Optimize CodeIgniter Performance

I run a production-level web application built on core PHP with the CodeIgniter framework and it no longer feels as snappy as it should. I need someone who can dive into the existing codebase, profile every layer, and deliver measurable performance gains.

The focus is on performance improvement, so your first task will be to benchmark the current state—page load times, query execution, and overall server response. From there I expect you to identify the most critical bottlenecks and fix them directly in the code or configuration. Typical touchpoints will likely include query optimization, smarter caching, controller refactors, and fine-tuning of CodeIgniter’s settings, but I’m open to whichever proven techniques you find necessary.

Deliverables
• A brief audit report outlining discovered issues and baseline metrics
• Implemented optimizations with clear before/after metrics
• A concise hand-off note describing any new configs, libraries, or code changes

Familiarity with MySQL, query profilers, and CodeIgniter’s caching and hooks system will be invaluable. If you’ve taken legacy PHP apps from sluggish to blazing fast before, let’s do the same here.