What is it they say on Rhiannon's side of the pond?
"Time's funny"?

[Sope]

Is this the same thing that CCleaner does when "compact databases" (under Firefox) is selected?

[Bob]

Originally Posted by chrisgiz

Source: http://www.aweber.com/b/t1Jr

You'll also find other goodies.

Firefox Speedup Tweak

Sorrry... I veered off topic with another goody...

This FF speed up tweak does seem to work for me
perhaps even better than SpeedyFox??

[torres-no-tan-magnifico]

Have just tried this tweak and as Bob states it does seem to work; FF appears to be 'snappier' = one happier FF user!

[Bob]

Originally Posted by torresmagnifico

Have just tried this tweak and as Bob states it does seem to work; FF appears to be 'snappier' = one happier FF user!

Come to think of it, I'd just updated to FF 3.6 around the same time. So unfortunately I can't really tell what caused the apparent improvement. But I suspect it was this defrag speed up script.

Any other impressions or timing tests, I wonder?

[deya]

Just be aware, if you weren't already, that Secunia are reporting an unspecified code execution vulnerablity in FF 3.6 as of yesterday. You can read it here. They usually issue patches pretty quickly so keep watching for an update.

Bit off topic but just thought people ought to be aware until it's fixed.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by deya

Just be aware, if you weren't already, that Secunia are reporting an unspecified code execution vulnerability in FF 3.6 as of yesterday. You can read it here. They usually issue patches pretty quickly so keep watching for an update.

Bit off topic but just thought people ought to be aware until it's fixed.

Thanks for the heads up Deya -

So now I'm extra streetwise. And I guess I'll only drive by trusted sites in my brand new, sooperdooper, tuned-up and scriptly tweaked Mini Cooper FF 3.6... Just as fast as I can! Promise... [MC eat your heart out! ] It's going to be Monte Carlo or Bust. Either that or the sandbox...

[Oh dear, off topic again...]

[mikecorbeil]

There are a number of add-ons for compacting or vacuuming the Places file and PlacesCleaner was the highest rated one the last time I checked some months ago. It places an icon in the Ffx status bar, so all it requires is a click and it only runs when the user clicks on it or as often as the user sets the add-on to run automatically. It runs quickly and is idle the rest of the time.

That's simpler and much quicker than pasting code in a Ffx console.

While the vacuuming or compacting of the Places db to take effect may indeed require restarting Ffx, this should not be a problem. Based on what I've read about this, the Places db does not need to be vacuumed daily, much less multiple times a day. Maybe it does when Ffx users open [many] tabs with web pages loaded, but not according to what I've read.

If what i read is correct about this, then it's no problem to use an add-on like PlacesCleaner and the user can just make sure to run it before exiting Ffx so that the Places db will be compacted the next time Ffx is started.

[vasa1]

@mikecorbeil:

Thanks for waking up this thread. Really nice info here.

The link that Chrisgiz provided led to other good stuff and to this:
http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2009/07/v...r-performance/

In the mozillalinks.org link a little of the magic is explained and the difference between vacuuming and defragging is pointed out.

Here's an extra-large quote:

Step 1: get sqlite3, a single file command line SQLite database manager, for your platform (available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X).

Step 2: Copy the downloaded binary to your profile folder where all your .sqlite files reside.

Step 3: Close Firefox.

Step 4: From a command line prompt in your profile folder, run:

sqlite3 [SQLite database] VACUUM

replacing [SQLite database with the name of a SQLite file, like places.sqlite.

On Windows, to defragment all SQLite databases in one command, run:

for %a in (*.sqlite) do (sqlite3 %a vacuum)

But will somebody (not like this) please help with the parts in bold?

• Why the repeated mention of profile folder?
• Since this is clearly a good thing to do, why not do it for all the .sqlite files on the PC, say once a week or as frequently as one's OCD demands?
• Can the good somebody, please assure me that the last line in the quoted stuff is good as it stands? Can I type it in at the C: prompt without disaster, assuming I don't have any .sqlite-involving programmes running at the time?