user8: Inspired by an example question before beta, can I make the Leonardo bootloader take less that 8 seconds to run? It is very slow and I want to speed it up somehow.

user-1: Detailed instructions on how to shorten the bootloader time of Leonardo etc. are explained [here] (as stated by @Chris Stratton).
The crux of the matter was to redefine the timeout period
/* ./arduino/hardware/arduino/bootloaders/caterina/Caterina.c */
#define TIMEOUT_PERIOD 8000

to a lower value.
However I do not have such issues with Leonardo it boots very fast.
So this issue depends on your environment.
There is also OptiBoot, an alternative bootloader that really boots faster link:

8: <p>Inspired by an example question before beta, can I make the Leonardo bootloader take less that 8 seconds to run? It is very slow and I want to speed it up somehow.</p>
 -1: <p>Detailed instructions on how to shorten the bootloader time of Leonardo etc. are explained <a href="http://www.leonardomiliani.com/en/2013/accorciamo-i-tempi-del-bootloader-della-leonardomicroesplora/" rel="nofollow">[here]</a> (as stated by @Chris Stratton).</p>

<p>The crux of the matter was to redefine the timeout period</p>

<pre><code>/* ./arduino/hardware/arduino/bootloaders/caterina/Caterina.c */
#define TIMEOUT_PERIOD 8000
</code></pre>

<p>to a lower value.</p>

<p>However I do not have such issues with Leonardo it boots very fast.
So this issue depends on your environment.</p>

<p>There is also <strong>OptiBoot</strong>, an alternative bootloader that really boots faster <a href="https://code.google.com/p/optiboot/" rel="nofollow">link</a>:</p>
