Saying Goodbye To My JavaScript Widgets

Although I like the widgets in my right sidebar, I will be removing forever those that do not have a non-JavaScript solution. I don't like slow page loads on other blogs, so why would I put up with it on my own?

Some of the widgets have non-JavaScript solutions and at least one has a different widget without JavaScript. The ones that have JavaScript only options… all I can say is goodbye to that service.

After editing my theme pages to make the center content load before the sidebars and shoving those widgets to the bottom of the right sidebar, they still hang sometimes and prevent the footer from loading completely. This is unacceptable.

I can't do it all right now, but if you come back in 24 hours it should all be done.

Update: Done!

Full Article Feed |

Summary Article Feed |

Comments Feed |

Full Articles by Email | Respond | Trackback URL

Matthew Jabs on 2007-05-25 at 9:14 pm (Reply)

NOOOOO….

NOT THE WIDGETS RT….ANYTHING BUT THE WIDGETS!!!!

If they go I go.
Chris on 2007-05-25 at 10:46 pm (Reply)

Close the door behind you Matthew

I may be joining you on this one RT,it's as frustrating as hell to see your blog hanging because of 3rd party issues.

I've still been trying to get my sidebars to load after my content with no joy. I feel a template change coming on, for that & other reasons….
2. RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-05-25 at 10:53 pm (Reply)
  
  Well, I did it. Gone are Criteo, Alexa, and SpicyPage. No non-JavaScript solutions for them.
  
  Boo-Hoo. The only one I'm going to miss is Alexa.
Matthew Jabs on 2007-05-25 at 11:05 pm (Reply)

Chris…

Can't you just edit your index.php & put the php call for sidebars after your php call for content?

Actually, I'm with you guys on this too & have already gotten rid of 3 scripts. I noticed my site hanging on some *amazon* thing. What? I don't have any affiliation with anything amazon on my site…so I'm not even sure what that is.

Anyway, I'll still read RT. I don't visit because of your sweet widgets, I visit because of the sexy picture on your about page!
2. Chris on 2007-05-26 at 2:23 am (Reply)
  
  I had a go Matthew, and RT had a look at the theme files and made several suggestions, but there seems to be something hidden in there that stops it from working. Well, it works but then the sidebars appear after the content….
  
  Is it 'amazonaws' or something? I think that will either be Alexa (an amazon company) or one of your widgets that uses a tracking script.
  2. Matthew Jabs on 2007-05-26 at 3:11 am (Reply)
    
    Yeah…it must be the Alexa widget then…
    
    Good to know.
The Curmudgeon on 2007-05-26 at 12:17 am (Reply)

And how does one tell what has a "Java script solution" and what does not? And what do they have instead? Warts?
2. RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-05-26 at 12:21 am (Reply)
  
  Easy. If it starts with <script then it's a JavaScript thingie. Otherwise, it isn't. You have to check with widget central of the services to see if there's anything offered besides the JavaScript thingie.
coach on 2007-05-26 at 8:29 am (Reply)

Hi RT - I've been concerned about page load times too and you have got me considering my options. Is the mybloglog widget non-javascript too? I haven't been able to find a non-script option at their site. Is it specific to wordpress?
2. RT Cunningham | Untwisted Vortex | Philippines on 2007-05-26 at 1:13 pm (Reply)
  
  Get the code for a hosted on WordPress site. It's all non-JavaScript. You may have to mess with the colors and such within it, but other than that, it doesn't hang at all!
  2. coach on 2007-05-26 at 1:21 pm (Reply)
    
    Thanks RT I'll have a look at it.