Dimitrology

The easiest tweak for Firefox is a speed tweak. It allows more simultaneous connections to web servers. Note that the HTTP specs suggest for 4 concurrent connections. Setting this value to 10 allows for more web page components being downloaded at the same time, noticeably improving browsing. To apply the tweak, follow the simple instructions below:

1. In the address bar, type:  about:config
2. Locate and change the following values by double-clicking on them:
network.http.max-connections = 48 or 96 [default is 30]
network.http.max-connections-per-server = 24 or 32 [default is 10]
network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-proxy = 24  [default is 4]
network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server =12 [default is 2]
network.http.pipelining = true [default is false]
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests = 8 or 10 [ default is 4]
network.http.proxy.pipelining = true [default is false]

Also, you can make Firefox’s menu load faster:

1. In the configuration window, right click and choose New -> Integer
2. Name it ui.submenuDelay and set it to 0

Below is the complete list of Mozilla Firefox tweaking page if you want to play around a little more and understand better the changes you just made. Pay attention when making changes!

• accessibility.typeaheadfind.casesensitive – Find as you type feature is not case sensitive when set to 0. If it’s set to 1 they are case sensitive.
• accessibility.typeaheadfind.enablesound – This means that the search for text when I start typing feature makes a beep each time you enter characters. To turn off, set this option to False.
• accessibility.typeaheadfind.linksonly – When set to true this setting makes the Find as you type feature search for links on a page.
• accessibility.typeaheadfind.soundURL – Controls the sound made by  the Search for text when I start typing feature doesn’t find a match.
• accessibility.typeaheadfind.timeout – Sets the amount of time before the Search for text when I start typing search box disappears when inactive.
• alerts.totalOpenTime – Controls how many ms (milliseconds) to show the ‘Download complete’ or ‘Updates Available’ alerts.
• app.update.interval – When automatic update checking is set in Options, this setting controls how many seconds Firefox will wait between checking for updates
• browser.allTabs.previews – If set to true a new button will be shown on the right of the tab bar. Clicking this button will open the enhanced tab switcher.
• browser.bookmarks.livemark_refresh_seconds – This controls the interval when checking for updates to RSS Bookmarks.
• browser.backspace_action – Controls how Backspace is used in the browser.
• browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML – If set to True, Firefox will start backing up bookmarks in .html format instead of .json.
• browser.bookmarks.max_backups – Controls the number of bookmark backups.
• browser.cache.check_doc_frequency - This setting controls how often Firefox checks the page you’re viewing against the cached version.
• browser.cache.disk_cache_ssl – This setting allows secure web pages to be cached.
• browser.cache.memory.capacity - This setting controls if Firefox uses RAM to cache data.
• browser.cache.memory.enable – This setting works with the browser.cache.memory.capacity setting above. If set to True, Firefox will use the value specified in the browser.cache.memory.capacity setting to work out how much RAM to use.
• browser.cache.offline.capacity – Controls the maximum amount of space web used when applications are stored locally.
• browser.cache.disk.parent_directory – Sets the path to the parent directory for the cache
• browser.chrome.favicons – This sets the display behaviour of favicons.
• browser.chrome.image_icons.max_size – Sets the maximum size in pixels beyond which a thumbnail of an image won’t be shown in a tab.
• browser.chrome.toolbar_tips – Controls the visibility of tooltips when you mouseover your toolbars.
• browser.ctrlTab.previews – Enables enhanced tab switching capabilities when set to true.
• browser.display.show_image_placeholders – Image placeholders will be displayed until images on a page are fully loaded if set to true.
• browser.download.manager.flashCount – This setting controls the number of times the Download Manager will flash in your Taskbar.
• browser.download.manager.openDelay – This value determines how many milliseconds delay there is before the Download Manager window opens.
• browser.download.manager.quitBehavior – This sets how the Download Manager will react when Firefox is closed whilst downloading.
• browser.download.manager.resumeOnWakeDelay – This option controls the length of time in milliseconds before a download is resumed after the PC has woken from Sleep mode.
• browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone – Controls the file scan once a download is complete.
• browser.download.manager.showAlertInterval – This controls how many milliseconds the Download Completed alert is shown when a download is complete.
• browser.enable_automatic_image_resizing – Controls how images will be seen at full size.
• browser.fixup.alternate.enabled – Controls prefix and suffix URL auto completion.
• browser.fullscreen.autohide – Sets if Firefox should go to full screen mode when F11 is pressed.
• browser.link.open_newwindow – This determines how a hyperlink will be opened in Firefox. (New Tab, New Window)
• browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction – This sets how JavaScript launched windows behave.
• browser.preferences.animateFadeIn – Will make the Tools > Options window animated when set to true
• browser.safebrowsing.provider – Settings that hold details of malware and phishing URL’s.
• browser.search.openintab – Makes search box searches open in a new tab.
• browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers – Controls how many pages are stored accessed by the back and forward buttons.
• browser.sessionstore.max_tabs_undo – Controls how many recently closed tabs are stored.

• browser.sessionstore.max_windows_undo – Controls how many recently closed windows are stored.
• browser.tabs.closeButtons – This setting controls how the ‘X’ close buttons on tabs appear.
• browser.tabs.closeWindowWithLastTab – Sets if closing the last tab will keep Firefox open or closed.
• browser.tabs.forceHide – Controls the visibility of the tab bar.
• browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick – Controls middle clicking to open in a new tab.
• browser.tabs.tabclipWidth – Sets the size of an inactive tab before a red ‘X’ is shown.
• browser.tabs.tabminWidth – Controls the width of tabs as more are opened.




