Leverage Browser Caching clicks script

We are looking at ways to optimize the performance/loading of our site. One of the ways we are considering is to leverage browser caching. Do you or can clicky set some cache headers to their script? Is there anyway we can improve page loading with regards to the clicky script? We find it takes a few hundred milliseconds for the clicky script to load. Thank you. The House or can clicky set some caching headers to their script? Is there anyway we can improve page loading with regards to the clicky script? We find it takes a few hundred milliseconds for the clicky script to load.

Currently, how often do you change the clicky JavaScript? I ask because if it's in frequent we could host it ourselves and set the cache header that way.

I am wondering, are you using the asynchronous version of the Clicky code? It simply doesn't hurt performance in any practical way. Sure, tools like Pingdom/GTmetrix/Webpagetest.org will bring down their imaginary scores due to lack of caching but these are the same tools which recommend that you do domain sharding even when the web server is running HTTP/2 :)

The script is cached, it's the beacons back to our tracking servers that are intentionally not cached - because if they were, we wouldn't be able to track your site.

@jr1734,

As confusing as it might seem, a site’s grades on Best Practices tools (e.g. PageSpeeed insights, GTMetrix, Pingdom) and its actual, real-world performance are often two very different things. Indeed, it is even possible for your website to get considerably faster in real life but score worse on Best Practices tools; or, score higher on such tools and end up with a site that is considerably slower in real life if not completely broken.

With the exception of WebPageTest and the Dev Console, all such tools are in some way synthetic, purposefully oversimplify the nature of performance optimization for ease of use by the layman; and, are not intended to provide accurate, actual, real-world performance diagnostic metrics. It's simply not what they're for.

Best Practices tools require accurate interpretation and a bit of critical thinking; not blind, unthinking submission to their recommendations. As drkskwlkr alludes to and the Clicky Admin confirms, not only would caching Clicky's beacons not make a lick of difference to your website's performance/UX (User Experience), but doing so would actually break tracking. Were you using Google Analytics, you'd get the same expires caching 'warning' even though implementing the recommendation would net the same non-difference.

Be well,
AJ
Managing Partner
WpFASTER