Make it Faster, Make it Badder, Make it Awesome

Doors open at 6:30pm for refreshments and networking. Talk starts at 7.

About the presentation: It’s important for websites to be fast. Faster websites mean happier users, higher Google rankings, and better conversion rates. But how do you make that happen?

In this talk, we’ll discuss a variety ways that you can improve a website’s performance. We’ll cover how web browsers load and cache files, and how you can account for that behavior. We’ll discuss tools that let you load JavaScript more quickly, cut down your images, and whip bloated WordPress installations into shape. We’ll also discuss some simple ways to keep JavaScript code humming along.

Finally, we’ll discuss the benefits and challenges that come with new technologies such as icon fonts and responsive design. We’ll cover tips you can use now, as well as what you can look forward to as the web evolves.

(My apologies to Duff Goldman for borrowing his slogan from "Ace of Cakes.")

About the speaker: Ryan DeBeasi is a front-end developer at 352 Media Group (http://www.352media.com/). He loves concise language, elegant design, and jazz. You can view his portfolio at http://ryandebeasi.com/ or follow him at @RyanDeBeasi (http://twitter.com/ryandebeasi/).

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From 400 South/I-85 Southbound:
Take exit 84 for 17th St toward 14th St/10th St. Follow signs to 14th St. Make left onto 14th St NW. Turn left at Peachtree St NE. NOTE: Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We're on the 22nd floor.

From I-75 Southbound:
Take exit 250 for 16th St toward 14th St/10th St. Follow signs to 14th St. Make left onto 14th St NW. Turn left at Peachtree St NE. Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We're on the 22nd floor.

From Airport/I-85 Northbound:
Take exit 250 toward Tenth St/Fourteenth St/Georgia Tech. Merge onto Williams St NW. Make right onto 14th St NW. Turn left at Peachtree St NE. Promenade II Building is on the left side right across from the Four Seasons (bronze-colored building). We're on the 22nd floor.

MARTA:
We're off the Arts Station Stop. Walk up 15th Street. Promenade II Building is on the right side across from the Arts Center Building. We're on the 22nd floor.

EVENT PARKING Parking lots are plentiful:

Lot between Mariott and Four Seasons on 14th Street (entrance on right). Attached garage next to building (entrance is off 15th Street). Lot on Spring St. between 14th and 13th St (entrance on left of 13th St). Lot on West Peachtree St NW between 16th and 15th St (entrance on left).