Evolution of Technical Architecture

Original Intent: The Days of Choosing Laravel

In the initial conception stage of the project, we chose Laravel as our first technical solution. This choice was based on several considerations:

• Laravel is a mature full-stack framework that can quickly build complete websites
• The powerful Blade template engine can help us quickly build pages
• Complete user authentication and permission management system
• Active community and rich ecosystem

Using Laravel, we indeed quickly built the first version of the website. But as time went on, we encountered some challenges:

• Dynamic rendering led to less than ideal page loading speeds
• Relatively high server resource consumption
• Content updates required redeploying the entire application
• Development experience wasn’t modern enough

Transformation: Embracing VitePress

In the process of finding solutions, we discovered VitePress. This Vue-based static site generator caught our attention:

Why Choose VitePress?

• Ultra-fast development server based on Vite
• Out-of-the-box Markdown support
• Clean and elegant default theme
• Completely static site generation
• Flexible use of Vue components

After using VitePress, we indeed solved some problems:

• Page loading speed improved significantly
• Development experience improved greatly
• Markdown writing experience was smooth
• Deployment and maintenance costs decreased

But as the project developed, we also encountered new challenges:

• Customization needs were difficult to meet
• Dynamic content processing capabilities were limited
• Build time increased with content growth
• Support for non-Vue technology stacks wasn’t friendly enough

Metamorphosis: Astro’s New Era

In our continuous exploration, we encountered Astro, and this “new web architecture” immediately caught our attention.

Innovations Brought by Astro

1. Performance First

   • Zero JavaScript by default experience
   • Smart component loading strategy
   • Ultimate page loading performance

2. Flexible Technology Stack

   • Support for multi-framework components (React, Vue, Svelte, etc.)
   • Powerful integration system
   • Flexible API design

3. Development Experience

   • Intuitive file routing system
   • Powerful content collections feature
   • Excellent TypeScript support
   • Fast development environment

Gains from Migration

After migrating to Astro, we achieved significant improvements:

1. Performance Improvements

   • First screen loading time reduced by 70%
   • Page interactions became more fluid
   • SEO effects improved

2. Development Efficiency

   • Build time shortened by 50%
   • Code reusability increased
   • Team collaboration became smoother

3. User Experience

   • Faster page transitions
   • Better accessibility
   • Smoother reading experience

Reflections on Technology Selection

This experience of technical evolution has given us a deep understanding that:

1. There’s no perfect technology stack, only the most suitable choice

   • Choose technology based on project requirements
   • Maintain an open attitude toward new technologies
   • Don’t be afraid of change and refactoring

2. Balance between performance and development efficiency

   • The fastest technology isn’t necessarily the best
   • Consider team learning costs
   • Weigh maintenance difficulty

3. User experience is always first

   • Performance is the foundation of user experience
   • Functions should serve user needs
   • Simple is often better than complex

Future Outlook

The evolution of technology never ends, and our exploration will continue:

• Continuously optimize build processes
• Explore better content management solutions
• Improve development experience
• Embrace new web standards

Experience Summary

1. Maintain an Open Mindset

   • Technology updates and iterations are fast
   • Need to continuously learn and try
   • Don’t stick to existing solutions

2. Focus on Core Requirements

   • Technology is a tool to achieve goals
   • Don’t do technology for technology’s sake
   • Always revolve around user needs

3. Value Team Collaboration

   • Technology selection should consider team factors
   • Maintain good documentation habits
   • Encourage knowledge sharing

This journey of technical evolution is not just about framework changes, but also our exploration of the eternal question of “how to better serve users.” In this process, we continuously learn, adjust, and progress, and this is the most meaningful part of technological development.