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Framework 2.4.2 Release Notes – Better Builder Performance

Here at Themify, we're always working hard to create and improve our products! Focusing not only on adding features or improving the UI design, but also the overall performance and user experience of the Themify framework. Which is why, we're proud to introduce to all of you, our latest framework update 2.4.2. We've got a lot in store for you with this new update. Below are the main highlight to take note of, as you upgrade to the latest framework.

Data Format Change

To make Builder data migration easier, we've changed the data structure to prevent serialized data breakage when migrating to different domains.

IMPORTANT: After you upgraded to the new version, do not downgrade the framework or Builder plugin back to the previous versions manually (ie. don't replace the theme/plugin folder manually to previous versions). When the framework/plugin is upgraded, the Builder data is automatically converted to the new format. Thus, replacing the framework/plugin back to previous versions might result to a blank Builder content because the data format is different. Not to worry though, the Builder data is still there in the database, just not visible on the frontend rendering. If you really need to downgrade afterward, install Builder Data Migrator plugin which allows you to convert the Builder data between old/new format. To convert data with the plugin: with the migrator plugin activated, go to WP-admin > Tools > Builder Data Migrator, click "Convert all Builder data to New format" button.

Huge Performance Improvement - Up to 50% Faster!

Asynchronous Loading

To improve page load time, the Builder CSS and JS files are now loaded asynchronously rather than regularly enqueue. This means that when a user visits your site, their browser does not have to wait for all the JavaScripts to load before rendering the page.

HTML Caching

In this update, we've added HTML caching to reduce page load time and server processing workloads. When a Builder page is first requested, it generates a static HTML file of the Builder content, then it will use the cached HTML file to render page. This improves both page load and server processing time significantly because it bypasses server processing on every page request.

Performance Results

Testing environment

  • WP version 4.3.1
  • All plugins (except the Builder) disabled
  • Using Twenty Fifteen theme
  • DigitalOcean 1 CPU, 512MB RAM
  • MySQL, Nginx, PHP-FPM 5.6
  • Testing a single sample page with some text
  • We've done some performance test between the old and new version. We've used 2 themes to do our primary testings. The Basic (simplest) and the Ultra (most feature intensive) theme, and compared the result of the load times when adding multiple modules on a page. Below are our findings:

    • old-framework Old Framework
    • new-framework New Framework
    table-findings

    From this testing, we can infer that With standard-sized pages (e.g. Agency layout), there is a visible improvement but not significant. With the old Builder on WordPress, the server managed to respond to 233 requests with an average response time of 3400ms. On the other hand, with the new Builder on WordPress, the server managed to respond to 285 requests with an average response time of 3000ms (3 seconds). This represents a 22% improvement in quantity of successfully served requests and 12% improvement in the average response time.

    However, with very complex pages containing 30 rows with three text modules on each one of them, there is a major performance improvement of the Builder plugin. While the new Builder managed to respond to 300 requests with 3000ms (3 seconds) average response time, the old Builder was able to respond to only 7 requests with 10000ms (10 seconds) average response time. Thus it is possible to use the new Builder on very large sites whereas previously with the old Builder it was impossible to do so.

    UPDATE:

    We've fixed the following common issues in the latest version (please upgrade again):

    • Duplicate (double) Builder modules
    • Builder content output in <head>

    64 Comments

    1. sudhir
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 14:21

      Have you added it in the themes which are available to download ?

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:05

        Yes, all themes that are available to download on member dashboard are using the latest framework.

        Reply

    2. Scotty Huff
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 15:19

      So… how do I update my framework? I received an email on this. It instructed me to read the Release Notes before updating, but provided no instruction on how to update.

      Reply

    3. Scotty Huff
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 15:20

      By the way, I checked for updates in my Theme dashboard but it told me there were no updates.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:08

        Hi Scotty,

        Do you mind reinstalling the theme with a fresh copy from your member dashboard? This should fix this issue. For your reference here’s our documentation on how to do this – https://themify.me/docs/upgrading#reinstall

        Reply

    4. Angel Glez.
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 16:01

      Hi.

