Going Beyond Jekyll: Static Site Generation with Javascript

There's finally a new VicJS meetup scheduled! And we have a new location too...

Talk: Going Beyond Jekyll: Static Site Generation with Javascript

When it comes to building out content based websites, you can’t beat static files. Static pages are cheap to host, simple to code, simple to cache, and easy to optimize for performance. You get files that can be hosted on any basic web server, or even online for free through services like Github pages or Surge.sh.

Very few people actually go through the trouble of coding every page from scratch, and this is where static site generators fill in the gaps. They make it easy to take raw content (usually formatted as simple markdown documents) and run it through templates, including partials for common elements (such as navigation and headers), and combine it all into a folder of static files that can be uploaded just about anywhere.

In the last few years, Jekyll emerged and paved the way for static site generation, establishing itself as the go-to tool for many developers who wanted to create simpler sites. However, integrating Jekyll also means adding some Ruby to your tech stack, which can increase the complexity when getting started. Since there’s a good chance you’re already using other javascript based build tools, why not keep the generator itself in the same wheelhouse?

Like the rest of the JS ecosystem, there are a range of options available! During this short talk, we’ll explore a couple of different directions: from rolling your own alongside an existing build tool, to making use of something more feature rich. By the end, you should have a strong grasp of the tools available and may feel inspired to try a couple of them out for yourself.

Speaker: Jem Bezooyen

Jem is a full stack web developer working at Sendwithus who's been making things on the web since before CSS was even a thing. Javascript is often his language of choice, but he enjoys anything with a functional tilt. When not coding, he’s been known to sip on whiskey, go for bike rides, or play some games with friends.

NEW LOCATION:

The meetup is now being hosted at KANO/APPS. Thanks very much to them for hosting us!

202- 844 Courtney St. Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1C4

Please show up between 6:45 PM and 7 PM to get in. There's a strict RSVP limit of 20 people, so if you change your plans, please update your RSVP...