TechCrunch Open Sources WP Async Task Library for Faster WordPress Sites
In 2012, the TechCrunch development team—comprising Nicolas Vincent, Alex Khadiwala, Eric Mann, and John Bloch—embarked on a mission to revamp their website with a core focus on enhancing performance. Among their innovative solutions was the creation of WP Async Task, a powerful library designed to streamline background processes. Today, we’re excited to announce that this performance-boosting tool is now open source and available on GitHub.
Why Asynchronous Tasks Matter for WordPress Performance
Website performance often suffers when processes block page rendering while waiting for external resources or operations to complete. TechCrunch faced this challenge head-on with features like CrunchBase cards, which pull data from an external API.
Key benefits of asynchronous processing:
- Reduces page load times by moving non-critical tasks to the background
- Improves user experience with faster content delivery
- Maintains data freshness through smart caching strategies
For CrunchBase cards, the team implemented a dual approach:
- Cache API responses for 12 hours to minimize repeated calls
- Use asynchronous calls to refresh data without impacting current page loads
Dramatic Performance Improvements
The results speak for themselves:
- 5-8x faster load times compared to the previous design
- Reduction from 17+ second loads to significantly quicker rendering
- Smoother user experience across all devices
How to Use WP Async Task
The library is now freely available for developers to implement in their own WordPress projects. Key features include:
- Simple integration with existing WordPress workflows
- Clear documentation for quick implementation
- Scalable solution for resource-intensive tasks
Get started with the Quick Start Guide on GitHub.
Learn More About Non-Blocking WordPress
For deeper technical insights, watch Nicolas and Alex’s presentation on Non-Blocking WordPress from the Big Media & Enterprise Meetup. Special thanks to 10up developers John Bloch and Eric Mann for their contributions to this project.
Screenshot showing performance enhancements from WP Async Task implementation
By open sourcing this solution, TechCrunch continues its commitment to supporting the WordPress community and helping developers create faster, more efficient websites. Try WP Async Task today and experience the performance difference for yourself.
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