TalksEngineering in production30 minEarlier version
Caching, Payloads, and Other Dark Arts: Optimizing UX in Suboptimal Conditions
Recording on YouTube
An earlier version of this talk.
A practical architecture case study in data fetching, caching and payload design. Explores BFF proxy handlers, server prefetching, critical versus optional queries and resilient fallbacks, with demonstrations recorded on unreliable in-flight Wi-Fi. The talk has moved on: book Built for Turbulence: Architecting Full-Stack Web Experiences That Hold Up in Any Environment.
The premise
This talk breaks down real world data fetching challenges at scale and how to solve them with modern patterns like the BFF layer, granular payload shaping, prefetching, and critical versus optimal queries. We walk through progressively improving an architecture that starts with five parallel client side requests against a bloated API, then move the work to a proxy handler, and finally to a fully optimized TanStack Query setup with server prefetching and resilient fallbacks.
All demos were recorded on a long haul flight using in flight WiFi, showing how these patterns behave under real latency, unstable bandwidth, and failure conditions. The goal is to prove that these techniques are not academic. They directly affect reliability, performance, and user experience in harsh environments where debugging, caching strategy, and payload discipline make or break your product.
Who it's for
Frontend and full stack engineers working on data heavy products
You leave with
- Optimize for progress, not perfection
- Using the BFF pattern as a pressure valve
- Design for bad networks and partial failures
- Ship under constraints without creating long term debt
- Cache with intent, not optimism
How this talk evolved
- 2026
Built for Turbulence: Architecting Full-Stack Web Experiences That Hold Up in Any EnvironmentCurrent
An advanced full-stack architecture case study exploring how backend services, APIs, infrastructure and frontend decisions shape user experience. Covers caching, data fetching, streaming, payload design and resilience under slow networks, partial failures and changing requirements.
- 2025–2026
Caching, Payloads, and Other Dark Arts: Optimizing UX in Suboptimal Conditions
A practical architecture case study in data fetching, caching and payload design. Explores BFF proxy handlers, server prefetching, critical versus optional queries and resilient fallbacks, with demonstrations recorded on unreliable in-flight Wi-Fi.
- 2025
Caching, Payloads, and Other Dark Arts: A Frontend Engineer's Journey
A frontend-focused talk about improving user experience and performance when the backend cannot be changed, with an emphasis on pragmatic caching and payload decisions.
- 2024–2025
Solving Real World Data Fetching Challenges with Next.js and TanStack Query: A Pragmatic Case Study
A pragmatic fintech case study of frontend performance and resilient data fetching using Next.js, TanStack Query and the Backend-for-Frontend pattern.
- 2024
Data Fetching Unleashed: Next.js, React Query and their BFF
A fintech case study on improving frontend data fetching and resilience with Next.js, TanStack Query and a Backend-for-Frontend layer.
Where it's been given, and where it's next
- Nov 2026Heapcon · Belgrade · Main stageUpcoming
- Oct 2026Game of Codes · NišSlides
- Aug 2026RenderATL · Atlanta
- Jul 2026VueVerse India · Online
- May 2026JSHeroes · Cluj-NapocaRecording
- Mar 2026React Prague · PragueRecording
- Feb 2026React Vienna · Vienna
- Dec 2025LisboaJS — December · LisbonRecording
- Earlier1 moreArchive
“I had the chance to meet Faris Aziz in person during the speaker photo session at #ReactSummitUS, and I’m so glad I did — what an incredible engineer and human. His talk, “Caching, Payloads, and Other Dark Arts: Optimizing UX in Suboptimal Conditions,” was honestly one of the most impressive 20-minute sessions I’ve ever seen. He delivered 5x content with perfect clarity, no confusion, and a beautifully structured walkthrough of the entire caching optimization process. The way he broke down caching strategies, payload handling, and real-world UX considerations — all with a clear example — was simply masterful. Faris is truly an engineer, an artist, a craftsman, and a speaker all at once. And beyond the technical brilliance, he brings a natural lightness and positive energy to the room. His humor and presence make complex topics easier to absorb — you walk away feeling both smarter and more energized. I also enjoyed listening to him during the “Growing to Senior and Tech Lead” discussion. His perspectives were honest, grounded, and incredibly valuable. Faris, you’re a fantastic engineer, collaborator, and storyteller. Thanks you 🙌”