Tweak and Tune Magento Development Environment

Mandatory Magento Development Environment Settings

• Disable caching
  

  ---

  System > Cache Management > Disable All

Recommended

• Open .htaccess and set SetEnv MAGE_IS_DEVELOPER_MODE “true” at the end of the file
• Open .htaccess and set php_value display_errors On somewhere within <IfModule mod_php5.c>
• Rename errors / local.xml.sample to errors / local.xml

Convenience

• Enable Logging
  

  ---

  System > Configuration > Advanced > Developer > Log Settings > Enabled [ Yes ]

• Enable Debug Profiler
  

  ---

  System > Configuration > Advanced > Developer > Debug > Profiler [ Yes ], and uncomment #Varien_Profiler::enable(); in root index.php

• Remove admin URL secret keys
  

  ---

  System > Configuration > ADVANCED > Admin > Security > Add Secret Key to URLs. Select No from the dropdown.

Speed improvement

• Flatten catalog/product database tables
  

  ---

  • System > Configuration > Catalog > Catalog > Frontend > Use Flat Catalog Category [ Yes ]
  • System > Configuration > Catalog > Catalog > Frontend > Use Flat Catalog Product [ Yes ]
  • System > Index Management > Reindex All

Sources:

• http://foggyline.net/magento/setting-up-magento-development-environment/

Also worth reading:

• http://www.kingletas.com/2012/08/magento-developer-toolbox.html