Optimize your Javascript by minifying with Google’s Closure Compiler. Well, that pretty much says it all. By now we all no that there is plenty of scope for reducing the size of one’s Javascript code by replacing bulky variable names with shorter versions and stripping out whitespace, etc., but naturally as one would expect, achieving this optimization by hand is a rather tiresome affair.
Enter the nifty Google Closure Compiler, simply put, a tool for making Javascript download and run faster. It’s not a traditional code compiler mind you, it doesn’t compile source code into machine code but rather compiles Javascript to better Javascript, analyzing, clearing dead code, and rewriting and minimizing what’s left over. It checks syntax, variable references, types and even warns about common javascript pitfalls just for fun.
There are a number ways in which you can set the compiler loose on your code: you can use the open source java command line application, you can simply plug your script into the simple online web application or you can even make use of their full RESTful API.
The benefits of using this great little system do of course not need that much explanation. Firstly, in terms of efficiency, using the Closure Compiler will result in smaller javascript files which in turn means faster loading applications which obviously means reduced bandwidth needs. In terms of code checking, Closure Compiler provides warnings for illegal javascript as well as for potentially dangerous operations, resulting in less buggy scripts and scripts that are simply easier to maintain.
And just in case you were wondering why you should give them a spin, take note that jQuery have moved to the Closure Compiler to produce their minified scripts.
So what are you waiting for? ;)
Related Link: http://code.google.com/closure/compiler/