We’ve all done this: Install a huge library Use ONE function Ship 300KB of JavaScript In modern web apps: Shipping less code = faster apps Two terms always come up here: Tree Shaking Dead Code Elimination (DCE) They sound similar… But they work in very different ways. Let’s break it down with a real-world example so it actually sticks. Table of Contents The Problem: Bloated Bundles Real-World Scenario: The Overloaded App Dead Code Elimination (DCE): The Surgeon Tree Shaking: The Gardener Why ES Modules Matter Key Differences How to Make Your Code Shakeable Mental Model Final Thoughts The Problem: Bloated Bundles Imagine your app loads slowly. Users wait… Bounce rate increases You check your bundle: 500KB JavaScript But your actual logic? Maybe 50KB So what happened?…