Overview
This module is a step-by-step process you can run on every project. It is designed to keep measurement honest, reduce regressions, and produce client-ready proof of improvements.
What "Good" Looks Like
- Field data (CWV) trends improve over time.
- Lab runs become more stable and repeatable.
- Critical routes (not only the homepage) are fast and reliable.
- Every change is attributable and reversible.
Core Principles
| Principle | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Measure before and after | prevents placebo wins |
| One change at a time | keeps cause and effect clear |
| Cache-safe testing | avoids false positives |
| Optimize in leverage order | fixes root causes before tweaks |
| Document everything | makes results client-ready and repeatable |
Preconditions (Do Not Skip)
- Admin access and a way to revert (backup, staging, or deployment rollback).
- A baseline on representative URLs.
- A defined "test mode" for cache layers.
tip
Do not lock the workflow to one stack. The workflow works with any stack; the only requirement is that you can control caching and verify results.