From SSR to SSG: Why Astro Makes Sites Feel Instant
How static-first builds, islands, and smart hydration improve performance and maintainability for content-heavy sites.
SSG as the default
Static generation removes server latency for most pages and slashes infrastructure complexity. With Astro, you still get interactivity by hydrating only the components that need it.
When SSG shines
- Marketing and content pages
- Blogs and documentation
- Product catalogs and landing pages
Islands and partial hydration
Hydrate only the interactive bits and keep everything else HTML‑first. This minimizes JS, improves Core Web Vitals, and simplifies caching.
What to keep as SSR
- Auth‑gated dashboards
- Personalized feeds with real‑time data
- Write‑heavy applications
Migration tips
- Audit routes and classify by rendering mode (SSG by default)
- Start with highest‑traffic templates; measure before/after
- Use
client:visibleorclient:idlefor non‑critical interactivity - Push caching to the edge; purge on content updates
Conclusion
SSG + islands gives you the best of both worlds: instant‑feeling pages and maintainable code. Reserve SSR for what truly needs it.
Want a migration plan tailored to your site? We can help sequence changes for maximum impact.
Related posts
Core Web Vitals for Astro: practical fixes that stick
Real-world tactics to improve LCP, CLS, and INP on static-first sites without sacrificing UX.
Routing performance budgets through your pipeline
Keep builds fast by enforcing image, script, and CSS budgets in CI for Astro sites.
