--- title: "Blackfire, Part 2: Set (and Surpass) Your Website’s Performance Baselines" url: "https://b13.com/knowledge/blackfire-part-2-set-and-surpass-performance-baselines" description: Once you’ve gotten the hang of using Blackfire, you can do even more to speed up your website. Add tests, baselines, targeted sub-profiles, and more. image: "https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/3/f/csm_blackfire_pt2_191-1_caec8ae5f3.png" date: 2021-01-15 modified: 2026-08-19 lastUpdated: 2026-08-19 --- # Blackfire, Part 2: Set (and Surpass) Your Website’s Performance Baselines [ Performance ](https://b13.com/knowledge/performance) Blackfire, Part 2: Set (and Surpass) Your Website’s Performance Baselines =========================================================================== You’ve set up Blackfire, run a few profiles, and fixed the most obvious performance issues. What’s next? Baselines, tests, and more! ![](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/c/6/csm_benni_5e519221c4.jpg)Benni Mack 09 February 2021 [ RSS Feed ](https://b13.com/rss.xml) ![Two figures interact with a computer displaying a fluctuating graph. One figure holds a large wrench, while the other points at the screen. The background features gears and various technical elements, suggesting a theme of engineering or data analysis.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/2/csm_blackfire_pt2_ab5eebd8d4.webp) Once you get the hang of using Blackfire, you have a lot of opportunities to make your website high-performant. By now you might’ve read our [first post on Blackfire](https://b13.com/knowledge/why-we-use-blackfire-to-speed-up-typo3-websites) and implemented some quick fixes to make your project run faster. #### This post is part of our Blackfire Series - [Part 1: Why we use Blackfire to speed up TYPO3 websites](https://b13.com/knowledge/why-we-use-blackfire-to-speed-up-typo3-websites) - **Part 2: Set (and Surpass) Your Website’s Performance Baselines** - [Part 3:](https://blog.blackfire.io/check-up-on-your-front-end-cache-in-typo3-part-3-or-3.html) [Check up on your Front-End Cache in TYPO3](https://blog.blackfire.io/check-up-on-your-front-end-cache-in-typo3-part-3-or-3.html) But while fixing problems is nice, preventing future ones is even nicer! Blackfire can alert you as soon as performance starts lagging, allowing you to incrementally improve your website’s speed. Here are some of my favorite tips for getting the most out of your Blackfire setup: - Add a .blackfire.yaml file to your testing workflow - Review built-in “Recommendations” for your project - Automate when Blackfire should profile your code - Target specific parts of your codebase - Integrate Blackfire with your CLI Ask about our Blackfire workshops ----------------------------------- [ Let’s connect ](https://b13.com/lets-connect) Add a .blackfire.yaml file to your testing workflow ----------------------------------------------------- Say a Blackfire profile tells you that your SQL requests are slowing you down, and you settle on the metric that your website shouldn’t make more than 10 database requests per page. You can write custom performance tests for Blackfire to run whenever you profile your web project or CLI. These go into the .blackfire.yaml file, which is incredibly useful because it helps you define the baseline performance metrics for your project. To begin, add a file called “.blackfire.yaml” to the root directory of your web application project. Then, under a “tests” key, you write a simple test. ![Screenshot of .blackfire.yaml file.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/d/3/csm_Blackfire_Part2_1_Tests_dff149af9d.webp) [ ](https://b13.com/fileadmin/Blog/Blackfire/Blackfire_Part2_1_Tests.png) Write tests under the “tests” key in your .blackfire.yaml file. Each test has three components: - **Name:** a descriptive title describing what would count as a “passed test” (i.e. “Pages should be fast enough” and “Commands should be fast enough” in the example above.) - **Context:** where the test should run (a path for HTTP requests, or a command for CLI requests“) - **Assertions:** one or more boolean tests with defined metrics As you discover issues and define your website’s baselines, you can write tests in your YAML file accordingly. For example, if it turns out your SQL requests are slowing you down, you could write a test that says your web shouldn’t make more than 10 database requests per page. For more information on writing tests (and exceptions), check out the [Blackfire cookbook](https://blackfire.io/docs/cookbooks/tests#tests-blackfire-yaml). ![Screenshot of Blackfire’s “Assertions tab” showing a red alert.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/3/1/csm_Blackfire_Part2_2_Assertions_66ecf8aa4e.webp) [ ](https://b13.com/fileadmin/Blog/Blackfire/Blackfire_Part2_2_Assertions.png) If you write tests in your YAML file, the results will show up on blackfire.io as Assertions. ### Another cool tip Blackfire.io has an online yaml validator. You can copy and paste your yaml file [into the validator](https://blackfire.io/docs/validator) to make sure it’s formatted correctly. Review built-in “Recommendations” for your project ---------------------------------------------------- When profiling your code, Blackfire can detect your CMS or framework, coding languages, and environment variables. Blackfire generates a report based on these factors called “Recommendations,” which notes any areas where your web performance could be improved. The report flags issues like deprecated method use, configuration errors, and too many SQL calls. ![Screenshot of Blackfire UI, showing “deprecated method” and “too many conditions” alerts based on TYPO3 recommendations.