Major blog speed improvements
This week I have been spending considerable time trying to speed up the blog. TFB is now using a global CDN (content distribution network) to serve all the images and other static assets (such as CSS and JS).
What this means is that a network of servers throughout the world now each contain a copy of all the images on the blog. When your web browser request an image, it is loaded from the server geographically closest to you. This will really speed things up.
This graph shows which of the blogs CDN servers are being hammered the most.
The downside is that the CDN is going to cost me a king's ransom each month! I hope you enjoy it 
Have you tried what Cracked does and upload the same images to a different URL while at the same time rewriting the old link to a different image? such as a standard “Stop stealing my bandwidth” ?
Thanks! It is loading faster for me.
Very cool. Is the implementation of the CDN transparent, or do you have to put hooks into your servers or content to take advantage of it?
Federalist, you do need software to make use of the CDN.
How much data do you transfer monthly/daily? I’d love to know more stats. =)
RJG, a lot
A big problem is that bandwidth thieves hot link to the photos I publish. This eats up a lot of bandwidth. There is nothing that can be done about it now that I am using a CDN.
I totally respect that Steve and I’m very glad that you are keeping this blog going out of your own pocket. As they say on the street – respect.
Your British friends greatly appreciate all your efforts!!!!!!
Steve, I am honestly surpised by the lack of advertising on your website – for such an excellent blog with it’s equally excellent readers and contributors (ahem) and the number of unique hits you get – you really should be selling some space.
I particularly enjoy reading the intelligent and informed comments from many of the posters, so I’m hoping you’ll go ‘full Mod’ one day and we can have a proper discussion forum.
SpudGun, I want to try keep advertising to a minimum.
Don’t feel bad NetDNA/MaxCDN aren’t nearly the most expensive you could have gotten. I hope it works out for you.
Wow, they love you in LA!
Thanks for all your hard work (and expense), Steve.