I'm looking for suggestions on lightweight web development stacks that I can easily pick back up after years of not using them. A while back, I was really into SvelteKit, but since my main work has always been with ASP.NET, I haven't kept up with it like I should and now maintaining the static sites I've built in SvelteKit feels like a hassle. I often forget how to compile the code, what extensions I need, and what files to ignore from Git, making it a bit cumbersome. Given that these sites are not complicated, I've been considering switching to plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript instead, but I'd like to have templates for the layout to avoid repetitive code. So, what's a simple stack for static websites that won't require a ton of maintenance and is easy to remember years down the line? I currently host with Cloudflare Pages.
5 Answers
For pure static sites, you can't go wrong with plain HTML, CSS, and vanilla JS. It's straightforward, and there's little to forget. Just set up your template structure for the header and footer and you're golden!
Exactly! I prefer keeping it simple and just duplicating sections where needed while maintaining a clear folder structure.
If you don’t mind going with a proven stack, PHP combined with MySQL, ES6, and Apache on a Linux server has been solid for me. It's stable and works well for long-term projects, though it can be a bit complex for light static sites.
Yeah, I've transitioned to Nginx from Apache, and honestly, that switch made life easier. But if it’s all static, something like 11ty might be lighter.
If you’re just focusing on static content, I'd say look into 11ty or something similar instead of PHP. But I can see the appeal of PHP for small-scale backends.
I've been using Astro and it's been fantastic. It's like HTML evolved; you can create separate static components, which keeps your code organized and easy to manage. Plus, if you're hosting on Cloudflare Pages, it's a perfect match!
Astro really does simplify things! It lets you focus on building without the usual bloat.
Absolutely, Astro is a game changer! This stack has given me the flexibility I need without overcomplicating things.
I recommend using Eleventy. It’s super easy to use and doesn't require heavy maintenance. You can set up your layouts with simple templates and generate your static site with minimal fuss. It compiles down to plain HTML, so you can easily host it anywhere!
Eleventy is great! It's helped me keep everything organized without the overhead of bigger frameworks.
Totally agree! Plus, it's really easy to use with Cloudflare Pages for quick deployments.
If you're feeling adventurous, try Hugo. It'll give you a really fast static site experience with simple templating, and you can forget the complexities, plus it’s perfect for deploying on Cloudflare Pages.
Hugo is a powerhouse for static sites! It allows for flexibility with templating while keeping everything clean.
Yeah, the one-command build function in Hugo is a lifesaver! Makes it super easy for little updates too.
How do you handle reusable components like headers and footers across different pages without a templating engine?