Free Plugin Cuts Joomla Website Load Times by 75%

RicheyWeb releases completely rebuilt System - Bundler 5.0 for Joomla 4/5/6, eliminating performance bottleneck that affects thousands of sites

RicheyWeb today announced the release of System - Bundler 5.1.0, a free Joomla plugin that automatically reduces page load times by up to 75% by consolidating multiple JavaScript and CSS files into optimized bundles. The plugin addresses a common performance issue where Joomla sites routinely load 40 or more separate files on every page, creating unnecessary server load and frustrating visitor experiences.

"Testing showed our own site was loading 25 separate JavaScript files on the homepage alone," said Michael Richey, founder of RicheyWeb. "Each one was a separate HTTP request slowing everything down. System - Bundler cut that to just 2 bundles and reduced our JavaScript payload from 251KB to 67KB. The difference is dramatic."

The Problem: Death by a Thousand Requests
Modern Joomla sites typically load dozens of CSS and JavaScript files from various extensions, templates, and core components. Each file requires a separate HTTP request, with the cumulative effect significantly impacting page load speed - a critical factor in both user experience and search engine rankings.

Manual optimization requires technical expertise, constant maintenance, and breaks whenever extensions are updated. Most site administrators simply accept the performance penalty as inevitable.

The Solution: Automatic Bundle Optimization
System - Bundler 5.0 automates the entire optimization process:

Consolidates files - Combines dozens of JavaScript and CSS files into 2-4 optimized bundles
Minifies content - Removes unnecessary code while preserving functionality
Compresses output - Gzip compression reduces file sizes by up to 81%
Auto-updates - Bundles rebuild automatically when extensions are installed or updated
Preserves behavior - Maintains defer and async attributes for proper JavaScript execution
Real-world results from production deployments show:

92% reduction in HTTP requests (25 files → 2 bundles)
81% smaller CSS payload (363KB → 69KB)
73% smaller JavaScript payload (251KB → 67KB)
Zero ongoing maintenance required
Complete Rebuild for Modern Joomla
Version 5.0 represents a complete ground-up rebuild for Joomla 4, 5, and 6:

Modern event subscriber architecture
Integration with Joomla's WebAssetManager API
Intelligent caching with automatic invalidation
Built-in debugging with source file comments
Graceful error handling for missing files
"The original Bundler served Joomla 3 sites well, but modern Joomla deserved a modern solution," Richey explained. "We rebuilt it from scratch using current best practices while keeping the core benefit: install it, configure it once, and forget about it."

Free Forever, No Strings Attached
Unlike many performance optimization tools, System - Bundler 5.0 is completely free with no premium tiers, feature limitations, or commercial restrictions.

"I'm done with the freemium model," said Richey. "The Joomla community thrives on collaboration - 'Jumla' means 'all together' in Swahili. I'd rather see this tool in everyone's hands powering faster sites than create artificial limitations for profit."

Availability
System - Bundler 5.0 is available for immediate download at https://www.richeyweb.com/software/joomla/plugins/system-bundler

The plugin is compatible with Joomla 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x. Installation takes approximately 10 minutes, and complete documentation is provided.

RicheyWeb
PO Box 755
Canton, TX 75103

RicheyWeb specializes in bespoke Joomla development, SEO optimization, and custom web applications. Founded by Michael Richey, the company has contributed numerous free tools to the Joomla community while serving clients requiring custom solutions beyond off-the-shelf capabilities.

For more information, visit https://www.richeyweb.com

This release was published on openPR.