Dan Shappir: How to Maximize Web Performance

Links

- Codecrafters (sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters

- Improving Wix Performance: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2021/11/improving-performance-wix-websites-case-study/

- Dan on X: https://x.com/danshappir

- Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_

Summary

In this episode, Dan Shappir discusses his journey in web performance, starting from gaming networks before the web. He explains the web vs. internet distinction, offline-first web apps, and remote access solutions. Dan's role at Next Insurance as a performance tech lead is highlighted. The talk covers improving browser performance, server-side rendering at Wix, modern CSS, CDNs, backend issues, and encapsulation impacts. Dan and Tejas discuss the BF cache's workings, browser compatibility, and telemetry impacts. Tips for staying updated in tech are shared, emphasizing passion and teaching. The episode concludes with support for Gaza and the Speculation Rules API.

Takeaways

1. Avoid overloading the browser with excessive JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

2. Keep things small and lean to improve performance.

3. Implement server-side rendering, use modern CSS, and leverage caching with CDNs to enhance performance.

4. To stay relevant in the tech industry, follow your passion, accept that you can't know everything, and focus on understanding core concepts rather than chasing every new technology.

5. The BF cache (back-forward cache) allows browsers to store a memory snapshot of a web page when the user navigates away, enabling instant retrieval when the user returns.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Honoring the Situation

01:17 Dan's Background and Early Career

07:46 Dan's Journey into Web Performance

15:09 Offline-First Web Application

25:34 Joining Wix and Improving Performance

34:09 Transition to Next Insurance

45:46 The Beauty of Constraints

59:13 Using CSS for Layout

01:04:12 Backend Performance Issues

01:20:30 BF Cache

01:25:32 Performance Strategies

01:31:25 Advice for Staying Relevant in Tech

01:42:42 Speculation Rules API

01:43:14 Resource Hints: Prefetch and Preload

01:48:12 Script Tags and JSON Representation

01:51:39 Closing Remarks and Homework

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