Performance Issues with GitHub on Apple Safari Browser
As a leading platform for version control, GitHub caters to the diverse needs of developers through its command-line interface, web interface, and desktop applications. This versatility appeals to developers who prefer graphical user interfaces (GUIs) over navigating complex command-line instructions. However, a rising number of users have reported significant slowdowns while using GitHub, particularly under specific configurations, casting a shadow over its efficiency.
User Feedback and Experience
Recent discussions in the GitHub Community and on Hacker News reveal a common complaint: GitHub experiences latency issues when accessed via the default Apple Safari browser on Mac devices. Users report prolonged loading times when attempting to open pull requests (PRs) with extensive code changes, leading to frustrating interruptions in workflow.
Specific Issues Identified
One user detailed severe slow performance while operating on a highly capable 16-inch MacBook Pro equipped with a 16-core Apple M4 Max processor and 48GB of RAM. Despite the hardware’s capabilities, the browser exhibits problematic behavior, displaying blank spaces during scrolling, peaking CPU usage, and erratic search functionality. The performance issues reportedly exacerbate when switching between different views, causing delays of several seconds.
Comparative Performance on Different Browsers
Interestingly, the original poster has noted that GitHub runs smoothly in Chrome on the same Mac, suggesting that the problem may be isolated to Safari. This sentiment has been echoed by others in the community. Notably, Miguel de Icaza, a former Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft, shared his experience, indicating that a page loaded with 3, 000 lines of code took approximately 10 seconds to load in the standard version of Safari, compared to just 5 seconds in a preview version.
Testing Across Devices
Further investigation reveals contrasting results on different systems. For instance, testing conducted on a mid-range Windows laptop featuring a 10th-generation Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM showed that pages loaded in merely a couple of seconds on both Chrome and Microsoft Edge, with smooth operation overall. Conversely, a 13-inch Mac M1 from 2020 with similar RAM took over 20 seconds to render pages in Safari and also experienced delays with blank spaces during loading, while performing flawlessly in Chrome.
Awaiting Official Comments
As of now, neither Apple nor GitHub has issued an official statement addressing these performance concerns. As more users share their experiences, the situation calls for attention from both companies to enhance compatibility and performance across all platforms.
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