Eleventy (or 11ty) is a fantastic static site generator that's simple, flexible, and incredibly fast. If you're looking to build a blog, documentation site, or any static website, Eleventy is an excellent choice.
Why Eleventy?
Here are some reasons why I love working with Eleventy:
- Simple & Flexible: Works with multiple template languages
- Fast Build Times: Incredibly quick, even for large sites
- No Client-Side JavaScript Required: Pure static HTML by default
- Great Documentation: Easy to learn and well-documented
- Active Community: Lots of plugins and starter templates available
Basic Setup
Getting started with Eleventy is straightforward. Here's a quick overview:
# Install Eleventy
npm install @11ty/eleventy
# Create a simple template
echo '# Hello World' > index.md
# Run Eleventy
npx @11ty/eleventy --serve
That's it! You now have a working Eleventy site.
Key Concepts
Layouts
Layouts are templates that wrap your content. They're perfect for creating consistent page structures.
Collections
Collections let you group related content together. For a blog, you'd typically have a "posts" collection.
Filters
Filters transform data in your templates. For example, formatting dates or truncating text.
Next Steps
Now that you know the basics, here are some things to explore:
- Add styling with your favorite CSS framework
- Create custom filters for your specific needs
- Explore plugins to extend functionality
- Deploy to GitHub Pages, Netlify, or Vercel
Conclusion
Eleventy strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and power. It gets out of your way and lets you focus on creating content.
Happy building!
Need help? Ask me!