• browser.taskbar.previews.enable - Controls the Taskbar preview functionality of Firefox in Windows 7.
• browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll – Controls left clicking to highlight all text in the address bar.
• browser.urlbar.maxRichResults – This sets the maximum number of results shown in the Awesome Bar.
• browser.zoom.siteSpecific – Determines whether your zoomed in/out view applies to an entire site.
• config.trim_on_minimize – This setting only works in Windows, and sets whether Firefox reduces its memory usage when minimized.
• content.switch.threshold – This sets how long Firefox waits for mouse or keyboard input before switching to a  less system-intensive mode.
• dom.disable_window_open_(feature) – There are 11 settings beginning with this tag (ending with one of the following: .close, .directories, .location, .menubar, .minimizable, .personalbar, .resizable, .scrollbars, .status, .titlebar, .toolbar). These settings control the appearance elements of pop ups.
• dom.popup_maximum – This determines the maximum number of simultaneous popup windows which can be open at any one time.
• extensions.blocklist.enabled – This controls extension security referring to a blocklist that decides if certain extensions which may be security risks.
• extensions.checkCompatibility – This will enable you to install addons that are usually incompatible with your version of Firefox (if set to true).
• extensions.checkUpdateSecurity – Allows incompatible addons to be installed.
• extensions.checkUpdateSecurity – Any addon can be installed even if it does not meet security requirements.
• extensions.dss.enabled – Enables Dynamic Skin Switching (DSS) which will make a new theme visible instantly.
• extensions.getAddons.maxResults – Controls the maximum number of results shown when addons are displayed under Get Addons
• extensions.getAddons.showPane – Controls the visibility of the Get New Addons tab.
• extensions.spellcheck.inline.max-misspellings – Controls the number of spelling mistakes spell check can fix before giving up.
• geo.enabled – The Geolocation feature is enabled by default and only functions if you give explicit permission to a website.
• html5.enable – Controls the support of HTML 5.
• images.dither – Determines whether Firefox dithers or graduates colours.
• intl.locale.matchOS – This setting is used to determine where you are located in the world.
• javascript.options.jit.chrome – By default Firefox enables the TraceMonkey Just In Time (JIT) compiler to improve JavaScript performance. This is witnessed by the javascript.options.jit.content preference being set to True by default and should be left in most cases.
• keyword.URL – This sets what URL Firefox will use to run searches when you type a word in the address bar.
• keyword.enabled – Controls whether a word typed into the address bar is considered a keyword
• layout.css.report_errors – Controls if CSS errors are shown in the error console.
• layout.scrollbar.side – Sets the position of the scrollbar
• layout.spellcheckDefault – Disables and enables spell-check
• layout.word_select.eat_space_to_next_word – Controls the selection behaviour when you double-click text on a web page.
• layout.word_select.stop_at_punctuation – Controls whether Firefox selects the punctuation around a word when it is double-click selected.
• network.dnsCacheEntries – Controls how many entries should be held in the Firefox DNS (Domain Name System) cache.
• network.dnsCacheExpiration – Controls how long the cached DNS entries are kept before deletion
• network.dns.disablePrefetch – Controls whether DNS pre-fetching is enabled or not.
• network.dns.disablePrefetchFromHTTPS – This setting is the same as the network.dns.disablePrefetch, however it applies to HTTPS.
• network.http.max-connections – Controls how many simultaneous HTTP connections can be made by Firefox.
• network.http.max-connections-per-server – Controls how many simultaneous connections can be made to a single server.
• network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-proxy – Controls how many connections are kept active when using a proxy.
• network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server – Controls how many connections are kept active when not using a proxy.
• network.http.pipelining – Controls the use of HTTP Pipelining, supported by some servers.
• network.http.pipelining.maxrequests – Controls the maximum number of requests to send when using the HTTP Pipelining feature as mentioned above.
• network.http.proxy.pipelining – Enables the HTTP Pipelining feature for proxy servers (If set to true).
• network.prefetch-next – controls the use of Link Pre-fetching, the advance loading of pages.
• network.http.sendRefererHeader - The Referer Header gives the server details about which page you last came from.
• nglayout.initialpaint.delay – Controls how many milliseconds Firefox should wait before it starts to display the page contents.
• places.frecency.[type]VisitBonus – Places.frecency contains the parameters used to calculate the weighting and prominence given to the search results. VisitBonus equates to the extra percentage of bonus given to certain location types.
• places.frecency.updateIdleTime – Controls how long Firefox waits before calculating Frecency. (See above)
• plugin.default_plugin_disabled – Controls if Firefox alerts you when a plug-in is needed to display page content.
• print.use_global_printsettings – Sets how Firefox will control the global printer settings.
• privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins – Controls how popup scripts are handled by Firefox.
• privacy.popups.showBrowserMessage – Controls how the message is displayed each time you visit a website that a popup has previously been blocked from.
• ui.submenuDelay – Controls the time a menu takes to open a sub-menu.
• zoom.maxPercent – Controls the maximum percentage a page can be zoomed in using the zooming feature.

Written by: d1m1tr1s on June 6, 2010.
Last revised by: on June 10, 2010.

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