Building Static HTML Pages with JSX Server-Side Rendering

Introduction

Have you ever visited a website that took forever to load? Frustrating, isn't it? Fast loading times and smooth user experiences aren't just nice-to-haves—they're essential for keeping visitors around and ranking high on search engines. Server-Side Rendering (SSR) with JSX presents an effective solution to these challenges. Unlike client-side rendering, where JavaScript constructs the page within the user's browser, SSR generates the complete HTML on the server before sending it to the client. This approach offers significant benefits for performance, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and overall simplicity.

In this article, we'll explore developing static sites with JSX, focusing on the rationale, benefits, and best practices for this development strategy. Whether you're a developer looking to improve website performance, enhance SEO, simplify deployment, or explore new approaches to web development, this guide will provide valuable insights.

Why Choose SSR with JSX for Your Static Sites?

Several key advantages make JSX-based SSR an attractive choice for building static websites.

If you've worked with React before, you'll feel right at home with JSX. It uses a component-based architecture that makes it intuitive to adopt, promoting code reusability and maintainability. The result? Cleaner, more organized projects with quicker development cycles.

Imagine visiting a website and seeing the content instantly—no waiting for JavaScript to piece everything together. That's the power of SSR. By sending fully formed HTML to the browser, users experience faster initial page loads, especially those on slower networks or devices. Faster loading means happier users and lower bounce rates.

Search engines love fully rendered HTML. SSR ensures crawlers receive complete page content upfront, making indexing and ranking your site easier. This translates to better search visibility and a competitive edge.

With SSR, there's less reliance on client-side JavaScript for rendering. This results in smaller payloads and better security since there's less code running in the browser.

Choosing the Right Tool

With so many tools claiming to make web development easier, how do you pick the right one? Join Query, a lightweight framework that simplifies JSX-based SSR without adding unnecessary complexity. Query offers an unusual approach by implementing an optimized JSX transform similar to Deno's JSX precompile transform. This transform prioritizes generating static HTML strings whenever possible, minimizing object creation and garbage collection overhead, resulting in significantly faster rendering times.

Why Choose Query?

Forget the headaches of managing separate backend servers and databases. Query combines both into a single, streamlined system. This means you can write efficient SQL queries directly within your server-side functions, avoiding the complexity of ORMs and database clients. It's all about keeping things simple and efficient.

Built on a highly optimized JavaScript runtime powered by QuickJS, Query offers fast startup times and efficient execution. Its built-in caching mechanism further enhances performance by storing function responses, reducing database load and latency. This focus on speed makes Query a standout choice for server-side rendering, especially in applications with many components.

Query's file-based routing, JSX support, and direct database access reduce boilerplate and configuration. This allows you to focus on what really matters—building your application logic. Its intuitive API ensures that developers of all levels can quickly get up to speed.

Testing your code shouldn't be a chore. Inspired by Jest and Bun's test runner, Query's built-in test suite makes testing seamless. With familiar functions like test, describe, and expect, writing and managing tests without extra tools is easy.

Deploying your app globally is so simple with Query's integration with Fly.io. Using LiteFS for distributed SQLite database replication, you can ensure low-latency access for users across different regions. Say goodbye to complex deployment pipelines.

Query handles asset storage and serving, so you don't need external services like Amazon S3. This keeps your workflow simple and your assets closely tied to your application.

Choosing the right tool for your project involves understanding your specific needs. If you're focused on content-heavy projects like blogs, documentation sites, or landing pages, consider your project's complexity, scalability, and the level of control you want over the development process when evaluating options.

Conclusion

Server-side rendering with JSX offers a compelling approach to building high-performance static HTML websites. By leveraging the component model and optimizing for performance and SEO, you can create fast, scalable, and maintainable sites that provide an excellent user experience. This method is particularly well-suited for projects with predominantly static content, such as blogs, documentation sites, and landing pages.

Whether you're building a blog or a documentation site or just curious about new approaches to web development, SSR with JSX offers plenty of benefits. Why not give Query a try and see how it changes your workflow?

For projects seeking a simple, performant, and readily deployable solution that combines server-side rendering with JSX and direct database access, Query emerges as a strong contender. Its optimized JSX transform contributes to enhanced performance, making it an attractive option for those prioritizing speed and efficiency. While other frameworks might boast larger ecosystems and more mature communities, Query's unique approach streamlines development and deployment, presenting a viable alternative for a wide range of projects.

Disclaimer

As a dyslexic, I rely heavily on AI to help write and organize my blog articles. While I review and shape the content, AI helps me write down my thoughts.

References

• What is dyslexia?
• JSX
• Query Documentation
• Query Database Module
• QuickJS
• rquickjs
• AWS LLRT Modules
• Deno JSX Precompile Transform
• Speeding Up the JavaScript Ecosystem
• Fly.io Documentation
• LiteFS Documentation
• SQLite Documentation
• Jest Documentation
• Bun Test Runner Documentation

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