Astro
A content-first web framework that ships zero JavaScript by default and supports any UI framework.
The best choice for content sites, blogs and marketing pages — fast by default, and its content collections are a joy for data-driven sites (this library runs on them). Bring React only where you actually need it.
Astro is a framework built for content-heavy sites. It renders to static HTML by default and ships no JavaScript unless you explicitly opt in — its "islands" architecture lets you drop a React, Vue or Svelte component in only where interactivity is actually needed. Content collections give you a typed, file-based data layer that is ideal for catalogues, blogs and docs.
Start with this
# scaffold a new project
npm create astro@latest
# add an integration only when you need it
npx astro add react tailwindThe take, for AI builders
For AI builders this is the pragmatic default for anything content-shaped — a portfolio, a blog, a resource library like this one. You write mostly HTML and markdown, so agents produce clean, predictable output, and you avoid shipping a megabyte of JS for a brochure site. Choose Next.js instead when the project is a genuine web app with lots of client state.
When to reach for it
✓ Good fit
- Content sites, blogs, docs, marketing and catalogue pages
- You want top-tier performance and SEO with minimal effort
- Data-driven pages from local files (content collections)
✕ Not for
- Highly interactive, app-like products with heavy client state
- You want one framework's full-stack conventions end to end (Next.js)
Alternatives
Better for app-like products with lots of interactivity and server logic.
Even lighter and JS-optional if you want a pure static generator.
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