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mod_pagespeed 2.1 is here — open source (Apache-2.0): the module you know, plus the optimizer worker

Prioritize critical images

Images New in 1.15

Marks the largest above-the-fold image fetchpriority=high so the browser loads it first.

Filter prioritize_critical_images · Filter docs

A module filter.

Both frames render identically — that's the goal. The win is in the bytes and requests below, not the look. They're served live by the mod_pagespeed module on demo-httpd-1.1.modpagespeed.com; the optimized frame applies only this filter. Right after a cache purge it may briefly match the original while the worker rewrites it — reload to see the result. This filter is beacon-driven: mod_pagespeed instruments the page, a real browser reports back, then it serves the optimized form and re-measures every few minutes — so the optimized frame can take a reload, or briefly revert to the original, before it reflects the change.

mod_pagespeed applies this only after a real browser loads the page and reports back (and re-measures periodically), so there's no server-side diff to capture here — the frames above show it live.

Run this on your own site

This is one of 49 filters the mod_pagespeed module applies in place — self-hosted on Apache, nginx, and IIS. Install and run it: it optimizes right away and adds an the optimized response headers shown above. Open source under the Apache License 2.0 — free in development and in production.