Getting Started with Astro

Astro is a revolutionary static site generator that’s changing how we think about web performance. With its unique “island architecture,” Astro delivers lightning-fast websites by shipping zero JavaScript by default.

What Makes Astro Special?

Astro stands out from other static site generators in several key ways:

1. Zero JavaScript by Default

Unlike other frameworks that ship JavaScript bundles regardless of need, Astro only includes JavaScript when you explicitly opt-in. This results in:

• Faster page loads
• Better Core Web Vitals scores
• Improved SEO performance

2. Component Islands

Astro’s island architecture allows you to use components from any framework:

// You can mix React, Vue, Svelte, and more!
import ReactComponent from './ReactComponent.jsx';
import VueComponent from './VueComponent.vue';
import SvelteComponent from './SvelteComponent.svelte';

3. Content Collections

Astro provides a powerful content management system built-in:

// Define your content schema
import { defineCollection, z } from 'astro:content';

const blogCollection = defineCollection({
  type: 'content',
  schema: z.object({
    title: z.string(),
    description: z.string(),
    publishDate: z.date(),
    tags: z.array(z.string()),
  }),
});

export const collections = {
  blog: blogCollection,
};

Building Your First Astro Site

Getting started with Astro is straightforward:

1. Create a new project

   npm create astro@latest my-blog
   cd my-blog
   npm install
   

2. Start the development server

   npm run dev
   

3. Build for production

   npm run build
   

Performance Benefits

Astro sites are incredibly fast because they:

• Ship minimal JavaScript
• Generate static HTML at build time
• Optimize images automatically
• Support modern web standards

Conclusion

Astro represents the future of web development - fast, efficient, and developer-friendly. Whether you’re building a blog, documentation site, or marketing pages, Astro provides the tools you need to create exceptional web experiences.

Ready to get started? Check out the official Astro documentation for more detailed guides and examples.