Seeking to maximize the efficiency of your web application? One powerful approach is to minimize the reliance on JavaScript within your packages. Allow me to share my favored tactics with you:
Code-splitting: Implementing code splitting is a powerful technique that allows you to divide your JavaScript file into smaller, more manageable bundles. Doing so, only the necessary portions will be loaded when they are actually needed by specific pages or features within your application. This approach not only helps in reducing initial load times but also prevents users from downloading unnecessary code upfront.
Thoughtful Dependency Management: Take a careful look at third-party dependencies used in your application and assess if all of them are truly essential for its functionality.
Whenever possible, consider replacing heavy libraries with lighter alternatives or even building custom functionalities tailored specifically for your needs without relying on external resources altogether.
Minimization through Linters and Tools: Utilize linters such as ESLint along with other static analysis tools to identify redundant or unused sections of code within your project’s JavaScript files—streamlining and optimizing performance by removing any unnecessary bulkiness.
Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading techniques to load JavaScript files only when they are actually needed. This helps reduce the initial page load time and improves overall performance by deferring the execution of non-critical scripts until they are required, resulting in a faster and more efficient web application.
While it is true that using these tactics can pose challenges, the good news is that there are plenty of exceptional tools available to help you. Let me share a few of my personal favorites:
⭐️ Check your bundle size after every build and set limits to prevent it from growing too large. When adding new packages, consider the package size increase as well.
https://www.npmjs.com/package/bundlesize
⭐️ Visualize the composition of your bundles and identify heavy modules and third-party dependencies.
Webpack: https://github.com/danvk/source-map-explorer
ESBuild: https://esbuild.github.io/analyze/
Vite: https://www.npmjs.com/package/vite-bundle-visualizer
Next: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@next/bundle-analyzer
⭐️ Usage: See how much of your JavaScript and CSS code is not being executed.
Devtools: https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/coverage/
Depcheck: https://www.npmjs.com/package/depcheck
The performance of your web app can be significantly improved by shipping less JavaScript. You may make your app quicker and more responsive for your users by employing these methods and the appropriate resources.
I hope this helps! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’m always happy to help others improve their web performance.
I talk about the latest in frontend, along with my experience in building various (Indie) side-projects