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/e/csm_Blackfire_Part2_3_Recommendations_ee91381f17.webp) [ ](https://b13.com/fileadmin/Blog/Blackfire/Blackfire_Part2_3_Recommendations.png) When you Blackfire for a TYPO3 website, make sure to check whether it’s meeting our TYPO3 recommendations. There are preset recommendations for TYPO3, PHP, and SQL (the [TYPO3 recommendations](https://blog.blackfire.io/typo3-performance-recommendations.html) were defined by our TYPO3 Core team and community members), but be aware that our recommendations are just that: recommendations. Your project might have different needs, and you can [disable recommendations](https://blackfire.io/docs/reference-guide/recommendations#disabling-a-recommendation) accordingly, or write your own under your .blackfire.yaml file’s “recommendations” key. Automate when Blackfire should profile your code -------------------------------------------------- Blackfire runs on demand, but you can also automate it to run on a pre-defined schedule or when triggered by certain events. So you can set Blackfire to run regularly—something like 10 times a day—or (my recommendation) any time you make a change to your codebase. Target specific parts of your codebase ---------------------------------------- You don’t have to call Blackfire within your source code to profile your web app. But, there are times when you might want to profile a specific part of your codebase to narrow in on a problem. For this, you’ll need to install the [Blackfire PHP SDK](https://blackfire.io/docs/integrations/php/sdk). Then you can manually create “sub-profiles” of your code, which give you a granular look into a specific part of your codebase. This is especially cool and useful if you work in applications with microservices, or if an event loop on your CLI is doing some heavy lifting. ![Codeblock demonstrating how to segment off different parts of your codebase for profiling](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/4/9/csm_Blackfire_Part2_4_SDK_e6f2829612.webp) [ ](https://b13.com/fileadmin/Blog/Blackfire/Blackfire_Part2_4_SDK.png) Once you’ve installed the SDK, you can run Blackfire for specific parts of the code Blackfire: a ‘real-life’ example ---------------------------------- Once I was working on a customer’s TYPO3 website which contained a lot of links. The load time was really slow, and after using Blackfire to profile their website, I realized that requests for these links were the culprit, but there didn’t seem to be any problems in their code. To test whether the problem was caused by TYPO3 itself, we ran Blackfire on the TYPO3 Core through a CLI integration. In TYPO3, when someone puts a link in their text or menus, TYPO3 checks to make sure the linked page is available to the website visitor. This feature is great for making sure your visitors don’t land on dead links. But if there’s a website with 300 links, it can really slow down your load time. As it turned out, the issue was with the TYPO3 Core code, and not our client’s: it was calling the links too many times. We created a patch, which went out in the next release. So if you think about it, tons of installations of TYPO3 benefitted from one client’s issue. We love using Blackfire for our customers because it gives us another chance to check up on the TYPO3 Core. Usually, newer TYPO3 versions are faster than older ones—and that’s because we started using Blackfire to detect issues. Helping one client enabled us to find and fix a problem that subsequently helped many other TYPO3 users. Add a few other tools to your toolbox --------------------------------------- While Blackfire does a lot when it comes to server-side code, it can’t do everything. We recommend using a few other external tools alongside it to help identify and fix “slow website” bugs. - **Google Page Speed Insights and** **Web.dev** catch issues that are unrelated to your server. You can type in your website’s address into [Google PageSpeed Insights](https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/) or [web.dev](https://web.dev/measure/) to get some good insights, especially around any javascript or CSS that might be slowing down your website. Web.dev will rate your site on performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO. - **Redis** is a memory-cache that helps your website load faster. Once a page is rendered, Redis stores the cached version in memory, so your website isn’t making repeated SQL requests for elements on your TYPO3 page. TYPO3 projects hosted in our TYPO3-supported environments come pre-configured with Redis by default (learn more about how this works in our [series on caching](https://b13.com/blog/caching-in-typo3-part-1-frontend-caches)). - **Browser developer tools** for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox all have network and performance analysis tools, which are great for analyzing variations in how your website loads. In Chrome, for example, you can test out how your site would load on a slower network with less CPU availability. - **CDNs**, which act as globally distributed caches, help serve your website and static assets more quickly. [CDNs are great](https://b13.com/blog/how-cdns-and-typo3-offer-superior-speed-uptime-and-user-experience) for websites being accessed in multiple locations, because they help reduce the distance between your user and your content. - **NGINX and Caddy** (the new kid on the block) are wonderful web servers that work well for PHP-based applications. We’ve had a great experience with running TYPO3 on both. Contact us for a training --------------------------- One of the common misperceptions about Blackfire is that you only need it