Amen to this. The new Reddit interface is a step backwards in functionality due to this sorta stuff and effectively breaks user experience.
Just to give an idea how bad it is: loading the front page cold of new reddit = 9685KB. Loading the front page on the old reddit (also cold) = 737KB. The compute profile is literally half for old.reddit.com (new peak 16%, old peak 7.5% - both metrics core-distributed over an 8c system; 1s sample rate).
I LOVE all of this talk that front-end devs like to have on optimization/state stability. Talk to an browser automation expert, esp. one that does it at scale. Almost 100% of the time older/simpler front-end tooling/development is faster and less error prone. Older also takes a FRACTION of the compute/memory/proxy resources. It's been this way for years!!!
ducks for the inevitable storm of HN hate for having a strong opinion
Just to give an idea how bad it is: loading the front page cold of new reddit = 9685KB. Loading the front page on the old reddit (also cold) = 737KB. The compute profile is literally half for old.reddit.com (new peak 16%, old peak 7.5% - both metrics core-distributed over an 8c system; 1s sample rate).
I LOVE all of this talk that front-end devs like to have on optimization/state stability. Talk to an browser automation expert, esp. one that does it at scale. Almost 100% of the time older/simpler front-end tooling/development is faster and less error prone. Older also takes a FRACTION of the compute/memory/proxy resources. It's been this way for years!!!
ducks for the inevitable storm of HN hate for having a strong opinion