Performance Chat Summary: 16 January 2024

Meeting agenda here and the full chat log is available beginning here on Slack.

Announcements

  • Welcome to our new members of #core-performance
  • Performance Lab pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory https://wordpress.org/plugins/ or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party release today for version 2.8.0

Priority Projects

Server Response Time

Notes from today’s call:

  • @thekt12 I was exploring use of transient for sites that don’t have persistent cache.
    https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/60120#comment:8
    However I have paused the above for a while and started with #59532 as this is a bit similar to https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/pull/5718.
    Also, https://github.com/WordPress/wordpress-develop/pull/5718 is ready for mostly final review
  • @joemcgill #59969 seems to be very close on the CoreCore Core is the set of software required to run WordPress. The Core Development Team builds WordPress. side, just needing a couple of changes to the PR. Can we get that sorted soon @thekt12 or are you waiting on some additional feedback?
    • I think that blocks the supporting work you’ve started in the GB repo at present
    • @flixos90 Yeah it’s tricky and somewhat clunky to figure out the sequencing there
    • @flixos90 If the core change needs to come first, let’s commit that very soon and then update  and merge the GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ change and aim for a back port not too far away
    • I reviewed @swissspidy‘s performant translations PR yesterday, and it looks great to me. It would be great if a few more folks here could take a look too since it’s a big change
  • @swissspidy The performant translations PR is close to be mergeable, it‘s in very good shape already
  • @joemcgill Also, for #60120, @spacedmonkey are you planning on continuing the PR you started, or is your intent for someone else to pick up that work? Either is fine, just wasn’t sure
    • Almost ready for commit

Database Optimization

Notes from today’s call:

JavaScriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. https://www.javascript.com/. & CSSCSS Cascading Style Sheets.

  • Link to roadmap project and link to the GitHub project board
  • Contributors: @mukesh27 @flixos90 @westonruter
  • Projects from the 2024 roadmap:
    • INP opportunities research
    • Interactivity APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways.
    • Speculative prerendering

Notes from today’s call:

  • @flixos90 I opened pull requests for most of the remaining work for the first Speculation Rules plugin MVPMinimum Viable Product "A minimum viable product (MVP) is a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers, and to provide feedback for future product development." - WikiPedia yesterday, see https://github.com/WordPress/performance/issues/908 (everything linked from there)

Images

Notes from today’s call:

  • @joemcgill I submitted the plugin for auto-sizes last week and already heard back on some feedback to address. I’ll get that sorted and hopefully will be available soon. In the mean time, it’s ready to be merged to the Performance Lab after 2.8.0 is released later today.
  • @flixos90 I plan to commit the PR for https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/59352 shortly
  • @westonruter For Image Loading Optimization, the tests PR has been merged. I have the pull request for optimizing the loading of background images ready for review. In some quick testing I found this to reduce LCP-TTFB by ~9% when a Cover blockBlock Block is the abstract term used to describe units of markup that, composed together, form the content or layout of a webpage using the WordPress editor. The idea combines concepts of what in the past may have achieved with shortcodes, custom HTML, and embed discovery into a single consistent API and user experience. has parallax and is the LCP element: https://github.com/WordPress/performance/pull/914
  • @swissspidy Regarding client-side image compression a new blogblog (versus network, site) post just got published about it: https://www.codeinwp.com/blog/pascal-birchler-interview-wordpress-media-experiements/

Measurement

Notes from today’s call:

  • @joemcgill The main thing that is on my mind is that we need to fix the performance tests that are failing in the 6.4 branchbranch A directory in Subversion. WordPress uses branches to store the latest development code for each major release (3.9, 4.0, etc.). Branches are then updated with code for any minor releases of that branch. Sometimes, a major version of WordPress and its minor versions are collectively referred to as a "branch", such as "the 4.0 branch". #60127. This would be good to get fixed before the next minor releaseMinor Release A set of releases or versions having the same minor version number may be collectively referred to as .x , for example version 5.2.x to refer to versions 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.3, and all other versions in the 5.2 (five dot two) branch of that software. Minor Releases often make improvements to existing features and functionality., which is being organized for the next few weeks

Ecosystem Tools

Notes from today’s call:

Open Floor

  • @pbearne I am thinking of tackling Improving the calculation of image sizes attributes#760 but would like a quick chat/call to agree on the approach before I start. Could we plan that?
    • @joemcgill I’ve got an ongoing project internally where I’ve been working on that, @pbearne. Probably best to wait on more definition before diving into anything.
    • @joemcgill Would be happy to have you collaborate though. I most likely won’t have anything ready to share this week though
  • @flixos90 Just a reminder that the Performance Lab 2.8.0 release party will be in a good 1 hour from now, at 18:00 UTC. Please stop by and help out if you’re available!

Our next chat will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 16:00 UTC in the #core-performance channel in Slack.

#core-performance, #performance, #performance-chat, #summary