CSS data URIs and Resource Packages

In the last few days Steve Souders has blogged about two interesting web performance ideas.

One is a command line tool built by Nicholas Zakas that makes working with CSS data URIs a little easier.  You can read Steve’s post here.

The other is a proposal by Alexander Limi for bundling page components in a single zip file called a Resource Package.  Instead of forcing the browser to make dozens of HTTP requests for multiple JS, CSS, and image files, core components can be grouped into a single zipped request, slashing the number of HTTP requests.  Steve offers a thorough analysis of the proposal, along with some data on the effect this would have on the Alexa Top 10 US sites.

At the end he drops the exciting news that Firefox 3.7 will offer support for Resource Packages.  Read Steve’s post here.