Understanding CDN's

Question

I've been downloading jquery with:

<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>

and for some reason, the link went bad. Not a problem as I changed the link to use Microsoft's hosted CDN. I'm wondering though if I should just download the files so to prevent this problem happening again in the future. Is there any reason not to?

Link works fine. If you're accessing it locally then you'll need to include http: or https: — Wim Mertens, Dec 08 '16 at 23:22
The CDN was having issues earlier. It has since been restored. — Taplar, Dec 08 '16 at 23:46
If anyone downvotes this question please be so kind as to explain your thinking and add to the knowledge pool. — Vanquished Wombat, Dec 09 '16 at 08:30
is it possible to conditionally execute a script based on whether another script ran? Seems like we could try to download jquery from more then one CDN that way — DCR, Dec 09 '16 at 17:57
Check this similar question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1014203/best-way-to-use-googles-hosted-jquery-but-fall-back-to-my-hosted-library-on-go — user2314737, Dec 19 '16 at 09:27

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 08 '16 at 23:29

Ultimately if you download the files to your own server then you will not experience the same issue again. But there are other considerations:

Plus points for CDNs

may be faster network and worldwide mirrors so potentially better user experience / performance for your site users;
if you link to the latest version, e.g. library-latest-min.js then you do not have to alter your source code to get latest bug-fixed version of library (see negative below).

Negative points

If the CDN goes offline your site breaks.
If the CDN has a network slowdown your users suffer.
If you link to the latest version, e.g. library-latest-min.js then you do not have to alter your source code to get latest big-fixed version of library but if 'latest' holds any breaking changes then your site breaks.

Understanding CDN's

1 Answers1