when your site runs slowly. Blackfire is a powerful preventative tool. Yes, it helps you catch the “bugs” slowing your website down, but it can help you prevent future performance issues, as well. If you want to know more, or if you need help setting your own recommendations and baselines—that’s what we’re here for! We offer trainings and can help you get started with Blackfire in your web projects. Your client is asking for a performance analysis of their website and TYPO3 backend and you don’t know where to start? Our training will help you get started on using Blackfire and will get you ready and set for your next analysis. [ Contact Us ](https://b13.com/lets-connect) ### Written by: ![Bild von Benni Mack](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/c/6/csm_benni_66cce9a81f.webp) b13 co-founder and TYPO3 CMS Core Development Lead, Benni Mack, heads our technical practices, setup and maintenance of our technical infrastructure, and coordinates our open-source contribution. His essential tool: TYPO3 Benni Mack CTO [ more from Benni Mack ](https://b13.com/team/benni-mack) Related Articles ------------------ - ![A human hand shakes a robotic hand against a purple background with heart patterns, symbolizing collaboration between humans and technology.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/2/csm_AIbotsLoveMarkdown_Headerbild_72fe5820d6.webp) ### The Internet Is No Longer Just for Humans—AI Bots Love Markdown 28 January 2026 | Benni Mack Discover why most web traffic is now automated and how TYPO3’s structured content model prepares websites for humans, editors, and AI systems. 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Subdomains and subdirectories interact differently with SEO… [ Read more: Subdirectories vs. Subdomains: Which is Better for SEO? ](https://b13.com/knowledge/subdirectories-vs-subdomains) - ![Colorful cartoon rockets with flames, featuring round windows and various designs, are arranged in a repeating pattern against a light background.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/9/f/csm_QuickLoad_Headerbild_914e5cfa94.webp) ### What factors make a website load as quickly as possible? 30 April 2025 | David Steeb Explore practical solutions to improve website load times and performance through server, network, and front-end optimizations, including TYPO3-specific strategies. [ Read more: What factors make a website load as quickly as possible? ](https://b13.com/knowledge/make-website-load-fast) - ![A pathway leads through stylized clouds, flanked by a magnifying glass and gears, with icons representing text and documents in the background, suggesting themes of exploration and technology.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/0/csm_accessibility-guide_0acd1932f3.webp) ### A Guide to Accessibility Considerations in UX Design 12 April 2024 | Franzi Töpler People with disabilities constitute one of the most significant segments of online users, but it is an often-overlooked population in the digital world. 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The background is a gradient of purple with abstract shapes.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/4/1/csm_ux-trouble-shooting-user-journey_211db787f7.webp) ### Improving The User Journey: How to help your users find what they are looking for 14 March 2023 | Laura Heine The user journey is a substantial part of the user experience (UX). If users are unable to complete a task in your app or on your website, their user experience plummets—so does… [ Read more: Improving The User Journey: How to help your users find what they are looking for ](https://b13.com/knowledge/improving-the-user-journey-how-to-help-your-users-find-what-they-are-looking-for) - ![A magnifying glass overlays various abstract shapes, including gears and rectangles, against a dark purple background. The design suggests themes of search, analysis, and technology.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/b/a/csm_ux-trouble-shooting-search_baed040eb3.webp) ### On-site search is more than a small box in the corner 10 March 2023 | Laura Heine Users want to find information fast. If the page navigation is insufficient, they quickly resort to the search functionality. Nowadays, users expect that an on-site search is easy… [ Read more: On-site search is more than a small box in the corner ](https://b13.com/knowledge/on-site-search-is-more-than-a-small-box-in-the-corner) - ![A stylized graphic featuring a house with three horizontal bars representing data storage, a padlock symbolizing security, and a key. Background elements include leaves and abstract shapes, suggesting a digital or cloud-based theme.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/2/5/csm_on-prem_e9249f94ba.webp) ### Why choose On-Prem over SaaS for your CMS? 14 February 2023 | David Steeb Enterprises now have many software delivery channel options to choose from. 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TYPO3 v11 adds a few important touches… [ Read more: Workspaces Improvements ](https://b13.com/knowledge/workspaces-improvements) - ![A computer monitor displays a speedometer gauge, an hourglass, and a clock, symbolizing time management and performance metrics, set against a colorful abstract background.](https://b13.com/fileadmin/_processed_/b/b/csm_blackfire_pt1_f3076aa8a8.webp) ### Why we use Blackfire to speed up TYPO3 websites 10 December 2020 | Benni Mack At b13 we love using Blackfire to monitor and speed up our clients‘ websites. Here’s a quick overview of what Blackfire does and why we love it. [ Read more: Why we use Blackfire to speed up TYPO3 websites ](https://b13.com/knowledge/why-we-use-blackfire-to-speed-up-typo3-websites)