Building the Twitter web experience

In 2015, Twitter embarked on a project to create a universally accessible web experience, especially for users with limited data plans and those using low-end devices.

Twitter Lite offered a fast, responsive, and lightweight experience, achieving significant improvements in user engagement. It was designed for speed, responsiveness, lower data consumption, and offline capabilities. The app's availability in the Google Play Store and its ability to replace existing Android and Microsoft Store apps increased user reach.

Key performance improvements included code splitting, bundle splitting, a build tracker, and data saver mode. Twitter Lite also employed the PRPL Pattern to optimize app delivery and launch. Additionally, it prioritized image and media optimization, reducing jank, and optimizing internationalization. To cater to diverse devices and screen sizes, the app incorporated responsive design principles and component-based design.

In this case study book, we cover the key details.