Resource Prioritization Checklist
Use this page as a one-page checklist when you are tuning LCP/INP and reducing front-end bloat. The detailed "how" lives in the linked pages.
Rules
- One tool owns JS optimization (minify/defer/delay).
- Apply changes on staging first; change one thing at a time.
- Purge caches between comparisons (origin + CDN).
Checklist
| Step | Action | Validate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record baseline (PSI + DevTools Network) on key templates | LCP/CLS/INP + total JS/CSS bytes logged |
| 2 | Remove conflicts (disable overlapping JS optimizers) | Only one system is minifying/deferring/delaying JS |
| 3 | Configure JS strategy | LCP improves and interactions still work |
| 4 | Use Script Manager (Test Mode) to unload global bloat | JS/CSS no longer loads on pages that don't need it |
| 5 | Fix fonts (reduce families/weights, localize if needed) | No FOIT; minimal CLS from font swaps |
| 6 | Add preloads (only critical) | LCP asset discovered earlier; no duplicate downloads |
| 7 | Add DNS hints for a small set of origins | Reduced connection latency on critical third-party origins |
| 8 | Re-test and regression-check checkout/forms/login | No functional regressions |
Static vs Dynamic Defaults
| Area | Static Sites | Dynamic Sites (Woo/LMS) |
|---|---|---|
| Delay JS | More aggressive | More exclusions + more testing |
| Script unloads | Wider scope | Contextual (do not break cart/checkout) |
| Fonts | 0-1 custom family | Minimize fonts; test product/cart templates |
| Preloads | 1 font + LCP image (if needed) | Same principle: only critical assets |
Quick Validation Tools
- DevTools -> Network: verify what loads and when
- DevTools -> Performance: long tasks and main-thread time
- DevTools -> Rendering: Layout Shift Regions
- PSI/Lighthouse: confirm improvements and new warnings