At Bramble, we understand that websites must be more than just visually appealing. They need to be fast, efficient, maintainable, and ultimately be able to hit targets. I could go on and on about what a website needs to be and what you should aim to get out of it. Maybe I’ll write another article about that, but back to my original point, what was I on about again? Ah yes, we understand what is required of a website down to its core, but when building the Bramble website, we decided to challenge ourselves and develop it in something entirely new to us, Astro. We’ve wanted to try it out for a while now, so this seemed like the perfect project to put our skills to the test and give Astro, a modern static site generator, the chance to align with our needs. “But why was it the right choice?” I hear you asking with a slight tone of desperation in your tone? Believe it or not, I’m about to answer that!
Why Astro?
Astro is a modern front-end framework designed for building fast, lightweight websites. While it works as a static site generator (SSG) by default, it also supports server-side rendering (SSR) and hybrid approaches, making it more versatile than many traditional SSGs.
We wanted a simple yet powerful framework that would allow us to showcase our studio’s portfolio without unnecessary complexity. Astro stood out because:
- It’s a static site generator by default, meaning our site is built using highly optimised static HTML.
- We don’t need a CMS since we’re developers ourselves, and Astro allows us to manage content directly within our codebase.
- It provides blazing-fast performance - both in development and in the final output.
- It offers flexible rendering options, meaning if we ever needed dynamic content, Astro could handle it without requiring a complete rebuild in another framework.
Performance and developer experience
Performance is a key factor in modern web development, and Astro delivers:
Optimised page speed
Astro’s approach of rendering static pages and hydrating only necessary components (via its islands architecture) minimises JavaScript load and improves site performance.
Serverless-friendly
Since Astro compiles into lightweight static files, it’s ideal for serverless deployments and can scale effortlessly.
Flexible rendering
While we built our site as a static portfolio, Astro also offers Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and hybrid approaches, making it adaptable for future expansion with API-driven content or personalisation.
Beyond performance, the developer experience is fantastic:
- Tailwind CSS support allows for seamless styling.
- View transitions & responsive image components are built-in, reducing the need for third-party dependencies.
- The dev toolbar provides real-time insights, helping catch errors and accessibility warnings early in the process.
- Great documentation makes onboarding and troubleshooting straightforward.
Best use cases for Astro
While we chose to use Astro for a static portfolio site, its capabilities extend far beyond that. Astro can be a great fit for:
- Portfolio Sites - Simple sites showcasing work (e.g., designers, photographers, freelancers).
- Business Brochure Sites - Basic information about a company without frequent updates.
- Landing Pages - Marketing pages for products or services.
- Documentation Sites - Technical manuals, guides, or FAQs.
- Event Pages - One-time event promotions with fixed details.
- Personal Blogs (Without CMS) - Static-generated blog pages without databases.
- Hybrid Applications - Websites that combine static and dynamic elements using SSR where needed.
- E-commerce with Personalisation - Astro’s SSR capabilities can be useful for small online stores requiring dynamic product recommendations.
We understand Astro won’t be a solution for every website, but already, I can think of great ideas that will benefit our existing clients and open up new market opportunities. Astro’s flexibility makes it a powerful tool, whether purely static, fully dynamic, or somewhere in between.
Final thoughts
Astro has proven to be the perfect tool for our needs at Bramble - a simple, fast, and efficient framework that allows us to focus on building great experiences. But what makes it exciting is that it’s not just a static site generator - it’s a versatile frontend framework that can grow with different project needs. If you’re looking for a modern approach to web development, whether for static sites, hybrid applications, or dynamic web experiences, Astro is well worth considering!