Astro is a modern static site generator that focuses on delivering fast, content-focused websites. One of its key features is that it ships zero JavaScript by default, making your sites incredibly fast.

Why Choose Astro?

Astro stands out from other frameworks for several reasons:

  • Zero JavaScript by Default: Astro only ships the JavaScript you actually need
  • Component Islands: Use components from React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework
  • Fast by Default: Built-in performance optimizations
  • Great Developer Experience: TypeScript support, HMR, and more

Getting Started

To create a new Astro project, run: 

npm create astro@latest

This will guide you through setting up a new project. You can choose from several templates including a minimal starter, blog, portfolio, and more.

Building Your First Page

Astro uses .astro files which combine HTML-like syntax with JavaScript. Here's a simple example: 

---
const greeting = "Hello, World!";
---

<h1>{greeting}</h1>
<p>Welcome to my Astro site!</p>

Components and Layouts

Astro makes it easy to create reusable components and layouts. Components are just Astro files that you can import and use in other pages. Layouts are special components that wrap your page content.

This allows you to maintain consistency across your site while keeping your code DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself).

Conclusion

Astro is an excellent choice for building content-focused websites. Its performance-first approach and flexibility make it perfect for blogs, documentation sites, portfolios, and more.

"Astro lets you use your favorite UI framework while keeping your site fast and your bundle small."