[FEAT] Rw8.0: Prefer Brotli If The Client Accepts Both Gzip And Brotli

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Introduction

In the current implementation of fio_http_static_file_response(), the function iterates through a list of supported encoding options and selects the first match found in the client's Accept-Encoding header. However, this approach can lead to suboptimal results when the client accepts both Gzip and Brotli. In this article, we will explore the issue and propose a solution to prefer Brotli over Gzip when both are accepted by the client.

The Current Implementation

The current implementation of fio_http_static_file_response() uses the following code to iterate through the list of supported encoding options:

struct {
  char *value;
  fio_buf_info_s ext;
} options[] = {{(char *)"gzip", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".gz", 3)},
              {(char *)"br", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".br", 3)},
              {(char *)"deflate", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".zip", 4)},
              {NULL}};
for (size_t i = 0; options[i].value; ++i) {
  if (!strstr(ac.buf, options[i].value))
    continue;
  // ....... (snip)

As shown in the code snippet above, the function iterates through the list of options and checks if the client's Accept-Encoding header contains the current option's value. If a match is found, the function proceeds with the rest of the implementation.

The Issue with Current Implementation

The issue with the current implementation is that it selects the first match found in the client's Accept-Encoding header, regardless of the order of the accepted encodings. For example, if the client requests a file with Accept-Encoding: gzip, brotli, the current implementation will choose Gzip, which is usually suboptimal. This is because Brotli is generally more efficient than Gzip, especially for larger files.

Proposed Solution

To address this issue, we propose a solution that prefers Brotli over Gzip when both are accepted by the client. The solution involves modifying the current implementation to check for Brotli first, and only if Brotli is not accepted, then check for Gzip.

Here is an updated code snippet that demonstrates the proposed solution:

struct {
  char *value;
  fio_buf_info_s ext;
} options[] = {{(char *)"br", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".br", 3)},
              {(char *)"gzip", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".gz", 3)},
              {(char *)"deflate", FIO_BUF_INFO2((char *)".zip", 4)},
              {NULL}};
for (size_t i = 0; options[i].value; ++i) {
  if (!strstr(ac.buf, options[i].value))
    continue;
  // ....... (snip)

In the updated code snippet above, we have swapped the order of Gzip and Brotli in the list of options. This ensures that Brotli is checked first, and only if Brotli is not accepted, then Gzip is checked.

Benefits of Proposed Solution

The proposed solution has several benefits, including:

  • Improved performance: By preferring Brotli over Gzip, we can improve the performance of file transfers, especially for larger files.
  • Better compression ratio: Brotli generally provides a better compression ratio than Gzip, which means that files can be transferred more efficiently.
  • Improved user experience: By providing a better compression ratio and improved performance, we can improve the user experience for clients that accept both Gzip and Brotli.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the issue with the current implementation of fio_http_static_file_response() and proposed a solution to prefer Brotli over Gzip when both are accepted by the client. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the proposed solution.

Q: Why do we need to prefer Brotli over Gzip?

A: Brotli is generally more efficient than Gzip, especially for larger files. By preferring Brotli, we can improve the performance of file transfers and provide a better user experience for clients that accept both Gzip and Brotli.

Q: What are the benefits of preferring Brotli over Gzip?

A: The benefits of preferring Brotli over Gzip include:

  • Improved performance: By preferring Brotli, we can improve the performance of file transfers, especially for larger files.
  • Better compression ratio: Brotli generally provides a better compression ratio than Gzip, which means that files can be transferred more efficiently.
  • Improved user experience: By providing a better compression ratio and improved performance, we can improve the user experience for clients that accept both Gzip and Brotli.

Q: How does the proposed solution work?

A: The proposed solution involves modifying the current implementation of fio_http_static_file_response() to check for Brotli first, and only if Brotli is not accepted, then check for Gzip. This ensures that Brotli is preferred over Gzip when both are accepted by the client.

Q: What are the implications of preferring Brotli over Gzip?

A: The implications of preferring Brotli over Gzip include:

  • Improved performance: By preferring Brotli, we can improve the performance of file transfers, especially for larger files.
  • Better compression ratio: Brotli generally provides a better compression ratio than Gzip, which means that files can be transferred more efficiently.
  • Improved user experience: By providing a better compression ratio and improved performance, we can improve the user experience for clients that accept both Gzip and Brotli.

Q: How can we test the proposed solution?

A: To test the proposed solution, you can use tools such as curl or wget to simulate file transfers with different Accept-Encoding headers. You can also use performance monitoring tools to measure the impact of the proposed solution on file transfer performance.

Q: What are the potential risks of preferring Brotli over Gzip?

A: The potential risks of preferring Brotli over Gzip include:

  • Incompatibility with older browsers: Some older browsers may not support Brotli, which could lead to compatibility issues.
  • Increased complexity: Preferring Brotli over Gzip may add complexity to the implementation of fio_http_static_file_response().
  • Potential performance issues: If Brotli is not properly implemented, it could lead to performance issues.

Q: How can we mitigate the potential risks of preferring Brotli over Gzip?

A: To mitigate the potential risks of preferring Brotli over Gzip, you can:

  • Test thoroughly: Thoroughly test the proposed solution to ensure that it works as expected.
  • Monitor performance: Monitor performance to ensure that the proposed solution does not lead to performance issues.
  • Provide fallbacks: Provide fallbacks for older browsers that do not support Brotli.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed solution to prefer Brotli over Gzip when both are accepted by the client has several benefits, including improved performance, better compression ratio, and improved user experience. However, it also has potential risks, including incompatibility with older browsers, increased complexity, and potential performance issues. By testing thoroughly, monitoring performance, and providing fallbacks, we can mitigate these risks and ensure that the proposed solution is successful.