This month we’re putting the spotlight on Astro - a modern site builder that’s gaining fans for being both powerful and approachable. We’ve got two talks lined up: one from a fresh pair of eyes exploring the basics, and one from someone testing its limits in a high-traffic, real-world setting. Whether you’re Astro-curious or already building with it, there’s something here for you.
Talk 1
Steve Marks - A Beginner's Journey with Astro: Why It Just Clicks
Getting started with a new framework can feel overwhelming—but Astro makes that first step surprisingly smooth. In this 15-minute talk, Steve shares his early experiences learning Astro and how it compares to other popular tools like 11ty and Next.js. Through the lens of a curious beginner, he’ll highlight:
- What makes Astro uniquely approachable (especially for those familiar with HTML and components)
- How it stacks up against 11ty’s simplicity and Next.js’s power
- Why Astro’s "islands architecture" and framework flexibility offer a friendly on-ramp to building modern, fast websites
Whether you’re exploring static site generators for the first time or looking for a simpler alternative to more complex setups, this talk offers a down-to-earth perspective on choosing the right tool for the job—and having fun while doing it.
Bio:
Steve is a freelance web developer and digital educator who specialises in building fast, accessible websites using modern tools like WordPress, Astro, and Tailwind CSS. With a background in teaching and a passion for making web development approachable, he’s currently exploring the strengths and tradeoffs of static site generators and modern frameworks from a beginner-friendly perspective.
Talk 2
Tim Lewis - CTO at Planet Sport
Can Astro power the next generation of news media websites?
A dive into Astro and the answers to the question of how it stacks up against other frameworks for powering large media websites.
Bio:
As Chief Technology Officer of Planet Sport Group, Tim leads tech teams that build digital products which entertain and engage over 25 million sports fans every month.
Or if it needs to be less corporate ...
Hi, I'm Tim. I've been a technology enthusiast for most of my life. I learned to code at age 8-9 on a ZX-81 then Spectrum 48k and have done coding most of my life in one form or another. I am the co-founder of the Leeds rust meetup and still keep my hand in on javascript things. ;)
