Deployment and Extensive Analysis of GatsbyJS Skip to main content

Extensive Analysis of GatsbyJS

Saurabh Dhariwal

Saurabh Dhariwal

4 Minutes
Deployment and Extensive Analysis of GatsbyJS

Increased usage of GatsbyJS over the years

Static websites are now decreasing in importance, and over the recent years dynamic websites are now essentially taking over. In view of enhancing the performance, several organizations in the market are now moving towards the static site generators that seamlessly works with Content Management Systems. 

 

But there is a static site generator that has caught the imaginations of many customers, and that is GatsbyJS. GatsbyJS Development is currently in full swing in many companies and professionals are understanding its instrumental importance. It is also a known fact that over 60% of the developers prefer to use SSGs over other frameworks. 

 

A static site generator or SSG is a mutual understanding between a hand-coded static website and a full-blown Content Management System. Using this, you would be able to generate HTML websites using the Metadata and other templates. The result would then be transferred over to the live server for deployment.  

 

This is the reason we would be focusing on understanding the increased deployment and usage of this framework called the GatsbyJS.

GatsbyJS – An Introduction

GatsbyJS is a comprehensive static Progressive Web App generator. The codes and data would then be generated by splitting it. Gatsby would only focus on loading the data that is vital for the site, and this includes HTML, CSS, metadata, and JavaScript. It would, therefore, contribute to loading your website at a swiffer rate than ever before. Once the site is loaded, GatsbyJS would then prefetch the resources for other different pages thereby making the site extremely light and fast.

 

It is also quite important for the companies as well since they would be looking for results and not rely on frameworks that would not suit the purpose. GatsbyJS suits the bill perfectly by providing all there is for the betterment of the websites, and for the companies as well. The primary advantage that is provided by this framework would be that it lets you build websites faster. The generation of pages is possible instantaneously, you can even pre-build them and can be set up on the cloud. This can then be delivered to users with limited issues. 

 

Boris Shiklo, the Chief Technical Officer of ScienceSoft is a proficient Gatsby user and adds, “Gatsby provides support for progressive image loading and responsive image loading simultaneously which is a commendable asset to have.” Progressive Image Loading means that the blurry version of the image would be loaded before the final image is loaded on the screen. Responsive Image Loading is the flexible image sizing that would depend on the device in current use. 

 

Another important advantage provided by GatsbyJS would be its scalability factor on the internet. It essentially makes do with the complex database and servers that take up a lot of capital, maintenance costs, and other things. The website is built via static files which are pretty easy in terms of deployment and can then be used for providing boundless number of services.

Why are Companies adopting GatsbyJS?

Many of the GatsbyJS Development companies are now hiring resources in numbers to extract the most out of this tool. Boris Shiklo explains, “The increasing popularity is mainly attributable to the increased popularity of the React on which it is based.” The resources are already available for the developers so that they can work with the React framework with zero problems. 

 

  • The technological foundations are strong that have helped in the seamless functionality of the system. 
  • The tool is available to download for free and it's an open-source framework that has been documented well and also has a formidable community network. 
  • The community is also vital for the developers as they would be looking out for answers with respect to multiple queries. 
  • Companies around the world are using tech stacks consisting of ReactJS, Webpack, GraphQL, and JavaScript mostly. 
  • All these technologies are mainly known by the frontend developers. 
  • Companies would be able to save up a lot of time and capital immensely when they want to hire GatsbyJS developers. 

Deepu Prakash, the SVP for Process and Technology in Innovation at New York agrees with the fact that, “With Gatsby, developers would be able to jump in and out without much of a learning curve as they already know and are equipped with the tech stack on which Gatsby was built upon.”

 

Also, GatsbyJS can be added to multiple other functionalities which include responsive imaging, offline feature, source data from the CMS and other data markup formats, etc. Even third-party applications like Google Analytics and other apps can be added for effortless functionality. 

