Optimize Javascript Pages

[missenlinx]

I'm curious to know what everyone does to speed page load time when using fairly large frameworks like prototype or scriptacululous.

Now I understand the best solution would be to not use them but in my case this isn't an option.

[nickb]

1) Minify your JS: http://www.crockford.com/javascript/jsmin.html

2) Combine it into one file: http://www.thinkvitamin.com/features/webapps/serving-javascr...

3) Gzip before delivering to clients

or...

use just Google JS API: http://ajaxian.com/archives/announcing-ajax-libraries-api-sp...

[jbyers]

... and don't use one of the packing (NB: packing, not minifying) approaches unless you measure and understand the performance impact on clients first. Large packed JS can take hundreds of ms to unpack on slow clients.

[Rik]

A good option is to put the files at the end of the page. The page won't load faster but the rendering will be done earlier. The user will see a faster page.

Try to follow Yahoo! performance rules : http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/rules.html

[mnaganov]

Do lazy loading. Although it doesn't speed up loading really, it helps to create a smooth user experience.

[STHayden]

scriptacululous by default loads like 5 separate files. Only load the ones you need!!