Next.js is a React-based framework that supports multiple rendering methods, including static site generation (SSG), server-side rendering (SSR), and client-side rendering (CSR). This flexibility allows developers to choose the best rendering strategy for each page, enabling a hybrid approach that can optimize performance and SEO while still supporting dynamic content.

Astro is a modern static site generator that focuses on delivering the least amount of JavaScript to the client. It supports partial hydration, meaning only the interactive components of a page are hydrated with JavaScript, while the rest remains static. This approach significantly improves performance and reduces the overall JavaScript footprint of the site.

Gatsby is a static site generator that uses a GraphQL data layer to fetch and compile data from various sources at build time. It generates fully static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, optimizing them for performance. Gatsby is known for its rich plugin ecosystem, which allows for extensive customization and functionality enhancement during the build process.

Eleventy is a static site generator that pre-renders all pages at build time, generating pure HTML files. It does not impose any specific rendering model, allowing developers to choose how and when content is generated. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of projects, from simple blogs to complex documentation sites.

Next.js supports data fetching at build time (SSG) and runtime (SSR) using standard JavaScript. It provides several methods for fetching data, including getStaticProps for static generation, getServerSideProps for server-side rendering, and getStaticPaths for dynamic routes. This flexibility allows developers to choose the best data fetching strategy for their needs.

Astro supports data fetching at build time using JavaScript and Markdown. You can fetch data in your components or pages, and Astro will compile it into static HTML during the build process. Astro’s architecture allows for efficient data fetching, and it encourages using the least amount of JavaScript necessary, making it performance-friendly.

Gatsby uses GraphQL to fetch data from various sources (APIs, CMS, files) at build time. Developers define data queries in their components, and Gatsby automatically fetches and compiles the data during the build process. This approach allows for highly optimized and structured data handling, making it easy to work with complex data sources.

Eleventy allows data fetching at build time using JavaScript, JSON, or front matter in markdown files. It does not have a built-in data fetching API, giving developers the freedom to implement their own data fetching logic. This makes it highly flexible but requires more manual setup compared to other frameworks.

Next.js has a robust ecosystem of plugins and integrations, particularly within the React community. While it may not have as many out-of-the-box plugins as Gatsby, Next.js supports a wide range of third-party tools and libraries, and its flexibility allows developers to create custom plugins and integrations as needed.

Astro has a rapidly expanding plugin ecosystem, especially for integrations that enhance performance, SEO, and content management. While it is still growing, Astro’s architecture allows for easy creation and integration of plugins, making it flexible for developers to extend its functionality as needed.

Gatsby boasts a large and mature plugin ecosystem with thousands of plugins and themes available. This extensive ecosystem allows developers to easily add functionality, optimize performance, and integrate with various third-party services, making Gatsby highly customizable and versatile for a wide range of projects.

Eleventy has a growing ecosystem of plugins, but it is not as extensive as those of some other frameworks. The simplicity of Eleventy allows for easy integration of custom plugins and third-party tools, but developers may need to create more specialized solutions themselves.

Next.js offers several performance optimization features, including automatic code splitting, image optimization, and static site generation. Next.js also supports incremental static regeneration (ISR), allowing pages to be updated in the background without rebuilding the entire site, which can significantly improve performance for large applications.

Astro is designed with performance in mind, prioritizing the delivery of static content and minimizing JavaScript. It automatically optimizes images, supports lazy loading, and allows for fine-grained control over which components are hydrated, resulting in faster load times and improved overall performance.

Gatsby provides extensive performance optimization features out of the box, including automatic code splitting, image optimization, prefetching, and lazy loading. Gatsby’s build process is highly optimized for speed, and its plugin ecosystem includes many tools for further enhancing performance.

Eleventy focuses on generating fast, static HTML with minimal configuration. It does not include built-in performance optimizations, but its output is lightweight and efficient. Developers can implement their own optimizations, such as image compression and lazy loading, as needed.

Next.js is known for its developer-friendly experience, especially for those familiar with React. Its hybrid rendering capabilities and API routes provide a lot of flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Example of a simple Next.js project structure:

my-next-site/
├── pages/
│   ├── index.js
│   └── about.js
├── public/
│   └── images/
└── next.config.js

• pages/index.js: A React component that will be rendered at the root URL.
• pages/about.js: Another page component.
• public/images/: A directory for static assets.
• next.config.js: Configuration file for customizing Next.js behavior.

To build the site, run:

next build

Astro provides a modern and intuitive development experience, especially for those familiar with component-based architectures. Its support for multiple front-end frameworks and focus on performance make it appealing to developers. Example of a simple Astro project structure:

my-astro-site/
├── src/
│   ├── pages/
│   │   └── index.astro
│   └── components/
│       └── MyComponent.astro
└── astro.config.mjs

• src/pages/index.astro: A page component that will be rendered at the root URL.
• src/components/MyComponent.astro: A reusable component.
• astro.config.mjs: Configuration file for your Astro project.

To build the site, run:

astro build

Gatsby offers a powerful and feature-rich development environment, but its reliance on GraphQL for data fetching can have a learning curve for new users. The extensive documentation and active community help mitigate this. Example of a simple Gatsby project structure:

my-gatsby-site/
├── gatsby-config.js
├── src/
│   ├── pages/
│   │   └── index.js
│   └── components/
│       └── MyComponent.js
└── static/
    └── images/

• gatsby-config.js: Configuration file where you can set up plugins, themes, and site metadata.
• src/pages/index.js: A React component that will be rendered at the root URL.
• src/components/MyComponent.js: A reusable React component.
• static/images/: A directory for static assets like images.

To build the site, run:

gatsby build

Eleventy is known for its simplicity and ease of use, especially for developers familiar with HTML and templating. Its minimal configuration and flexible templating system make it accessible for beginners while still being powerful enough for advanced users. Example of a simple Eleventy project structure:

my-eleventy-site/
├── .eleventy.js
├── index.md
└── about/
    └── index.md

• .eleventy.js: Configuration file where you can customize Eleventy’s behavior.
• index.md: A markdown file that will be converted to HTML.
• about/index.md: A nested directory with another markdown file.

To build the site, run:

eleventy