Astro

Fast sites with SSG/SSR, minimal JS, TypeScript, and client island architecture.

Client island examples use React (@astrojs/react). For Vue, Svelte, or Solid islands, replace <ReactComp client:load /> with your framework's component — the directive syntax (client:load, client:visible, client:idle) is identical.

When to Use

• Static sites (SSG), server-rendered (SSR), or hybrid
• Content-focused sites (blogs, docs, marketing)
• Partial hydration with islands

Don't use for:

• Full SPAs (use react)
• Client-heavy apps with constant state
• Real-time dashboards with WebSockets

Critical Patterns

✅ REQUIRED: Detect Project Type First

Check astro.config.mjs for project type before coding.

// SSG-only (no adapter) -- default
export default defineConfig({ output: 'static' });

// SSR (has adapter)
export default defineConfig({ output: 'server', adapter: node() });

// Hybrid (SSG default, opt-in SSR per page)
export default defineConfig({ output: 'hybrid', adapter: node() });

// WRONG: Using SSR patterns (prerender: false, Astro.locals) in SSG-only project

✅ REQUIRED: Use .astro Components by Default

---
interface Props { title: string; }
const { title } = Astro.props;
---
<h1>{title}</h1>

<!-- WRONG: React for static content (unnecessary JS) -->
<!-- <ReactHeader title={title} client:load /> -->

✅ REQUIRED: Client Directives Sparingly

<!-- CORRECT: Only interactive components get JS -->
<Counter client:load />
<StaticContent /> <!-- No directive = zero JS -->

<!-- WRONG: Everything hydrated -->
<Header client:load />
<Footer client:load />

✅ REQUIRED: getStaticPaths for Dynamic Routes (SSG)

export async function getStaticPaths() {
  const posts = await getPosts();
  return posts.map((post) => ({
    params: { slug: post.slug },
    props: { post },
  }));
}

✅ REQUIRED: SSR with prerender: false

---
export const prerender = false; // Requires adapter
const user = Astro.locals.user;
const data = await fetchUserData(user.id);
---
<h1>Welcome, {user.name}</h1>

✅ REQUIRED: Configure Output Mode

// astro.config.mjs
// SSG (default): all pages pre-rendered at build
export default defineConfig({ output: 'static' });
// SSR: all pages server-rendered
export default defineConfig({ output: 'server', adapter: node() });
// Hybrid: SSG default, opt-in SSR per page
export default defineConfig({ output: 'hybrid', adapter: node() });

Decision Tree

No adapter (SSG-only)?
  → see ssg-patterns.md

Has adapter + output: 'server'?
  → see ssr-patterns.md

Has adapter + output: 'hybrid'?
  → see hybrid-strategies.md

Adding interactivity?
  → see client-directives.md

Managing content (blog, docs)?
  → see content-collections.md

Building forms?
  → see actions.md

Smooth page transitions or faster navigation?
  → see client-navigation.md

Auth or request logging?
  → see middleware.md

API keys or secrets?
  → see env-variables.md

Dynamic routes with known paths?
  → getStaticPaths (SSG)

Dynamic routes with user data?
  → prerender: false (SSR)

Immediate interaction?
  → client:load

Below fold interaction?
  → client:visible

Non-critical interaction?
  → client:idle

Example

SSG Blog Post

---
// src/pages/blog/[slug].astro
interface Props { post: { title: string; content: string }; }
export async function getStaticPaths() {
  const posts = await getPosts();
  return posts.map((post) => ({ params: { slug: post.slug }, props: { post } }));
}
const { post } = Astro.props;
---
<article>
  <h1>{post.title}</h1>
  <div set:html={post.content} />
</article>

SSR Dashboard

---
// src/pages/dashboard.astro
export const prerender = false;
const user = Astro.locals.user;
const data = await fetchUserData(user.id);
---
<h1>Welcome, {user.name}</h1>
<p>Last login: {data.lastLogin}</p>

Hybrid Config

// astro.config.mjs
import { defineConfig } from "astro/config";
import node from "@astrojs/node";
export default defineConfig({
  output: "hybrid",
  adapter: node({ mode: "standalone" }),
});
// index.astro -> SSG (default)
// profile.astro -> SSR (export const prerender = false)

Edge Cases

• SSG-only errors: No adapter → prerender: false/Astro.locals/POST fail build.
• SSR needs adapter: Install adapter (node/vercel/netlify) for output: 'server'/'hybrid'.
• getStaticPaths in SSR: Skip when prerender: false (routes render on request).
• Hybrid default: Pages default SSG; set prerender: false only for SSR.
• Env variables: PUBLIC_ prefix for client-side, no prefix for server.
• Client directives: Work in both SSG and SSR.
• Migration SSG→SSR: Install adapter, set output 'hybrid', add prerender: false per page.
• Architecture: Apply Clean Architecture/SOLID only with complex server logic. See architecture-patterns SKILL.md.

Checklist

• Project type detected from astro.config.mjs before writing code
• .astro components used by default; React only for interactivity
• Client directives used sparingly (client:load, client:visible, client:idle)
• getStaticPaths used for dynamic SSG routes
• prerender: false only on SSR pages with adapter installed
• Semantic HTML with proper heading hierarchy
• Minimal runtime JavaScript

Resources

• references/ -- SSG, SSR, hybrid, client directives, content, actions, middleware, client navigation, env
• https://docs.astro.build/
• https://docs.astro.build/en/guides/client-side-scripts/