Performance Optimizer

Complete WordPress performance optimization and speed monitoring.

When to Use This Skill

• Optimizing site loading speed
• Managing object caching
• Optimizing database performance
• Compressing and optimizing images
• Reducing CSS/JS file sizes
• Analyzing slow queries
• Monitoring performance metrics

Core Capabilities

Caching

• Object cache management with perf_cache
• Enhanced transient handling with perf_transients
• Cache warming strategies
• Cache invalidation

Database Optimization

• Database cleanup with perf_db_optimize
• Query analysis with perf_query_analysis
• Slow query identification
• Index optimization

Asset Optimization

• CSS/JS minification with perf_assets
• Image compression with perf_images
• Lazy loading configuration
• Asset concatenation

Advanced Optimization

• Cron optimization with perf_cron
• HTTP optimization with perf_http
• Autoload optimization with perf_autoload
• Real-time monitoring with perf_monitor

Performance Audit Workflow

Initial Assessment

1. Baseline Metrics

   • Run performance scan with perf_monitor
   • Document current load times
   • Identify bottlenecks

2. Database Analysis

   • Analyze query performance with perf_query_analysis
   • Identify slow queries
   • Check database size

3. Asset Analysis

   • Review CSS/JS sizes
   • Check image optimization status
   • Identify render-blocking resources

Optimization Steps

1. Quick Wins

   • Enable object caching
   • Optimize autoload with perf_autoload
   • Clean expired transients

2. Database Optimization

   • Remove post revisions (keep last 5)
   • Delete spam/trash comments
   • Optimize database tables
   • Add missing indexes

3. Asset Optimization

   • Minify CSS/JS files
   • Compress images
   • Enable lazy loading
   • Defer non-critical JS

4. Advanced Optimization

   • Optimize cron schedule
   • Enable HTTP/2 push
   • Configure browser caching
   • Set up CDN (if available)

Performance Checklist

Caching

• Object cache enabled
• Page cache active
• Browser caching configured
• CDN configured (if applicable)

Database

• Auto-drafts cleaned
• Revisions limited
• Spam comments removed
• Transients cleaned
• Tables optimized

Assets

• CSS minified
• JS minified
• Images compressed
• Lazy loading enabled
• Unused CSS removed

Server

• GZIP enabled
• Keep-alive enabled
• HTTP/2 enabled
• PHP version current

Key Metrics to Track

Speed Metrics

• TTFB (Time to First Byte): < 200ms
• FCP (First Contentful Paint): < 1.8s
• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): < 2.5s
• FID (First Input Delay): < 100ms
• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): < 0.1

Resource Metrics

• Page size: < 3MB
• HTTP requests: < 50
• Image size: Optimized
• CSS size: < 100KB
• JS size: < 300KB

Common Issues & Fixes

Slow Database

Problem: Queries taking > 1 second
Fix: 
- Add proper indexes
- Optimize autoload options
- Clean old data

Large Images

Problem: Images > 200KB each
Fix:
- Compress to WebP
- Resize to max needed dimensions
- Enable lazy loading

Render-Blocking Resources

Problem: JS blocking page render
Fix:
- Defer non-critical JS
- Inline critical CSS
- Async load fonts

Too Many HTTP Requests

Problem: 100+ requests per page
Fix:
- Combine CSS/JS files
- Use sprite images
- Lazy load below-fold content

Best Practices

1. Measure before optimizing - Get baseline metrics
2. One change at a time - Isolate impact
3. Test on mobile - Most users are mobile
4. Monitor continuously - Performance degrades over time
5. Cache strategically - Balance freshness vs speed
6. Optimize images - Biggest impact for most sites
7. Regular maintenance - Weekly/monthly cleanups