Firemin
July 5, 2011 in Freeware
One of the biggest “improvements” that Mozilla claims is improved memory usage, in particular, the vanquishing of memory leaks. If you thought it was too good to be true you were right. Firefox still uses a lot of memory – way too much memory for a web browser.
We like keeping our apps running for a few days (that’s just the way we roll) and because of this Firefox was using over ~800MB of memory after about 3 days. It’s quite normal for Firefox to be sucking up ~100MB of memory right off the bat (in a memory leak you’ll see the memory usage keep increasing the longer the browser is open/in-use).
Rather than complaining about it, we decided to try and fix it. Enter Rizone Firemin (Formerly Firefox Plumber); simply put; it will eliminate most memory leaks in Firefox. All we did was tweaked our memory optimization engine a little and applied it to Firefox and most memory leaks was gone. To use Firemin; you will need to unzip firemin.zip and double click on Firemin.exe and let it babysit Firefox. You expected it to be more complicated, we are truly sorry to disappoint you.
Some requests from our users, like launching Firefox on program start have been implemented. You can also launch Firefox directly from the taskbar icon now. We’ve added a new Options dialog to efficiently balance the optimization intervals. Then we’ve done a new Firefox optimization function. This function uses the SQLite vacuum function to defrag the Firefox databases (Same as SpeedyFox).
To use Firemin with Firefox portable edition, simply drop the Firemin.exe executable in the same directory as FirefoxPortable.exe and everything should work fine.
Included in the download, you will also find:
- Palemin 0.3.0.300 – For working with and optimizing Pale Moon.
- Seamin 0.3.0.300 – For working with and optimizing SeaMonkey.
- Thundermin 0.3.0.300 – For working with and optimizing Thundermin.
Firemin uses the excellent Firefox icon by weboso.
| Download Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Download: | Firemin (0.3.0.300) | 2 MB |
| Compatibility: | Microsoft Windows 7 / Vista / XP and Windows Server 2008 / 2003 | |
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Hermie said on July 7, 2011
the path of my firefox is on drive D.. that makes launch firefox when firemin starts useless…
moch84bdg said on February 5, 2012
You can change the path to your Firefox Instalation Folder from the options. Just right click on Firemin icon and click options.
Peter said on February 6, 2012
Now I’m doubly confused, as I can’t see the reply to me from moch84bdg on the message list! It was: “You can change the path to your Firefox Instalation Folder from the options.”
But the path shown in options is already correct, surely: “C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe”
A further puzzle: I’ve now selected Launch firefox when Firemin starts – but it doesn’t launch. I still have to open it manually. Is this a useful clue to why Firemin seems to have no effect at all on my Firefox?
Peter said on February 6, 2012
Actually, after I restarted the PC, opening Firemin did start Firefox – so the path to Firefox.exe is working. But Firemin is doing nothing to keep the Firefox memory levels down (in Task Manager)…
Max said on July 8, 2011
This tool is not working if Firefox is in a different folder than default installation. Can you add an option to specify where Firefox is installed?
John said on July 11, 2011
>> This tool is not working if Firefox is in a different folder than default installation.
If that is true, an option to specify FF’s installation directory is indispensible.
Anonymous said on July 11, 2011
Yes, we are working on a function to specify the installation directory.
guest said on July 12, 2011
So what is it that the slider actually sets? min memory usage?
Anonymous said on July 12, 2011
The balance between Firefox memory usage and Firemin CPU consumption. Basically, it sets the amount of time between optimizations in milliseconds.
naasupi said on July 28, 2011
This is all nice that the app manages to “reduce” the memory consumption or so it appears. Notice that if you turn Firemin on, the usage immediately drops to 3-5 mb from 400 mb. Amazing it may look but if you look at the physical memory used in the bottom of the Task manager you will see no change in %, i.e Firefox still uses that same amount of memory, just disguised differently. It doesn’t reduce Commit (virtual) memory size, it “reduces” working (physical) memory by swapping to page file. This can mean even slower work of Firefox
Gigabyter64 said on July 12, 2011
does this application have any bad effects for SSD’s? Like behaving like Defrag does in windows.
Anonymous said on July 13, 2011
Should not have a problem with SSD’s. I don’t have any SSD’s to test, so can’t say forsure.
happysurf said on July 13, 2011
Great work, would be great have this as add on…is possible in future?