      Thank you for this advance and your good communication. Keep this to top on mind.

      Just a question. Could you please tell me if in this new framework 2.4.2 you are keeping the “styling menu”?

      If not, please what can we do to show again?

      Is really important to keep this.

      Regards.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:09

        Hi Angel,

        Thanks for the positive feedback. Which “Styling Menu” are you referring too? Do you mind sending us an email at info[at]themify.me with further detail so we can better answer your question.

        Reply

    5. Stephan Holowaty
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 16:05

      I am trying to update my framework. However, when clicking Themify – Update – Check for updates, I get the message: “No updates available”.
      My current framework version is 2.0.9.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:10

        Hi Stephan,

        That seems to be a very old framework. Please reinstall the theme with a fresh copy from your member dashboard area. This will resolve this issue. For you reference here is our documentation on how to do this – https://themify.me/docs/upgrading#reinstall

        Reply

    6. Steph from fangswandsandfairydust.com
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 17:08

      So, I am not technical – what does this mean to the end user?

      Reply

      • Lerovski
        Nov 23, 2015 @ 22:52

        It’s faster! And betterer.

        Reply

        • Kurt @ Themify
          Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:13

          Thank you for the awesome feedback! We worked to make sure it gives users a much better experience with Themify :)

          Reply

    7. thorsten
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 18:20

      hi,

      how can i update that framework ?

      greets

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:12

        Hi Thorsten,

        You can do so by with the notification that should appear at the backend of your WP Admin. If you do not see this notification, we recommend reinstalling the theme with a fresh copy on your Themify membership dashboard. For your reference here is our documentation on how to do this – https://themify.me/docs/upgrading#reinstall.

        Reply

    8. Robert Kwasny
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 19:43

      Hey Themify Boys and Girls…

      The upgrade is destroying websites… and here I am with two people making phone calls as fast as they can to invite people to GO to the WEBSITE and register.

      What a mess!

      It doubles every single Text Widget on a site… and Video and background…

      I created a ticket, have tried to reach you via Facebook, Twitter, the Blog and Support ticket… it’s a mess… see: http://www.TopOfTempe.com

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:18

        Hi Robert,

        We’re aware of this issue and have fixed it. We will deploying it soon and this should be fixed very soon. Apologies for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

        Reply

      • Bartek
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 08:58

        Yeap, I’ve had the same. All things I’ve made trough builder are double!

        Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 25, 2015 @ 21:18

        UPDATE: The double Builder content issue has been fixed. Please update the framework again.

        Reply

    9. Søren Nøruo
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 19:51

      This totalt screewed ud our site. And now I can’t turn it back to the old framework.
      )0:

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 25, 2015 @ 21:16

        Try to upgrade to the latest framework version again. We’ve addressed many issues. If problem persists, please post on our forum and we will help: https://themify.me/forum.

        Reply

    10. Claire Turner
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 20:10

      I am new to Themify. The theme I used for all of my sites over the past 5 years had a button to backup settings. Is there such a thing for Themify, or how do you suggest I do a backup before installing this latest update?

      Thanks!

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:16

        Hi Claire,

        There are a number of different ways to do this. Allow us to give you some recommendations via email. Please email us at info[at]themify.me and we’ll provide you with some suggestions.

        Reply

    11. Pete
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 20:23

      Your commitment to your product is incredible! Very encouraging.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:14

        Thanks Pete! We’re always hard at work to ensure that we provide users, like you, the best user experience while using our Themify framework :)

        Reply

    12. Shankar
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 20:31

      I look forward to trying it out. I have been planning to move out of Themify because of the poor performance of our site.

      How do I update ? Clicking on Update tells me that there are no updates available !!

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 01:19

        Hi Shankar,

        We’re very pleased to hear this. Please do try out our newest framework update, if you don’t receive a notification. Please reinstall the theme with a fresh copy on your member dashboard. For your reference here is our documentation for this – https://themify.me/docs/upgrading#reinstall.

