import { CodeComparison } from ‘../components/CodeComparison’; import { PerformanceChart } from ‘../components/PerformanceChart’;

Why Astro is My Preferred Web Framework

After exploring countless JavaScript frameworks over the years, I’ve settled on Astro as my framework of choice for most web projects. In this post, I’ll break down what makes Astro special, how it differs from other popular frameworks, and why it might be the perfect fit for your next project too.

What is Astro?

Astro is a modern web framework designed to build faster websites with less client-side JavaScript. Launched in 2021, it describes itself as a “content-focused” framework that lets you pull content from anywhere and deploy everywhere.

At its core, Astro embraces what they call the “Islands Architecture” — a frontend architecture pattern that’s centered around the idea of delivering primarily static HTML with dynamic islands of interactivity. This approach results in exceptionally fast websites that use JavaScript only when absolutely necessary.

Key Features That Won Me Over

1. Zero-JS by Default

---
// Component script runs only at build time!
console.log('This runs on the server, not in the browser');
const greeting = "Hello, Astro!";
---

<!-- This becomes pure HTML with no JS shipped to the client -->
<h1>{greeting}</h1>

Unlike React, Vue, or Angular which ship entire libraries to the browser, Astro strips away all JavaScript by default. The result? Lightning-fast page loads and improved core web vitals. My sites consistently score 90+ on Lighthouse metrics after switching to Astro.

2. Framework Agnostic

One of Astro’s most compelling features is its ability to work with components from any framework. I can use React for complex interactive elements, Vue for another section, and Svelte for something else—all in the same project!

```astro --- // Import components from different frameworks import ReactCounter from '../components/ReactCounter.jsx'; import VueToggle from '../components/VueToggle.vue'; import SvelteCard from '../components/SvelteCard.svelte'; ---

```

This flexibility means I’m never locked into a single ecosystem. I can leverage specialized libraries from any framework community or gradually migrate existing projects piece by piece.

3. Partial Hydration with “Islands”

The concept of islands of interactivity is revolutionary for performance optimization. I can precisely control which components need JavaScript and when they should load:

client:load - Hydrate the component immediately on page load
client:idle - Hydrate once the browser is idle
client:visible - Hydrate when the component enters the viewport
client:media - Hydrate only when a media query is met
client:only - Skip server-rendering and render only in the browser

This granular control means my sites ship significantly less JavaScript while maintaining all the interactivity needed for a great user experience.

4. Content Collections

For content-heavy sites (like this blog!), Astro’s Content Collections feature has been a game-changer:

---
// Access typed content from the filesystem
import { getCollection } from 'astro:content';

// TypeScript automatically validates my frontmatter!
const blogPosts = await getCollection('blog');
---

<ul>
  {blogPosts.map(post => (
    <li>
      <a href={`/blog/${post.slug}`}>
        {post.data.title} - {post.data.date.toLocaleDateString()}
      </a>
    </li>
  ))}
</ul>

With built-in frontmatter validation, TypeScript integration, and automatic slug generation, managing content becomes significantly simpler than with traditional CMS systems.

5. View Transitions API Integration

Astro was one of the first frameworks to seamlessly integrate with the View Transitions API, enabling smooth page transitions that were previously only possible in SPAs:

---
import { ViewTransitions } from 'astro:transitions';
---

<html>
  <head>
    <!-- Add smooth page transitions with one component -->
    <ViewTransitions />
  </head>
  <body>
    <slot />
  </body>
</html>

This gives my multi-page apps the feel of single-page applications while maintaining the superior performance and SEO benefits of MPAs.

Astro vs. Other Frameworks

Compared to Next.js

While I appreciate Next.js for complex applications with heavy client-side requirements, Astro’s approach fits my mental model better for most projects. Next.js encourages a more JavaScript-heavy approach, while Astro encourages minimal JavaScript and server-first rendering.

Next.js still has an edge for highly dynamic applications or those requiring advanced React features like Server Components, but for content sites, marketing pages, or blogs, Astro consistently outperforms.

Compared to SvelteKit

SvelteKit is another excellent framework that I often recommend. It has a similar server-first approach and fantastic performance. However, I prefer Astro’s framework-agnostic nature and its built-in content management capabilities for most of my projects.

SvelteKit shines when building fully interactive apps with Svelte’s reactivity system, while Astro excels at mixed static/dynamic websites where content is the primary focus.

Real-World Benefits I’ve Experienced

Since adopting Astro as my primary framework, I’ve seen tangible improvements across several metrics:

Reduced Build Times: My project build times decreased by approximately 40% compared to my previous Gatsby setup.
Improved Page Speed: Lighthouse performance scores jumped from the 70-80 range to consistent 95+ scores.
Enhanced Developer Experience: The simplicity of the .astro file format and the clear separation between server and client code has significantly improved my development workflow.
Lower Hosting Costs: With smaller bundle sizes and efficient static generation, I’ve been able to use simpler hosting solutions with lower bandwidth costs.

When Astro Might Not Be the Best Choice

While I prefer Astro for most of my projects, it’s not always the perfect tool:

For highly dynamic dashboards with constant data updates, a framework like Next.js or Remix might be more appropriate.
For complex state management across many components, a more tightly integrated framework like SvelteKit could be easier to work with.
For mobile applications, frameworks with strong native integration like React Native would be a better fit.

Integrating Astro with My Existing Workflow

One aspect I particularly appreciate is how easily Astro integrates with my existing toolchain:

# Adding Tailwind CSS to an Astro project
npx astro add tailwind

# Adding React to an Astro project
npx astro add react

# Adding content collections
npx astro add content

The astro add command makes incorporating new features or integrations incredibly straightforward. I can easily add authentication, databases, or UI libraries as my project requirements evolve.

Conclusion: Why Astro Has Become My Default Choice

Astro represents a balanced approach to modern web development—one that respects both the developer experience and the end-user experience. It gives me the tools to build fast, content-focused websites without sacrificing the dynamic capabilities modern web applications demand.

The framework’s philosophy of “use less JavaScript” aligns perfectly with my belief that we should be more intentional about the code we ship to browsers. By starting with zero client-side JavaScript and adding it only where needed, Astro encourages a performance-first mindset that benefits everyone.

If you’re starting a new web project—especially one where content is central to the experience—I highly recommend giving Astro a try. Its learning curve is gentle, especially if you’re already familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and the performance benefits are immediate and substantial.

---
// The perfect way to end an Astro blog post
const closing = "Build fast websites, faster with Astro";
---

<div class="conclusion">
  <h2>{closing}</h2>
  <p>Try it on your next project: <a href="https://astro.build">astro.build</a></p>
</div>

Have you worked with Astro? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below or connect with me on Twitter to discuss further!

export const pageShare = () => { return { title: “Why Astro is My Preferred Web Framework”, description: “A deep dive into the benefits of using Astro for modern web development”, hashtags: [“astro”, “webdev”, “javascript”, “performance”] }; };