Getting Started with Static Site Generation

by John Doe
#web development #static sites #jamstack

Getting Started with Static Site Generation

Static site generators have revolutionized modern web development by combining the simplicity of static HTML with the power of dynamic content generation.

Why Choose Static Sites?

Static websites offer several compelling advantages:

  • Performance: Pre-built HTML files load incredibly fast
  • Security: No server-side vulnerabilities to worry about
  • Scalability: Easy to serve via CDN
  • Developer Experience: Modern tooling and workflows

The JAMstack Architecture

The JAMstack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markup) represents a new approach to building web applications:

  1. JavaScript: Handles dynamic functionality
  2. APIs: Provide data and services via HTTP
  3. Markup: Pre-built at deploy time

Getting Started

Here's a simple workflow for building static sites:

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development server
npm run dev

# Build for production
npm run build

Best Practices

  • Keep your content in version control
  • Use a build process for optimization
  • Leverage CDNs for global distribution
  • Implement proper SEO metadata

Static site generation is not just a trend—it's a fundamental shift toward better web performance and developer experience.