A practical demonstration of using React Server Components (RSCs) in TanStack Start to implement partial page caching via a CDN. The approach allows different sections of a page to be cached and invalidated at different rates — for example, static article content cached long-term while a trending sidebar is busted frequently. The key mechanism is a GET-based server function that returns RSC flight data, which the CDN can cache independently from the main page route. An additional benefit shown is code-splitting: interactive client components are only sent to the browser when the RSC payload actually references them, avoiding large monolithic bundles. The author frames RSCs as a specialized tool suited for content sites and widget-heavy dashboards, not a universal architecture requirement.
Sort: