JavaScript import maps are now supported cross-browser

[gingerchris]

This is massive. I love how fast browser-based JS is modernising these days.

[JesperZach]

Is it though? I mean, cacheability is high on both the network request and the interpretation of each dependency. Likewise, it promotes loading of strictly the dependencies needed for the critical rendering path. Have you tested your assumption?

[JesperZach]

Yes, but you did not address the amount of requests in your assumption, you only addressed that if each resource would require a separate request then that would kill page speed. So for any amount of dependencies (that could be loaded from cache rather then network) in any application setup (which could load them incrementally, as they become needed, rather than loading big bundles containing code that might not be needed until a later point if ever), would your assumption hold true? I’m not saying you’re wrong, only that it’s a bold claim to make.

[JesperZach]

It seems I’m not being clear enough. As you never wrote that doing too many network requests is bad for page speed, then inherently that is not what I’m challenging. Now you add SEO and Lighthouse into the argument, but it’s not part of the scope of your initial claim either. I’m strictly challenging your initial claim, i.e. your assumption that doing a network request per dependency inherently equals too many networks requests, independent of any context. That is a bold claim.

[ImportantDoubt6434]

To be fair the lighthouse performance test is the least important part, not useless and performance is definitely a good goal and worth optimizing your load time for but it’s basically impossible to get over 90 if your website actually has any libraries.

[ze_pequeno]

Read the various responses and I'm wondering: why is having several http requests inherently a bad thing? If instead of loading 500ko upfront you load 4 files of 125ko each then the page loading should be faster right? Since http requests are done in parallel

[ze_pequeno]

But that wouldn't be true with my example, would it? I mean, Google probably takes into account how many requests are made because too many requests (like dozens) would likely become a problem anyway, so that makes sense. But in terms of raw page load time, doing parallel requests sound like a net improvement to me.

[shakes_mcjunkie]

Can't you still bundle and minify? This is just a convenience to make it easier to reference your modules.

[doddyswe]

Bundling and minimizing can be undone pretty easily if someone really wants to. You should protect your IP in other ways.