The Chrome and Web Developer Relations team is significantly expanding in 2022. Open roles span program management, Chrome extensions, CSS, rendering, DevTools, web performance, the Privacy Sandbox, and web ecosystem. The team is seeking program managers, developer relations engineers, technical writers, and infrastructure specialists to contribute to various initiatives, including Chrome Dev Summit, Google I/O, web.dev, and improving the overall web platform.
Optimizing images for the web is crucial for Core Web Vitals, but the process is overly complex. While tools like Squoosh and web.dev guides offer help, developers still struggle with image optimization. This difficulty stems from needing to consider file size, resolution, codec support, lazy loading, and more. CDNs offer a solution but introduce centralization. To simplify this, I created a prototype tool (https://just-gimme-an-img.vercel.app/) that generates optimized HTML for images, handles AVIF conversion, creates multiple image sizes, and does it all client-side using Squoosh's CLI. The tool aims to make image optimization easier and more accessible, especially for common use cases like hero images. I'm hoping this sparks further discussion and improvements in image optimization tooling to simplify the process for all developers.
Building web experiences for low-end devices in developing markets presents significant performance challenges. Limited memory, slow network speeds, and slow JS execution necessitate different development strategies. While developers in established markets might not prioritize these users, their numbers are growing rapidly. We must continue focusing on web performance to ensure the web remains the platform of choice.
The Page Lifecycle API introduces lifecycle states to the web, giving developers control over how their web apps respond to browser actions like tab unloading and backgrounding. This addresses the historical lack of lifecycle management on the web, which has hindered resource optimization, especially on low-powered devices. The API defines system-initiated states for hidden or inactive tabs, allowing browsers to limit resource consumption. Developers gain control through new APIs and events, enabling them to save state before the browser reclaims resources, such as memory, battery, and network. This collaboration between developers and browsers ultimately improves the user experience by increasing web page reliability and responsiveness.
This post discusses the importance of web performance and the role of different stakeholders in prioritizing it. It highlights the trend of increasing JavaScript usage, impacting page load times, especially on less powerful devices or slower networks. The author argues that while Google's intervention could be impactful, the long-term solution lies in businesses recognizing the positive correlation between web performance and conversion rates, making it a business priority rather than an afterthought. Tools and guidance are available to help, but ultimately, a shift in industry mindset is essential for sustained improvement.