 

As a framework, GatsbyJS is very much flexible and websites that are created out of it would match with the latest standards of the web which is best for everyone. This is the reason that GatsbyJS is essentially a commendable solution for all of the multinational firms on many counts. Also, the addition of a headless CMS adds a bonus factor when it is paired with the Static Site Generator. 

The Combination of Headless CMS and GatsbyJS

While it is important to know that GatsbyJS has increased in popularity over the years, the addition of a headless CMS has added value to it. A headless CMS is a content management system that is managed via backend only and it needs to be built from the ground up. It can be therefore built as a content database via the RESTful API so that it can be displayed on multiple devices. The headless mainly refers to the fact that there is no frontend involved in this type of method and only the body is involved. 

 

Dean McPherson, the Co-Founder of Enmore indicates that “Gatsby is a static site generator which means that the website generation is completely different from the serving of the website.” This means that CMS would be able to store up the content of the website and the static site generators would be able to pull it up right after the site is constructed. The process can, therefore, be automated to trigger as per the content changes are done within the content management system. McPherson also adds that even after the content is updated, the website would be re-built accordingly, and changes would be present.

 

Headless CMS system is also advantageous for those who are non-developers like the writers, content managers, editors and marketing specialists to handle. The plugins that are provided are pretty straightforward to understand. Since they support CMS options like WordPress, Contentful, Sanity, etc. the usage, therefore, becomes fairly simple. 
Without the use of a headless CMS system, the content would be managed using the Metadata itself. This would pose a challenge to the non-technical personnel in the Company, and therefore regular updates on the website might pose a problem. The site would be fast owing to GatsbyJS, but the marketing team would be left essentially clueless since the options available for updating content on the website would be limited. 

 

This is the reason, the headless CMS and GatsbyJS act as perfect amalgamating factors for increasing the performance of your website. Companies are therefore understanding the importance of using them both together and are going down that path. Many other GatsbyJS Development services are now being provided owing to the popularity of the framework. It essentially gives the companies, a truly global digital experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GatsbyJS, and why should I consider using it for my website?

GatsbyJS is like a magical wand for web development. It's a modern framework that uses React to build super-fast websites. Consider it if you want a site that's not just functional but also blazingly quick.

How does GatsbyJS handle website deployment, and why is it special?

Think of deployment as launching a spaceship. GatsbyJS makes it easy with its build command. Once you're ready, it generates static files that you can deploy anywhere, making your website agile and efficient.

Can I deploy my GatsbyJS website to different hosting providers?

Absolutely! GatsbyJS is like a versatile traveller. You can deploy your site to popular hosting providers like Netlify, Vercel, or even traditional platforms like AWS or GitHub Pages. It's all about choosing the right journey for your website.

How does GatsbyJS optimize website performance during deployment?

GatsbyJS is all about speed. During deployment, it optimizes your site by creating static HTML files, prefetching links, and using smart techniques to ensure your visitors get a lightning-fast experience.

Can I integrate my GatsbyJS website with Content Management Systems (CMS)?

Absolutely! GatsbyJS plays well with CMS platforms like WordPress, Contentful, and others. It's like having your favourite tools in one toolbox, making content management a breeze.

What is the role of GraphQL in GatsbyJS, and how does it enhance data fetching?

Think of GraphQL as a data superhero. GatsbyJS uses GraphQL to fetch data efficiently. It allows you to request exactly the data you need, making your website's performance smoother and faster.

How does GatsbyJS handle images and optimize them for better performance?

GatsbyJS is like a photo editor for your website. It optimizes images during build time, ensuring they are in the right format and size. This not only makes your site load faster but also saves bandwidth.

Can I add dynamic functionalities to my GatsbyJS website, or is it just for static sites?

GatsbyJS is not just for static sites. It's like a shape-shifter. While it generates static files during the build, you can add dynamic functionalities using client-side JavaScript, making your site interactive and engaging.