Getting Started with Astro


Astro is a modern static site builder that helps you build faster websites with less JavaScript. Unlike traditional frameworks that ship entire JavaScript bundles to the browser, Astro takes a different approach.


What Makes Astro Special?


Zero JavaScript by Default


Astro automatically strips away all JavaScript from your final build unless you explicitly need it. This results in incredibly fast page loads and better performance metrics.


Component Islands Architecture


With Astro's "Islands Architecture," you can use interactive components from React, Vue, Svelte, or any other framework, but only the interactive parts get hydrated on the client. The rest of your page remains static HTML.


Built for Content


Astro is perfect for content-heavy sites like blogs, documentation, and marketing pages. It provides excellent DX (Developer Experience) while maintaining outstanding performance.


Key Features


  • **Fast by default:** Astro renders pages to static HTML at build time
  • **Framework agnostic:** Use React, Vue, Svelte, or plain HTML
  • **Partial hydration:** Only ship JavaScript for interactive components
  • **Great DX:** Modern tooling with TypeScript support
  • **SEO friendly:** Static HTML is perfect for search engines

    • Getting Started


    To create a new Astro project, run:


    

    npm create astro@latest

    Follow the prompts, and you'll have a new Astro project up and running in seconds!


    Conclusion


    Astro represents a new way of thinking about web development. By defaulting to static HTML and only adding JavaScript when necessary, it helps you build sites that are fast, accessible, and maintainable.