Nemo said on July 21, 2011
thx for this app! may you develop a simular tool for thunderbird. it has the same memory issues like firefox.
Happysurf said on July 23, 2011
Great update but for start portable firefox I need to start not firefox.exe but FirefoxPortable.exe file impossible to select as executable file, please add this possibility to next version.
Thank you.
Grinky said on July 25, 2011
On all download links I have encountered the same problem where upon completion, instead of recieving the Firemin file I have recieved a [site].html file that is completely irrelevant. Is there any other way I can get to your app?
Olegeiser said on July 30, 2011
Can you please make it close down using the Firefox exit and close commands? It’s a real pain to restart Firefox using your icon in the tray…Thanks
mark said on August 2, 2011
How delighted I am to find Rizone Firemin !!!
All this time using Firefox and having to re-start it when it got too ‘hungry’…and finally a solution seems to be at hand.
Some questions, please:
1.
I’ve emplaced Firemin and started it – and since I use Firefox Portable I am trying to configure it to work with that, and it seems I am failing.
I can either make the setting for ‘Firefox location’ to where FirefoxPortable.exe is (by pasting it in, as it looks for ‘firefox.exe’) – or to where Firefox.exe is -> please, which is correct ?
I’ve tried both and when I hit the menu entry to ‘Optimize Firefox’ a progress window opens – does not exhibit any scrollbar movement – and only leaves if/when I close Firemin.
Should I not try to use it’s optimization function at all ?
2.
Does Firemin.exe need to reside in a specific location relative to Firefox Portable ?
3.
Is is necessary to use Firemin’s menu for starting Firefox for this tool to work at all – and if so, how does that apply to the portable version ?
Thanks for making this tool !
mark
Anonymous said on August 2, 2011
The solution here is simple, simply drop firemin.exe next to firefoxportable.exe and everything should work without any changes to the configuration.
mark said on August 4, 2011
Not good – interesting – but NOT good !
I did as instructed, closed FFP – ran Firemin – did it’s optimize – and now get:
“The bookmarks and history system will not be functional because one of Firefox’s files Is in use by another application.”
IN THE MOST SCARY LOOKING RED BANNER POSSIBLE !
Kindly explain and/or help ?
Thanks.
PS: confirmed – no bookmarks in that session.
Closed FFP – re-opened – using more RAM, but bookmarks are there now.
Anonymous said on August 7, 2011
i think we need another option pause optimization.
when firefox is left idle for some time & when we try to browse the firefox goes not responding i thought it was because firefox trys to access more memory & firemin try to reduce memory usage at the same time.
correct me if i was wrong
Hector Macias Ayala said on August 17, 2011
Is this solution available to all other browsers? Firefox is not different in this regard to the rest, no exceptions.
Hector Macias Ayala said on August 17, 2011
Is this solution available to all other browsers? Firefox is not different in this regard to the rest, no exceptions.
Suakcot said on August 20, 2011
thank for soft
yasirmaster
Damon said on August 21, 2011
Will this work on a Mac? Also I noticed that firefox 6 just came out. Has anyone used 6 and found whether or not the leak was fixed? Firefox will get up to 1.5gigs quite often on my PC, and quickly maxes out my 2Gig macbook. I really would like to find a solution soon.
David said on August 25, 2011
this is a great app, thank you. I have a question though over the commit charge on the windows task manager, is there an app for it to keep it lower or anything? thank you
Dekpitado said on August 26, 2011
Works for me. Tanks !!!!!!
Guest said on September 14, 2011
สุดยอดครับโปรแกรมนี้ ผู้ทำโปรแกรมนี้เก่งจริงๆ ขอบคุณครับ.
Tanks !! It’s verygood….
axe said on September 22, 2011
trust me, its works!!! its a great tools..
Oumi Sugsig said on September 22, 2011
ขอบคุณมากๆเลยค่ะ ของเค้าดีจริงๆ
William said on October 15, 2011
Doesn’t seem to reduce Commit Size for me, any parameter to tune?
Aarav said on November 1, 2011
The app seems to work great, my only issue is that my firewall seems to alert me that “Firemin” is trying to access the IP: 239.255.255.250. Why does the app repeatedly attempt to make a connection with a remote machine?
Venom said on November 1, 2011
What Windows version are u using? I will need to test this, it is not suppose to connect to anything.
Zigster said on November 26, 2011
Works perfectly! thanks a lot.
satyanarayana said on December 13, 2011
working perfectly…..
