SPC Prefetch Connector self-updates
Designed to work alongside Super Page Cache Free and Pro. Makes WordPress feel like a static site by layering three browser-native performance technologies: the Speculation Rules API (Chrome 109+), instant.page fallback (Firefox / Safari), and the View Transitions API for smooth page animations.
by Nahnu Plugins · github.com/jaimealnassim/spc-prefetch-connector · website
Install
No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:
wp plugin install https://github.com/jaimealnassim/spc-prefetch-connector/archive/refs/heads/main.zipShips its own WordPress updater (built-in updater), so new versions show up under Dashboard → Updates.
Makes WordPress feel like a static site.
A free WordPress plugin by Nahnu Plugins that layers three browser-native performance technologies on top of Super Page Cache (Free and Pro) to make page navigation feel instant.
How it works
| Layer | Browser support | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Speculation Rules: prefetch | Chrome 109+ | Downloads the HTML of a page on hover. Zero JS overhead — the browser handles it natively in the network stack. |
| Speculation Rules: prerender | Chrome 108+ | Fully executes the page in a hidden renderer on mousedown. When the user clicks, Chrome activates it with zero latency. |
| instant.page fallback | Firefox, Safari, Edge | Prefetches HTML via <link rel=prefetch> on hover (65 ms delay). Touchstart on mobile. |
| View Transitions | Chrome 111+, Safari 18+ | Wraps navigation in a 160 ms fade or slide animation. When prerender is ready the transition is truly instant. |
| Analytics guard | All browsers | Queues GTM / GA4 / Facebook Pixel during prerender and replays on real activation. Prevents inflated pageview counts. |
| Preconnect hints | All browsers | Completes DNS + TLS handshake for third-party origins before they are needed. |
Requirements
- WordPress 6.0+
- PHP 7.4+
- Super Page Cache (Free or Pro) — recommended but not strictly required
Installation
- Download the latest release zip from the Releases page
- In WordPress admin go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Upload the zip and activate
- Go to Settings → SPC Prefetch to configure
Super Page Cache — Recommended Settings
When running alongside this plugin, configure SPC as follows for best results:
| SPC Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prefetch URLs on hover | OFF | This plugin handles prefetch better with Speculation Rules + prerender. If left ON, it auto-detects SPC and defers, but you lose Speculation Rules and prerender entirely. |
| Defer JS (Pro) | Either | Pro's Defer JS explicitly skips type="module" scripts. We also hook spc_defer_script as a backup. Safe either way. |
| Delay JS (Pro) | OFF | Does not skip type="module" scripts — could break instant.page and view-transitions. We auto-exclude our scripts via an option filter as protection, but OFF is cleaner. |
| Remove Unused CSS (Pro) | Fine | Operates on cached HTML only. No effect on our scripts. |
Features
Speculation Rules API (Chrome 109+)
Injects a `