Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones. Here's why I chose to build a static website instead of reaching for a heavy framework.

Why Static?

In an era of JavaScript frameworks and complex build pipelines, static sites offer refreshing simplicity:

  • Performance - No server-side processing means lightning-fast page loads
  • Security - No database or server-side code means fewer attack vectors
  • Reliability - Static files are incredibly stable and easy to host
  • Cost - Hosting static sites is cheap (often free)

The Tools

For this site, I chose Eleventy as my static site generator. It's:

  • Fast and flexible
  • Works with multiple template languages
  • Has a great plugin ecosystem
  • Minimal configuration needed

The Stack

Here's what powers this site:

  • Eleventy - Static site generation
  • Nunjucks - Templating
  • CSS Custom Properties - Theming and dark mode
  • JavaScript - For theme switching and interactivity

No frameworks, no complex build processes, just clean HTML, CSS, and minimal JavaScript.

Benefits I've Seen

Since launching with this approach:

  • Pages load in milliseconds
  • The site works perfectly without JavaScript
  • Hosting costs are minimal
  • Updates are simple and fast

Static sites are perfect for:

  • Blogs and portfolios
  • Documentation sites
  • Marketing pages
  • Any content that doesn't need real-time data

Not every project needs a complex framework. Sometimes, a well-built static site is exactly what you need.