Wordpress Plugins NOT To Install
Everyday there’s a new a post with ‘My Favourite Plugins’ etc, so I thought I’d be a bit different and create a list of the Wordpress plugins NOT to install.
Over, the last couple of weeks I’ve had a few big traffic spikes that have caused my Wordpress installation problems. Upgrading to the next highest tier with PowerVPS didn’t solve the problem, and even despite having 2 caches running, my site was slowing down and even shutting down at times.
I discovered that the cause of my problems were certain plugins, and after removing them my CPU load returned to manageable levels. Unfortunately, not before I’d missed out on a significant number of new readers.
Here are the plugins I’d recommend removing or disabling if your server is starting to strain:
The free translator plugin by the same developer that I was using was causing major problems for my server under load, so I spent $30 on the new premium version as it promised performance improvements. The premium Translator Plugin Pro did translate pages faster, but it still killed my server so I had to turn it off after 5 minutes. I haven’t had much joy getting my money back which is a shame…
UPDATE: Angsuman very kindly took a look at my blog and optimised the plugin, as well as giving me many other useful tips. I now thoroughly recommend this plugin.
Luckily I found the free Global Translator Plugin which does the same job without killing my server.
- Gravatars
These plugins seem to be resource drains because they are constantly pinging the server to see if new images are available. Use with caution
Despite singing this plugins praises, under load it was causing me major problems. I think what was happening was that because of the high load my site was under, the list of posts generated by Readers Posts was constantly changing which meant that my APC/WP-Cache2 caching combo wasn’t working as every page load was unique.
I don’t know why, but this plugin was causing problems. Use with caution.
Are there any other plugins that have caused you problems, or do you have any performance tips you want to share?
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Pingback by Practical Blogging » Blog Archive » links for 2006-12-02 on 2 December 2006:
[...] Wordpress Plugins NOT To Install (tags: hosting resources wordpress plugins) [...]
Pingback by Cuatro plugins que es mejor evitar. » BlogMundi on 1 December 2006:
[...] Como dicen en Connected Internet suele haber posts diarios sobre plugins preferidos, nuevos… ¿por qué no un artÃÂculo en sentido contrario? Según nos cuentan hace poco tuvieron cierto tráfico y a pesar de estar en un servidor potente tuvieron ciertos problemas, su sitio iba lento e incluso se cayó alguna vez. [...]
Pingback by ä¸Â该安装的wordpressæÂՊȦ at 天眞 on 1 December 2006:
[...] Connected Internet列出了几个wordpressçâ€Â¨Ã¦Ë†Â·Ã¤Â¸Â该安装的æÂ’件，我æ¯â€Ã¨Â¾Æ’赞åÂŒåš客上ä¸Âåºâ€Ã¨Â¯Â¥Ã¥Â®â€°Ã¨Â£â€¦GravataræÂ’件，一个çâ€Â±Ã¤ÂºÅ½gravatarçš„åŠæ»ä¸Â活，å¦外就是作者所说的这个æÂ’件一直在pingå…¶æœÂ务器看是å¦有新的gravatar头åƒÂ。 These plugins seem to be resource drains because they are constantly pinging the server to see if new images are available. Use with caution [...]
Pingback by Plugins To Avoid by Blogging Pro on 1 December 2006:
[...] Over on Connected Internet there is a list of four plug-ins that Everton thinks you should watch out for, as they don’t always work as nicely as we would hope. He actually goes as far to recommend not installing these plug-ins at all. Over, the last couple of weeks I’ve had a few big traffic spikes that have caused my Wordpress installation problems. Upgrading to the next highest tier with PowerVPS didn’t solve the problem, and even despite having 2 caches running, my site was slowing down and even shutting down at times. [...]
Comment by Viper007Bond on 1 December 2006:
Nothing wrong with Gravatars, if you use the right plugin. The ones the locally cache the Gravatars and check daily or so give your users (and gravatar.com) a break.
Or if you don’t like your server doing the work, use the official plugin and make it purely a user/gravatar.com issue (simple <img> tag on your site).
Comment by Everton Blair on 1 December 2006:
I use the addicted to live search plugin which doesn’t cause a problem on my blog, but you’re right the Ajaxy stuff usually causes problems.
Comment by Hans on 1 December 2006:
I would say things like Live stuffs that use much AJAX like on most K2 installation, the Live search. Now it even comes like a plugins that would allow you to have a LiveSearchBox.
Pingback by Four Wordpress plugins to avoid at The Blog Herald on 1 December 2006:
[...] Blog Software Dec 1 at 4:50 am by Thord Hedengren -Connected Internet has a list of four Wordpress plugins you should leave alone, that is, not install. While I don’t feel like adding to the list at this time, I do agree on the Gravatar part: Gravatars These plugins seem to be resource drains because they are constantly pinging the server to see if new images are available. Use with caution [...]
Comment by Everton Blair on 1 December 2006:
whatdoyaknow - which ones have you had problems with? I’m hoping this thread will become a ‘Name&Shame’ list
Comment by whatdoyaknow on 1 December 2006:
I run a couple of blogs (some alone, some with friends) and I’ve had some Wordpress plug-ins screw things up big time. One time it resent all of the user accounts, to the point where I had to go into the database and re-enter the info. Good job with the info, hopefully it can save some headaches.