Always firefox used to occuply highest memory as i have seen in task manager. now with the help of firemin, the memory it occupies 90% lesser.
Christian93 said on December 18, 2011
Works perfectly. Just a great program!Thnx.
gumble said on December 20, 2011
great app thanks my mem is down from close to 200000k at startup of FF 1000k and under.
Bluewaves said on December 22, 2011
I’m not really understanding how the slider works. So, there’s a slider that goes from red to green, with a CPU on the left end and RAM on the right.
What does the red vs. green signify?
If I slide the slider all the way to the right toward the RAM, for example, does that mean that I’d be choosing the least memory usage at the expense of more CPU usage — or does it mean that I’d be choosing the MOST memory usage in order to cut down on CPU usage? With just vague icons on either end, and an ambiguous red/green scale between them (what does it mean? good/bad something? Fast/slow something?), I don’t know how to read this scale at all.
Any help? Thanks.
Venom said on December 22, 2011
least memory usage at the expense of more CPU usage when all the way to the right.
TRI said on December 23, 2011
when I check taskmanager, it consumes more CPU (5%) when I go all the way to the right and less CPU (0-1%) when I went all the way to the left…So confusing
TRI said on December 23, 2011
Sorry the other way around, left = 5%, right 1%
papin said on December 23, 2011
Whatever the reasons, I need to run various firefox versions with various profiles. Funnily, I accidentally discovered that two firefox can run at the same time!
Here’s a solution to the settings issue: running a batch file. Example:
@echo off
firemin -start
"E:\Program Files\Minefield\firefox.exe" -profilemanager
firemin -stop
It’s is very simple and basic. I’m pretty sure all users will be happy to do it this way, and it would solve at least one issue (I don’t know of other, I haven’t tried the tool yet. I don’t even know whether firmin accepts parameters).
But I’m sure there’s another way, like making firmin work like an antimalware: intercept calls to firefox, lauch firmin before firefox, and soon as firefox is closed, stop the service. Just an idea…
Alin said on January 12, 2012
How about Waterfox: http://waterfoxproj.sourceforge.net/ ?
Does this work with 64 bit version?
SA said on January 13, 2012
any chance you will release this for Mac? I am running in Safe Mode right now with the 9.1 FF update on my OSX Snow Leopard MacBook, and Firefox (recently restarted but with a bunch of tabs open) is using 1.15 GB of RAM. My free RAM was at over 2GB when the browser first loaded all the saved tabs, and now it’s at less than 700MB free. If I leave it like this and keep using it, it will eventually eat all my memory (and I mean all – I’ve seen Free Memory report negative numbers.)
Antonio Lope said on January 27, 2012
It is a wonderful tool, but I would like it works with this another Browser “CometBird”. It is another one like “Pale Moon”. In fact, I use Pale Moon with “Palemin”.
Now I am going to use “CometBird”. It will be another good idea to develop one tool like “Firemin”, “Palemin”, “Seamin”, or “Thundermin”.
I want to give a suggestion. Could add a function like this: “Load Palemin During System Start-up”? (Options Caption)
The contextual menu will take this way.
—————————
About Palemin
—————————
Options >>>
—————————
Optimize Pale Moon
—————————
Launch Pale Moon
Launch Pale Moon in Safemode
—————————
Close
—————————
This the website of the Browser: CometBird
ZHH said on January 27, 2012
Thank you rizonesoft, I wish I could support your work.
Austin said on February 2, 2012
Memory reduction is fantastic, 800k down from well over +100,000k, so it works amazingly. One issue though, every time I start firemin, it states it can’t find bin/sqlite3 and gives me the message “I think you broke it now.” I was able to run the optimization once, however, now this repeated error is bugging me. Memory reduction still runs fine. Any ideas behind this error?
Peter said on February 4, 2012
I’m confused! Does Firemin have to be dropped alongside Firefox.exe (v9.0.1), or can it be opened from My Downloads and still work?
Either way, should I be seeing an immediate reduction in Firefox Mem Usage and/or VM Size? Because I don’t – nor any up/down change in memory (or in CPU) when I swing the slider between 100 and 1000
Is this because I haven’t “dared” to use the Optimize Firefox facility yet?
With 15 tabs open, Mem Usage / VM Size continue to drift up from around 50M / 200M (on starting Firefox) to more than 200M / 300M after a day or so…
Thanks for any advice.