Eleventy (11ty) is a static site generator (SSG) built on top of Node.js that compiles static website assets (i.e., HTML files) using content inside of various "source" files (e.g., markdown, templates, JSON, etc.). Eleventy provides a platform that helps web developers create organized and DRY codebases through its support for templating languages, a robust templating engine, flexible data models, and plugins.
Eleventy is designed as a zero-configuration platform that provides as much or as little overhead as you would like. This preference for simplicity, combined with a philosophy of tooling agnosticism, offers a flexible and empowering developer experience.
Large websites won't only benefit from what Eleventy offers. Unless you are building the most straightforward low-maintenance websites, odds are that some aspect of Eleventy or another SSG will improve your workflow and codebase.
SSG Ecosystem
Eleventy exists in an expansive ecosystem of SSGs, alongside Next.js, Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, and so many others. In fact, Eleventy might seem like an underdog among these. However, its frequency of updates and thriving community provide me with confidence in using it for my projects.
I don’t plan on covering the similarities and differences between different SSGs in this article. Instead, here's a list of resources you can consult if you're evaluating this type of software.
- Defining metrics that help with static site generator evaluation
- Questions to ask before choosing a static site generator
- A List of Static Site Generators for Jamstack Sites
- Jekyll alternatives: The benefits to JavaScript static site generators
- Comparing Static Site Generator Build Times
My Take
I use Eleventy for a lot of projects
I've used different SSGs in the past, predominantly Jekyll and Hugo. While I enjoyed the ubiquity of Jekyll and the speed of Hugo, what keeps me coming back to Eleventy is its developer experience when used across a spectrum of web projects. About 90% of the projects I work on right now can be built with Eleventy, making it my go-to software for building websites of all shapes and sizes.
The most important advice I would give those choosing software for any project is to be mindful about what you’re choosing and why.
Understand what problems you’re solving, determine which of these are most important, then choose a piece of software that solves your most important problems in an ideal way.
If you're choosing the right tool for the job or at least trying to, that's what matters.
Don't buy into the hype of software X, paradigm Y, or language Z, and instead, focus on understanding your problem domain and using that as your north star.
Getting Started
I plan on writing more about how to use Eleventy for web development projects, but you needn't wait for me to shill my articles when there are so many excellent resources available.
Documentation is always my first stop when learning new software. I start by seeing how the documentation advises I get started and then reach for external resources as needed.
Overall, I think the Eleventy documentation is great. The introductory "Getting Started" resource that I've included hits core concepts at a high level, making it suitable for folks who already have decent technical know-how with similar software.
This course—formerly paid but now free—is currently the best resource for learning how to use Eleventy from the ground up.
Taught by Andy Bell, this course teaches you the ins and outs of Eleventy without glossing over the more minor details.
This tutorial, written by Tatiana Mac, is another excellent resource for anybody getting started with Eleventy. The first part of the series covers how Eleventy fits into the world of SSGs, while the second part goes incredibly deep on installing the software.
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