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Design and front-end frameworks

Canvas Builder + Astro

Astro is a web framework optimised for content-heavy websites that ship zero JavaScript by default. Canvas Builder generates Bootstrap 5 HTML: static markup that maps directly to Astro's component architecture. Together: Canvas Builder for layout, Astro for build optimisation and zero-JS performance.

Use cases

  • Astro static marketing sites with Canvas Builder layouts
  • Content-focused blogs and documentation sites
  • High-performance landing pages with zero client JS
  • Multi-page websites with island architecture
  • SEO-optimised content sites using Bootstrap 5

How it works

  1. Generate your pages with Canvas Builder

    Prompt Canvas Builder for each page of your site: homepage, about, services, blog. Download the Bootstrap 5 HTML for each page. These become your Astro page templates.

  2. Create Astro components

    Break each HTML page into Astro components: Header.astro, Hero.astro, FeatureGrid.astro, Footer.astro. Astro components accept props, making them reusable across pages. The CSS from Bootstrap works directly in Astro.

  3. Set up Astro with Bootstrap

    Create an Astro project: npm create astro@latest. Install Bootstrap: npm install bootstrap. Import Bootstrap CSS in your base layout. Astro ships zero JavaScript by default: Bootstrap's JS components load only where needed via Astro islands.

  4. Build and deploy

    Run npm run build to generate static HTML files. Deploy to Netlify, Vercel, or Cloudflare Pages. The output is pure HTML with Bootstrap CSS, no framework JavaScript unless you add interactive islands.

Benefits

  • Astro ships zero JS by default: fastest possible page loads
  • Canvas Builder HTML converts directly to Astro components
  • Bootstrap 5 CSS integrates natively with Astro layouts
  • Content-focused architecture with island interactivity
  • Perfect for SEO-heavy marketing sites and landing pages

Frequently asked questions

Why use Astro instead of Next.js for Canvas Builder sites?

Astro is optimised for content sites: it ships zero client-side JavaScript by default, making pages faster than Next.js for static content. Next.js is better for dynamic applications. Use Astro for marketing sites and blogs; Next.js for web apps.

Can I use Bootstrap components in Astro?

Yes, Bootstrap CSS works directly. For interactive Bootstrap components (modals, dropdowns), use Astro islands to load Bootstrap JS only where needed. This keeps pages lightweight while preserving interactivity where required.

Start with Canvas Builder

Generate production-ready Bootstrap 5 HTML for your Astro project in about 3 minutes.

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