diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9e55c58..36350e5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,28 @@ All notable changes to the Nynaeve theme will be documented in this file.
For project-wide changes (infrastructure, tooling, cross-cutting concerns), see the [project root CHANGELOG.md](../../../../../CHANGELOG.md).
+## [2.0.17] - 2025-11-24
+
+### Fixed
+- **Speed Optimization: Hero Image Eager Loading** ([HeroBlock.php:181-198](app/Blocks/HeroBlock.php#L181-L198))
+ - Changed hero desktop image from `loading="lazy"` to `loading="eager"`
+ - Added `fetchpriority="high"` attribute to prioritize LCP image download
+ - **Root cause**: Lazy loading the LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) image caused 2,360ms "Resource load delay"
+ - Browser was waiting to determine if image was in viewport before loading
+ - **Impact**: ~2+ seconds LCP improvement expected
+
+### Added
+- **Speed Optimization: Font Preloading** ([setup.php:400-436](app/setup.php#L400-L436))
+ - Added preload hints for Open Sans regular (400) and semibold (600) fonts
+ - Fonts are preloaded early in `` before CSS parsing begins
+ - Uses Vite manifest to resolve hashed font filenames
+ - **Root cause**: CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) of 0.602 caused by late font loading
+ - When Open Sans loaded after initial render, text reflowed and shifted layout
+ - **Impact**: CLS reduction expected (target < 0.1)
+
+### Documentation
+- Updated `docs/nynaeve/SPEED-TWEAKS.md` with new optimizations 8, 9, and 10
+
## [2.0.16] - 2025-11-24
### Added
diff --git a/app/Blocks/HeroBlock.php b/app/Blocks/HeroBlock.php
index 8cac7e0..91da564 100644
--- a/app/Blocks/HeroBlock.php
+++ b/app/Blocks/HeroBlock.php
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ public function with(): array
// Generate responsive image HTML for desktop
// Uses 'hero-desktop' size (600x348) with srcset for retina (1200x696)
+ // IMPORTANT: Hero image is the LCP element - must use eager loading, not lazy
$desktop_image_html = '';
$desktop_image_alt_value = $desktop_image['alt'] ?? ($desktop_image['title'] ?? 'Desktop image');
if (! empty($desktop_image['ID'])) {
@@ -189,7 +190,8 @@ public function with(): array
false,
[
'class' => 'desktop-only-img object-cover w-full h-full',
- 'loading' => 'lazy',
+ 'loading' => 'eager',
+ 'fetchpriority' => 'high',
'sizes' => '(min-width: 1024px) 576px, 50vw',
]
);
diff --git a/app/setup.php b/app/setup.php
index f0d835d..9ce2df6 100644
--- a/app/setup.php
+++ b/app/setup.php
@@ -396,3 +396,41 @@ class="text-center w-full px-4 py-3 bg-indigo-600 flex items-center
],
]);
}, 10, 2);
+
+/**
+ * Preload critical fonts to reduce CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift).
+ *
+ * Open Sans is the primary body font and causes significant layout shift (CLS 0.602)
+ * when it loads late. Preloading tells the browser to fetch it early, before CSS parsing.
+ *
+ * @link https://web.dev/preload-critical-assets/
+ * @link https://web.dev/optimize-cls/#web-fonts-causing-foit/fout
+ */
+add_action('wp_head', function () {
+ // Get the Vite manifest to find the hashed font filename
+ $manifest_path = get_theme_file_path('public/build/manifest.json');
+
+ if (! file_exists($manifest_path)) {
+ return;
+ }
+
+ $manifest = json_decode(file_get_contents($manifest_path), true);
+
+ if (! is_array($manifest)) {
+ return;
+ }
+
+ // Preload Open Sans regular (400) - most commonly used weight
+ $font_key = 'resources/fonts/open-sans-v40-latin-regular.woff2';
+ if (isset($manifest[$font_key]['file'])) {
+ $font_url = get_theme_file_uri('public/build/'.$manifest[$font_key]['file']);
+ echo ''."\n";
+ }
+
+ // Preload Open Sans semibold (600) - used for headings and emphasis
+ $font_key_600 = 'resources/fonts/open-sans-v40-latin-600.woff2';
+ if (isset($manifest[$font_key_600]['file'])) {
+ $font_url_600 = get_theme_file_uri('public/build/'.$manifest[$font_key_600]['file']);
+ echo ''."\n";
+ }
+}, 1); // Priority 1 to run very early in
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 42c62c0..f420306 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
Theme Name: Nynaeve
Theme URI: https://imagewize.com
Description: Modern WordPress theme built on Sage 11 with reusable custom blocks using WordPress native tools and the Roots.io stack.
-Version: 2.0.16
+Version: 2.0.17
Author: Jasper Frumau
Author URI: https://magewize.com
Text Domain: nynaeve