Learning Astro by converting Next.js template.
When I set out to build my personal website, I purchased the Tailwind UI “Spotlight” template, which was built with React and Next.js. However, I wasn’t familiar with React, and rather than learning it just to use the template, I saw this as an opportunity to learn Astro.
I wanted a framework that would make content management easy while keeping the site lightweight and fast. Astro seemed like the perfect fit.
Why I Chose Astro
Astro offered several advantages that made it ideal for my use case:
- Minimal JavaScript by default: Astro only loads JavaScript where necessary, improving performance.
- Supports Tailwind CSS seamlessly: Since my template was built with Tailwind, I could easily carry over styles.
- No need for React (but still optional): Astro lets me use React components when needed but doesn’t require them.
- Perfect for static content: Since my website is primarily a blog, Astro’s static site generation (SSG) was the ideal choice.
What I Learned from This Process
This project turned into a great learning experience. Some key takeaways:
- Astro’s routing and component system are very simple.
- MDX support makes writing blog posts effortless, with a clean developer experience.
- Hybrid rendering is powerful—I could keep interactivity in certain areas without overloading my site with JavaScript.
- Thanks to Astro’s lightweight approach, performance was not an issue at all.
If you’re a developer looking to build a fast, content-driven site while avoiding unnecessary JavaScript, I highly recommend giving Astro a try.