· web builders · 8 min read
Astro review
It is a static site generator that can be used to create websites that are both fast and SEO-friendly
Astro is a new web framework that is designed for speed. It is a static site generator that can be used to create websites that are both fast and SEO-friendly. Astro is built on top of React, but it can also be used with other UI frameworks like Preact, Vue, or Svelte.
One of the best things about Astro is that it is very easy to use. The documentation is clear and concise, and there is a large community of developers who are willing to help out.
Build the web you want with Astro static site generator
Astro also has a number of features that make it ideal for building websites, including:
- Static site generation: Astro generates your website’s pages at build time, which means that they are served from the cache and load very quickly.
- SEO-friendly: Astro’s static pages are crawlable by search engines, which means that your website will rank higher in search results.
- Customizable: Astro is highly customizable, so you can easily create a website that looks and feels the way you want it to.
If you are looking for a fast and SEO-friendly web framework, then Astro is a great option. It is easy to use, has a large community of developers, and comes with a number of features that make it ideal for building websites.
Some of the pros and cons of Astro:
Pros:
- Fast: Astro generates static pages at build time, which means that they are served from the cache and load very quickly.
- SEO-friendly: Astro’s static pages are crawlable by search engines, which means that your website will rank higher in search results.
- Customizable: Astro is highly customizable, so you can easily create a website that looks and feels the way you want it to.
- Easy to use: The documentation is clear and concise, and there is a large community of developers who are willing to help out.
Cons:
- Not as mature as some other frameworks: Astro is a relatively new framework, so it may not be as mature as some of the more established frameworks.
- Can be complex to learn: Astro has a lot of features, so it can be complex to learn for beginners.
Five use cases of Astro
Personal website
A personal website is a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and projects with the world. You can use Astro to create a website that is both stylish and functional. You can add your own content, images, and videos, and you can customize the look and feel of your website to match your personality.
Here’s a very nice personal blog/portfolio site by a Taiwanese American, Anna Hsu. And this one by Tharum.
Blog
A blog is a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with others. You can use Astro to create a blog that is both informative and engaging. You can add your own content, images, and videos, and you can customize the look and feel of your blog to match your personality.
Portfolio
A portfolio is a great way to showcase your work, skills, and experience. You can use Astro to create a portfolio that is both professional and visually appealing. You can add your own content, images, and videos, and you can customize the look and feel of your portfolio to match your work.
Landing page
A landing page is a great way to promote a product, service, or event. You can use Astro to create a landing page that is both persuasive and visually appealing. You can add your own content, images, and videos, and you can customize the look and feel of your landing page to match your product, service, or event.
Community
A community is a great way to connect with others who share your interests. You can use Astro to create a community that is both welcoming and supportive. You can add your own content, images, and videos, and you can customize the look and feel of your community to match your interests.
Astro is a powerful tool that can be used for a variety of tasks. It is easy to use and it is very customizable. If you are looking for a way to create a website, blog, portfolio, landing page, or community, then Astro is a great option.
Astro vs Eleventy
Astro and Eleventy are both popular static site generators (SSGs) that can be used for blogging. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms that may make one a better choice for you than the other.
Astro
- Astro is built on top of Eleventy, so it inherits many of the same features and benefits.
- Astro is designed to be fast and lightweight, making it a good choice for blogs with a lot of traffic.
- Astro comes with a number of built-in features that are useful for blogging, such as support for Markdown, code blocks, and images.
- Astro is easy to learn and use, even for beginners.
Eleventy
- Eleventy is a more flexible SSG than Astro, giving you more control over the build process.
- Eleventy supports a wider range of templating languages, including Liquid, Handlebars, and Nunjucks.
- Eleventy has a larger community of developers and resources, which can be helpful if you need help with troubleshooting or customization.
Which one is better?
Ultimately, the best SSG for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a fast, lightweight, and easy-to-use platform for blogging, then Astro is a good choice. If you need more flexibility and control over the build process, then Eleventy may be a better option.