        Reply

    13. Victor Noyes
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 20:40

      This is nice!!!!!!

      Thank you!!! :)

      Reply

    14. Michael Oglesby
      Nov 23, 2015 @ 22:20

      Themify,

      With the new HTML Caching, does this mean Caching plugins like W3TC are redundant or do we disable HTML component?

      Will be checking out the new Framework shortly.

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 25, 2015 @ 21:15

        The Builder caching only deals with the Builder content, not entire page. It doesn’t cache header, sidebar, and footer. It does not affect cache plugins like W3TC.

        Reply

    15. Abhay Deshpande
      Nov 24, 2015 @ 04:36

      Hello,

      I am new to WP as well as Themify so please pardon my dumb queries.

      When you say ‘new framework release 2.4.2’, the only way I can upgrade to latest framework is by upgrading the themes and plugins to their latest version – right ?

      New theme (and possibly some plugins) will have this framework already embedded – right ?

      Regards,
      Abhay

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 22:25

        All Themify themes are packed with the latest framework. Updating the theme will update the framework as well.

        Reply

    16. Patrick Blumberg
      Nov 24, 2015 @ 12:17

      After Updating to Framework 2.4.3 builder-image and -text won’t show their content.
      Even after reinstalling the theme and all plug-ins nothing appears to be visible, also not in the source code, only when I do turn on the builder at the page, contents become visible. What has to be done to resolve this issue?

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 22:22

        Please update the framework to latest 2.4.3. If you still encounter issues, please post on our forum (remember to provide your site URL so we can check): https://themify.me/forum.

        Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 22:24

        Please update the framework to latest version 2.4.3. If problems persist, please post on our forum (don’t forget to include your site URL): https://themify.me/forum.

        Reply

        • Patrick Blumberg
          Nov 25, 2015 @ 07:41

          Reinstalling the theme the second time and turning off the builder cache did help. The contents are visible again.

          regards

          Reply

    17. Terry
      Nov 24, 2015 @ 12:46

      Hi Kurt,

      I was about to try updating builder when I read in the comments above there are some issues. I also read your reply that you are aware of the issues and they have been fixed, and the fixed version will be deployed soon.

      Can you tell us when we should download the fixed update? I’m using the Ultra theme.

      Thanks…

      Reply

    18. Matthias Krick
      Nov 24, 2015 @ 15:55

      The update (also) broke all of our sites!! No builder content is there at frontend anymore. 10 sites in actual projects, really not nice. As I noticed, the framework is no 2.4.3?

      Please help ! I seems that’s a database issue.

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 24, 2015 @ 22:19

        Please update the framework again to version 2.4.3. We’ve addressed the Builder cache issue. If problem persists with the latest version, try to disable all plugins and the Builder cache in Themify > Settings > Themify Builder.

        Reply

      • alain lee
        Nov 25, 2015 @ 09:19

        Same problem

        Reply

    19. joomtlc
      Nov 25, 2015 @ 14:59

      Thanks, Nick. I just did the update to Ultra 1.1.5, hopefully that was the latest one with the fixes. Everything seems to be okay…

      Reply

    20. Victor Noyes
      Nov 25, 2015 @ 15:37

      This update is great! I had all my sites pretty well optimized and loading well but the sliders were still slow loading, and I try not t use additional plugins if I can help it.

      With this new update the sliders and builder elements are loading super quick! Just what we needed.

      Thanks for all the hard work!!

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Nov 25, 2015 @ 21:12

        Glad to hear this. Expect another Builder UI improvement soon. The new UI will improve your productivity using the frontend Builder.

        Reply

    21. Lance
      Nov 27, 2015 @ 06:44

      Does this update make it so post revisions include Builder content? If not, when will this essential feature be included? I really don’t enjoy telling my clients that if they use the Builder they lose the security of having revisions.

      Thanks!

