If you’ve been losing sleep (and revenue) thanks to subpar site performance, you’re not alone. The ecommerce world is drowning in bloated front ends packed with JavaScript frameworks that slow everything down. Google doesn’t mince words on slow sites, and your C-suite sees one disappointing PageSpeed score and starts asking, “Why are we throwing money down the drain?” 

Don’t panic. We’re here to show you that blazing speed and killer features aren’t mutually exclusive. Welcome to the “post-JavaScript” revolution with Fastr Frontend. 

Listen in on the discussion led by Fastr's Chief Technology Office, Ryan Breen, for an

inside look at Fastr Frontend's post-JavaScript era and its impact on real-world websites'

core web vitals, page speed metrics, and overall performance scores.

The Lost Decade of Web Performance 

Remember when React and Angular were shiny new toys? They unlocked a universe of interactive websites—at a brutal cost to speed. Developers everywhere crammed in script after script, making every page load feel like you’re pushing a boulder uphill. Google noticed and said, “Enough.” 

That’s why they introduced Core Web Vitals, focusing on user-centric metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), and—more recently—Interaction to Next Paint (INP). Meanwhile, Page Speed metrics (such as Time to Interactive, Total Blocking Time, etc.) look at how quickly content loads. Combined, these measurements serve as modern performance gatekeepers for both search ranking and user experience. 

Fastr Frontend: Fast at the Core 

So, how is Fastr Frontend different? We’ve eliminated the need for heavy JavaScript frameworks like React just to render or make content interactive, and instead rely heavily on server-side rendering (SSR). By generating the page layout on our servers before it ever reaches your device, we bypass the usual slowdown from large client-side frameworks. No more waiting for the browser to parse giant React bundles before it can even start loading a banner image. 

In other words, we’ve embraced a “post-JavaScript” mindset: if your site doesn’t need a specific chunk of JS for an interactive feature, we don’t load it. Period. That alone saves seconds, headaches, and a bunch of user complaints. 

Real-World Results: How One Massive Retailer Nailed Lightning-Fast Performance 

Let’s talk real numbers. One massive membership-based retailer runs a standard, JS-heavy ecommerce site for their main domain. It’s slow—think single-digit scores in PageSpeed Insights on mobile. Meanwhile, the same retailer uses Fastr Frontend for a significant portion of their digital publication experience. 

The difference is night and day...

PageSpeed Insights: That overall performance score jumps from an embarrassing single-digit rating to a near-flawless high score. 

Core Web Vitals: LCP, CLS, and INP go from “red alert” to “green across the board.” 

Overall Load Experience: Instead of stuttery transitions and sluggish load times, you get smooth, instant rendering. 

Sure, the exact numbers are hush-hush, but we’ve seen load times drop by several seconds just by eliminating the bloat of traditional JavaScript frameworks. 

How We Work Our Magic 

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts—because if you’re an IT lead or performance guru, you want the details: 

Intelligent Server-Side Rendering (SSR) 

Rather than relying on a heavy client-side framework, we render the overall page structure on our servers and serve that HTML directly. This approach puts your page layout in front of your users without requiring them to download and run large JavaScript bundles just to see where everything goes. 

On-Demand JavaScript 

We only load code strictly necessary for the page at hand. If you’re not using a fancy carousel or some interactive quiz, that logic doesn’t come along for the ride. Goodbye, “unused JS” warnings. 

Smart Image Optimization 

Automatically convert and resize images to next-gen formats (WebP, AVIF) at the exact dimensions needed for each device—no manual slicing required. We also implement lazy loading for content outside the viewport, so your site isn’t stuck loading massive images no one sees right away. That means quicker first paint, happier users.

Preloading & Prefetching 

When users hover or scroll, Fastr guesses their next move and quietly fetches that content in the background—so it’s ready the moment they click. We also handle behind-the-scenes optimizations like pre-connecting to domains where content will be loaded, plus prefetching images and other assets. All these micro-optimizations add up to a lightning-fast user experience, even on older devices. 

Dynamic Content, Minus the Headaches 

“But wait,” you say, “I can’t live without dynamic product listings, integrated wish lists, or real-time personalization.” Relax. Fastr was built to handle all that. We integrate with any merchandising engine (like Bloomreach or your favorite alternative), manage ecommerce logic for swatches and variations, and even power real-time interactions—without melting your browser. 

We keep performance high because all the SSR goodness is already baked into our approach. If you need a specialized feature, Fastr downloads only that specific script on that specific page. 

Why Performance Matters to Your Bottom Line 

Fast sites convert better—full stop. Shoppers don’t bounce; they browse. Search engines reward you with better rankings. And your CFO stops staring daggers at your IT budget for “never-ending optimization overhauls.” Building on Fastr means your team invests once in a high-performance architecture, then you’re free to craft next-level brand experiences instead of chasing red bars in Google’s Lighthouse scores. 

Ready to Go “Post-JavaScript”? 

If you’re tired of nibbling around the edges, minifying scripts, or culling a single CSS file just to shave off 100ms here and there—then you’re ready for the big guns. With Fastr Frontend, you skip the sweaty build process, the micro-optimizations, and the frantic triage. You just build your experiences, watch them load at the speed of thought, and (finally) sleep at night knowing your boss won’t be emailing you about “Why is our PageSpeed so low?” at 2 AM. 

It’s time to ditch the bloated frameworks and join the revolution. Get in touch, and let’s see how Fastr Frontend can turn your website into a lean, mean, revenue-generating machine.