Unlock the Power of Jamstack with Elder.js
In the world of web development, Jamstack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markup) has revolutionized the way we build, deploy, and power web applications. By pre-rendering HTML into static files, Jamstack sites offer unparalleled speed, security, and scalability. Among the many static site generators (SSGs) available, Elder.js stands out as a game-changer for building complex, data-intensive websites with a focus on SEO.
What is Elder.js?
Elder.js is a Svelte-based framework designed to build static sites of any size, without worrying about the number of pages or amount of data involved. Born out of the need for a more viable solution to building complex, data-oriented, search-optimized apps, Elder.js offers a pluggable static site generator/server-side rendered framework with SEO as a top priority.
Key Features of Elder.js
- Optimized and customizable build process, utilizing multiple CPU cores
- Svelte templates with partial hydration for reduced payloads and component lazy loading
- Intuitive data layer with support for multiple data sources
- Prioritized support for server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG)
- Pre-built hooks for easy page customization at every step of the development process
Getting Started with Elder.js
To begin, you’ll need to be familiar with Svelte and have a basic understanding of building minimal applications with this web framework. While knowledge of Jamstack and static site generation is helpful, it’s not necessary to get started.
Exploring the Elder.js Template
The Elder.js template provides a solid foundation for building complex websites. By cloning the template from the GitHub repo, you can quickly get started with Elder.js. The template includes a pre-configured file structure, making it easy to navigate and customize.
Elder.js Routing
Elder.js routing offers a unique approach, providing full control over URL structure and eliminating the need to crawl all links on a site to determine which pages need to be generated. Routes consist of two files: a Svelte component used as a template and a route.js file defining route details such as permalink, all, and data functions.
Elder.js Hooks
Hooks are a powerful feature in Elder.js, allowing you to customize the core page generation process. By bundling and sharing hooks as plugins, you can extend the functionality of Elder.js apps. The hook system is based on a hookInterface, defining what each hook can do and the properties they have.
Elder.js Plugins
Plugins are groups of hooks and/or routes that can be used to add extra functionality to an Elder.js site. By registering plugins in the elder.config.js file, you can load them from the entry point of an npm package. Official plugins are available, and you can also write your own plugins using the Elder.js plugin template.
Conclusion
Elder.js is a powerful tool for building complex, data-intensive websites with a focus on SEO. By leveraging the Jamstack architecture, Elder.js offers a novel approach to web development, providing unparalleled speed, security, and scalability. With its optimized build process, intuitive data layer, and customizable hooks, Elder.js is an ideal choice for building elegant and heavily data-intensive static sites.