Drupal Code Optimization, Caching & LoadImpact vs. Webpagetest.org, New Relic and your client's browser Reload finger

Thousands of complex Drupal sites have launched without any custom code, as testament to its sitebuilding power! Except sometimes complexity results in a slow site. Or a really, really slow site. What are the steps that someone with little performance analysis experience can take to build a fast site, or to make a slow site take off?

What you will learn

Prelaunch, the goal is to simulate how real users will interact with your site before launch. Rather than speculate we use data. If the site has already launched, we can do the same with real traffic patterns. We sift through the noise and come up with action items. Specifically:

• Caching: Don't make your site do more work than it has to.
• Code: The modules you select = the technical debt you incur. Freely available tools and simple best practices can shave off seconds from their load times.
• Database: That View you made may be a work of art, but it also may be too heavy to lift itself. Learn how to show the content you want efficiently.
• Theme: A fast backend rendering unoptimized images and overly complex theming is like using a Porsche for a snow plow. Back-end & Front-end need to both be analyzed and addressed.

This session will cover load test planning and execution, waterfall analysis, and query optimization, among other valuable items. You will emerge able to build fast sites, fix slow sites, and destroy poor site performance with extreme prejudice.

Speakers

Timani Tunduwani, Support Manager, Pantheon.
Charles Stewart, LoadImpact (an awesome service for load testing!)