      Reply

      • Nick @ Themify
        Apr 07, 2016 @ 18:34

        The WP post revisions should include the Builder data now, however, the old revisions created prior this update might not include the Builder data (ie. only the new revisions include Builder data). Users can also create Builder revisions with comments which allow them to roll back any time.

        Reply

    22. Joe Joseph
      Nov 27, 2015 @ 14:36

      Apologies if this is deemd double posting or some other crime, but I am getting nowhere trying to get a solution to this problem.

      The iTheme2 1.7.6 and v2.4.4 update stopped the slider from working

      The slider works in 1.7.4 and v 2.4.1

      I also made a completely fresh WordPress installation – nothing else except iTheme2 1.7.6 and v2.4.4 and it stopped the header slider from working.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 28, 2015 @ 05:02

        Do you mind contact us here http://themify.me/contact with your site URL so we can further investigate your issue?

        Reply

    23. Trish
      Nov 28, 2015 @ 02:28

      I just updated my Full Pane theme and I have two Themify Icons installed on the first pane of the homepage which no longer work. I reinstalled one and both worked for a few minutes on Firefox but then both reverted to previous non-working on all three browsers. BLOG button is supposed to be a circle with a star at top and below the words SCROLL DOWN there should be an arrow.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Nov 28, 2015 @ 05:00

        Hi Trish,

        Do you mind contacting us here – http://themify.me/contact so we can further investigate the issue and provide you support?

        Reply

    24. Alica
      Dec 02, 2015 @ 07:22

      it looks like I have to try and download a theme

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Dec 04, 2015 @ 14:29

        Go for it! Let us know what you think at info[at]themify.me :)

        Reply

    25. HireWPGeeks
      Dec 02, 2015 @ 13:06

      Thanks themifly for updating framework update 2.4.2. Hope this update would be helpful for upcoming people.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Dec 04, 2015 @ 14:29

        We hope so too :)

        Reply

    26. Carl
      Dec 02, 2015 @ 18:29

      Since the latest up date, when I try to duplicate a post in the Themify builder, it does not duplicate the bulider parts that make up the content of my post.

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Dec 04, 2015 @ 14:30

        Hi Carl,

        We can help you with this. Do you mind emailing us at info[at]themify.me with your site URl and we’ll looking into this for you?

        Reply

    27. Brandon Burch
      Dec 16, 2015 @ 17:07

      Wow, I just updated and lost all my content on about 100 pages. Is there anyway to get my content back? Or do you know what happened?

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Dec 16, 2015 @ 23:48

        send us an email at info[at]themify.me and we’ll look into this for you. Please include your site URL as well.

        Reply

        • Brandon Burch
          Dec 17, 2015 @ 03:56

          I just sent an email.

          Thanks,
          Brandon

          Reply

    28. Angelique Giaxidis
      Dec 18, 2015 @ 00:48

      I’ve just upgraded (auto upgrade) to Grido 1.6.4 (with the newest framework) but the “tabs” of the builder aren’t working as before.
      You can take a look here http://testefarmogi.dimokratia.info/clone/

      Reply

      • Kurt @ Themify
        Dec 18, 2015 @ 16:04

        Allow us to provide you support via email. Please email us at info[at]themify.me.

        Reply

    29. Somyos a
      Dec 21, 2015 @ 11:11

      I’m using new Ultra the respond time is much much better. Thank you and Keep up the good work.

      Reply

    30. Dave
      Apr 06, 2017 @ 10:56

      Thanks themifly.me for let us know about 2.4.2. updated framework. Keep writing these helpful updates and help us.

      Reply

    31. banks dada
      Jun 14, 2021 @ 01:12

      at the moment, my mobile performance on google pagespeed is less than 60 while my desktop is about 98. I need help on how to actually enjoy these benefits as this is somewhat confusing for me.
      My hosting provider also have caching and web optimisation features in the control panel. How do i make sure these dont ‘fight each other’ in my quest for improved performance

      Please advise – [email protected]

      Reply

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