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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