Laggy / Choppy scrolling

[ghost]

I mentioned this to Paul in an IM. He was unsure why the 'laggy' scrolling, or 'choppy' behavior was happening when the visitor scrolled up and down, in a quick fashion.

(Firefox 9.01) Win7, 4GB RAM, ATI Radeon GFX Card.

I suggest the background be 'fixed'. (The denim png file). I always found fixed backgrounds are very perform-ant.

Maybe I'm wrong, but years of coding websites, you learn a thing or two. Call it intuition if you will.

I'm not an authority on this, but I remember a talk by Paul explaining the browser's paint / reflow mechanism.

I always got the sense, un-fixed backgrounds caused the reflow/paint to go crazy...

Also, what's the buzz with them circles in the BG? For a site claiming to use new browser features wisely, you over-embellish and confuse your users with over-engineered bulky choppy graphics?

Just a thought

-Dave

[nimbupani]

you are very welcome to fork and fix the choppy scrolling. It is definitely because of multiple radial gradients. I will get to it if you dont earlier.

[paulirish]

david, this is not any sort of appropriate tone to recommend a change like this. >:|

[ghost]

It's not a personal attack against the authors. I'm simply pointing out the very ethos of the site conflicts with the mechanics, and techniques implemented on the page. It has nothing to do with your personal ambitions of wanting to be a good designer.

You see, modern browsers, are, infact, fantastic at what they can do. But it's the eloquence, and restraint of the designer that makes them even more so.

Again, nothing personal. Maybe I listen to too many @codepo8 talks :)

[simurai]

It's not that bad, but I wouldn't do a "fixed" background. That makes it even slower, because the browser can't just move the whole thing up and down and has to constantly repaint the content with the fixed background.

Maybe what could improve performance is to reduce the box and text shadows a bit. And if you can sacrifice the denim background.. Replace it with a small gradient pattern.

I can give it a try (if I figure out that SASS thing).. ;-) Maybe on the weekend.