Getting Started with Astro

Astro is a modern web framework that allows you to build fast, content-focused websites with less JavaScript. In this post, we’ll explore why Astro is gaining popularity and how to get started.

What Makes Astro Special?

Astro stands out from other frameworks with its unique approach:

• Zero JS by Default: Astro ships zero JavaScript to the browser by default, making your sites blazingly fast
• Component Islands: Use interactive components only where needed with “Islands Architecture”
• Framework Agnostic: Bring your own UI framework (React, Vue, Svelte, or none!)
• Built for Content: Perfect for blogs, documentation, and marketing sites

Key Features

1. Content Collections

Astro’s Content Collections provide a type-safe way to manage your markdown content:

import { defineCollection, z } from "astro:content";

const blog = defineCollection({
  schema: z.object({
    title: z.string(),
    description: z.string(),
    pubDate: z.date(),
  }),
});

2. File-based Routing

Creating pages is as simple as adding files to your src/pages/ directory. No complex routing configuration needed!

3. Optimized Performance

Astro automatically optimizes your images, bundles your CSS, and generates static HTML for incredible performance.

Getting Started

Install Astro with a single command:

pnpm create astro@latest

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

Conclusion

Astro is perfect for building content-rich websites that need to be fast and SEO-friendly. Whether you’re building a blog, documentation site, or marketing pages, Astro provides the tools you need to succeed.

Ready to start your Astro journey? Check out the official documentation to learn more!