Getting Started with Astro: A Comprehensive Guide

astro web-development tutorial

By Sarah Chen David Kim

January 15, 2024

Getting Started with Astro

Astro is a modern web framework that delivers fast, content-focused websites. In this guide, we’ll explore the fundamentals of building with Astro.

Why Choose Astro?

Astro stands out for its unique approach to building websites:

  • Zero JavaScript by default: Only ship the JavaScript you need
  • Component Islands: Hydrate interactive components on demand
  • Framework agnostic: Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework

Your First Astro Project

Getting started is simple. First, create a new project:

npm create astro@latest

Follow the prompts to set up your project structure.

Building Pages

Astro pages live in the src/pages/ directory and use the .astro extension:

---
const title = "My Page";
---

<html>
  <head>
    <title>{title}</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Welcome to Astro!</h1>
  </body>
</html>

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, explore:

  • Content collections for managing markdown
  • Component frameworks integration
  • Deployment options

Happy building with Astro!