The key differences between Astro and Eleventy
| Feature | Astro | Eleventy |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Fast and lightweight | Flexible and customizable |
| Features | Built-in support for Markdown, code blocks, and images | Supports a wider range of templating languages |
| Community | Smaller community | Larger community |
| Ease of use | Easy to learn and use | More complex to learn |
Astro vs Docusaurus
Docusaurus
- Pros:
- Well-documented: Docusaurus is very well-documented, so it’s easy to get started with.
- Active community: Docusaurus has a large and active community, so there are plenty of resources available if you run into problems.
- Customizable: Docusaurus is very customizable, so you can make it look and feel the way you want.
- Cons:
- Not as fast: Docusaurus is not as fast as some of the other SSGs on the market.
- Not as lightweight: Docusaurus is not as lightweight as some of the other SSGs on the market.
The key differences between Astro and Docusaurus
| Feature | Astro | Docusaurus |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast | Not as fast |
| Lightweight | Lightweight | Not as lightweight |
| Flexibility | Very flexible | Customizable |
| Documentation | Well-documented | Well-documented |
| Community | Active community | Large and active community |
If you’re looking for a fast, lightweight, and flexible SSG, then Astro is a good choice. If you’re looking for an SSG with a large and active community and plenty of customization options, then Docusaurus is a good choice.
How to launch an Astro blog
To deploy an Astro blog using Cloudflare Pages (a JAMstack platform for frontend developers to collaborate and deploy websites) and GitHub.
(In this course, you'll learn how build a custom Astro blog from scratch. You’ll learn how to work with Astro components, import and process data, pass props, minify images, build an RSS feed, and more.)In your Cloudflare dashboard, go to the “Pages” tab and click the “Create new site” button. Select the “Github Pages” option and enter the URL of your GitHub repository. Then, click the “Deploy” button.
Your blog will now be deployed to Cloudflare Pages. You can access it by visiting the URL that Cloudflare provides you.
Additional tips for deploying an Astro blog using Cloudflare Pages and GitHub:
- Use a custom domain for your blog. This will make your blog look more professional and help you build your brand.
- Use a content management system (CMS) to manage your blog posts. This will make it easier to create and update your blog posts.
- Promote your blog on social media and other channels. This will help you attract more readers to your blog.
Overall, Astro is a great option for anyone looking for a fast and SEO-friendly web framework. It is easy to use, has a large community of developers, and comes with a number of features that make it ideal for building websites.
Astro and Alpine.js
Astro and Alpine.js are two powerful tools that can be used to create amazing websites. Astro is a static site generator that can be used to create fast, SEO-friendly websites. Alpine.js is a lightweight JavaScript framework that can be used to add interactivity and functionality to your websites.
When used together, Astro and Alpine.js can create a powerful combination that can be used to create a wide variety of websites. For example, you could use Astro to create a portfolio website that uses Alpine.js to add animations and interactions to your portfolio items. Or, you could use Astro to create a blog that uses Alpine.js to add comments and social media sharing buttons to your blog posts.
Benefits of using Astro and Alpine.js together
Powerful: Alpine.js is a powerful JavaScript framework that can be used to add interactivity and functionality to your websites. With Alpine.js, you can add animations, interactions, and more to your websites without writing any custom JavaScript code.
If you’re looking for a powerful and easy-to-use combination of tools to create amazing websites, then Astro and Alpine.js are a great option.
How to move to Astra from WordPress
I have used WordPress for nearly 20 years.
Migrating from WordPress
https://docs.astro.build/en/guides/migrate-to-astro/from-wordpress/
https://github.com/lonekorean/wordpress-export-to-markdown
Also good to read:
Astro.js and WordPress as an API
Creating an Astro Site: Beginners’ Tutorial
How to Build a Website with Astro
Converting to Astro from Next.js
Ship Less JavaScript with Astro (Learn how to create performant Jamstack sites with this amazing static site generator)