Getting Started with Astro: A Modern Static Site Generator

Getting Started with Astro

Astro is a modern static site generator that allows you to build faster websites using your favorite JavaScript frameworks. In this post, we’ll explore the basics of Astro and why it might be the perfect choice for your next project.

Why Choose Astro?

Astro stands out from other frameworks for several reasons:

1. Zero JavaScript by default: Astro automatically removes all JavaScript from your site, delivering only HTML and CSS.
2. Component Islands: Use UI frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte where needed.
3. Built-in Performance: Get incredible performance metrics out of the box.
4. Developer Experience: Enjoy a modern development environment with hot reloading and TypeScript support.

Setting Up Your First Astro Project

Getting started with Astro is straightforward. Here’s how:

# Create a new project with npm
npm create astro@latest

# Or with pnpm
pnpm create astro@latest

Follow the CLI prompts to set up your project with your preferred settings.

Project Structure

A typical Astro project looks like this:

├── src/
│   ├── components/
│   ├── layouts/
│   └── pages/
├── public/
└── astro.config.mjs

Building Components

Astro components are written in .astro files and use a template syntax similar to HTML:

---
// Component Script (JavaScript)
const greeting = "Hello, Astro!";
---

<!-- Component Template (HTML + JS Expressions) -->
<h1>{greeting}</h1>
<style>
  h1 {
    color: purple;
  }
</style>

Conclusion

Astro provides an excellent foundation for building modern websites. Its focus on performance, developer experience, and flexibility makes it a compelling choice for both small and large projects.

Stay tuned for more tutorials on advanced Astro features!