Improve code, reduce bandwidth

Webmaster · 13-11-2008, 04:21 PM

I was struggling with a problem last month - one of my sites was pulling in excessive bandwidth compared to its user base, and I couldn’t figure out why.I combed the site stats for signs of a bot, and was surprised to find my own server was using up the most bandwidth.It took a little [...]

More: Improve code, reduce bandwidth

**monaghan** · 13-11-2008, 09:38 PM

I'd forgotten about that

Leilerdee · 20-11-2008, 04:15 PM

Thanks! This does seem to be something people overlook a lot.

Kudos to you both for working on it

ChrisS · 26-11-2008, 04:55 PM

125GB a month to 70GB is a massive improvement! Could potentially save a lot of money in hosting fees as well as improve user experience.

***Brian Turner*** · 28-11-2008, 06:59 PM

It's certainly something I'm keeping in mind for development purposes now - I was literally considering publishing another RSS feed from the site in the forums, but now realise that this is going to create a significant amount of bandwidth!

**monaghan** · 28-11-2008, 08:53 PM

As a database guy, it seems odd to me to subscribe to a system that ultimately feeds from the same databases as you've just queried to build the rest of the page, but I guess it's cheaper to pay for CPU & bandwidth rather than build an internal system. I also cringe when people do a select * and then throw away most of the records, but I guess that is also fairly standard practise as well

Bring back slow CPU's with just a few K of memory, then these programmers will have to earn their money

***Brian Turner*** · 04-12-2008, 07:44 PM

'Fraid it wouldn't add anything to the site doing so - building in extra features to a database is something a database guru may be comfortable with, but it's also creating more parts to break. Better to burn a little bandwidth to code extra functionality with PHP IMO.

Joff · 05-12-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monaghan

I also cringe when people do a select * and then throw away most of the records, but I guess that is also fairly standard practise as well

I was taught to only select what was needed and that wasn't too long ago, but sadly I think these best practices are often overlooked and overheads aren't considered!

I remember having some bandwidth restriction on a hobby site I used to run while I was still at college back in 96/97 where a gallery was seriously hogging my monthly allowance. I had to find all manner of 3rd party hosting, additional ISPs, etc.

We have it all too easy these days - if it starts to grind to a halt, just throw another stick of RAM at it!

13-11-2008, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Webmaster Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 34	Improve code, reduce bandwidth I was struggling with a problem last month - one of my sites was pulling in excessive bandwidth compared to its user base, and I couldn’t figure out why.I combed the site stats for signs of a bot, and was surprised to find my own server was using up the most bandwidth.It took a little [...] More: Improve code, reduce bandwidth

13-11-2008, 09:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
monaghan Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 507	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth I'd forgotten about that __________________ Alex Monaghan - Monaghan Consultants Ltd IT & Database consultancy Become Legal - Some thoughts about legal software TVR Cars for sale Dancing on Ice - Samantha Mumba

20-11-2008, 04:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Leilerdee Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 9	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth Thanks! This does seem to be something people overlook a lot. Kudos to you both for working on it __________________ Interleado SEO software - visibility, popularity and content rating in 1 tool

26-11-2008, 04:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChrisS Jack Jones Network Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: West Mids Posts: 76	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth 125GB a month to 70GB is a massive improvement! Could potentially save a lot of money in hosting fees as well as improve user experience. __________________ Jack Jones Network - Connect - My Business Blog

28-11-2008, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
*Brian Turner* Business Guru Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Near Inverness, Highlands, Scotland Posts: 7,716	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth It's certainly something I'm keeping in mind for development purposes now - I was literally considering publishing another RSS feed from the site in the forums, but now realise that this is going to create a significant amount of bandwidth! __________________ SEO specialist

28-11-2008, 08:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
monaghan Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 507	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth As a database guy, it seems odd to me to subscribe to a system that ultimately feeds from the same databases as you've just queried to build the rest of the page, but I guess it's cheaper to pay for CPU & bandwidth rather than build an internal system. I also cringe when people do a select * and then throw away most of the records, but I guess that is also fairly standard practise as well Bring back slow CPU's with just a few K of memory, then these programmers will have to earn their money __________________ Alex Monaghan - Monaghan Consultants Ltd IT & Database consultancy Become Legal - Some thoughts about legal software TVR Cars for sale Dancing on Ice - Samantha Mumba

04-12-2008, 07:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Brian Turner* Business Guru Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Near Inverness, Highlands, Scotland Posts: 7,716	Re: Improve code, reduce bandwidth 'Fraid it wouldn't add anything to the site doing so - building in extra features to a database is something a database guru may be comfortable with, but it's also creating more parts to break. Better to burn a little bandwidth to code extra functionality with PHP IMO. __________________ SEO specialist

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode