What is Jamstack and how it can be used.

The Jamstack is an emerging web development architecture that combines JavaScript, APIs and markup to create fast, secure, and scalable websites and applications. It has been gaining popularity due to its simplicity, performance benefits, and cost savings over traditional solutions.

Gone are the days when Jamstack was just another buzzword topic that developers debated over. Nowadays, it has become a flourishing ecosystem of tools and technologies that help developers to create websites with superior performance, Progressive Web Apps, and other projects which offer numerous advantages.

The current debate between Jamstack and WordPress in the development world has people so focused on the technology. And they often forget about the end-users, businesses, and their audiences.

In this blog post we will explore what the Jamstack is, how it works, the benefits it offers developers, and some of the best tools for taking advantage of it.

We will also look at some real-world examples of websites and applications that have been built with the Jamstack, to give you a better understanding of how it can be used in your own projects.

What is Jamstack?

Jamstack is a modern web development architecture that leverages the power of pre-built, reusable components and cloud services to create fast, secure, cost-effective websites with an improved developer experience.

Jamstack uses modern tools and practices to make web development more scalable, secure, and easy to manage.

Some of the benefits of Jamstack include: –

Better performance:

Jamstack websites and applications are incredibly fast and responsive. This is because they are built using static assets (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) that are served from a CDN.

Higher security:

Websites or applications made using Jamstack are more secure than traditional dynamic ones. This is because they do not require server-side code or database access, so there are fewer attack vectors.

Better developer experience:

Jamstack makes web development more enjoyable by simplifying the build process and providing a more predictable workflow.

It has gained popularity in recent years due to its simplicity, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. It is particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses, startups, and independent developers.

Jamstack Core Principles

Jamstack is based on three core principles: pre-rendered content, APIs, and a CDN.

The content for your website or application is built and pre-rendered at build time, rather than being generated dynamically on the fly.This pre-rendering allows for faster loading times and improved security, as it reduces the attack surface of your site.

APIs are used to handle dynamic functionality and data, such as user authentication, form submissions, and real-time data updates.

Finally, a CDN (Content Delivery Network) is used to distribute your pre-rendered content and APIs to users around the globe, ensuring fast and reliable performance for your users.

Traditional Vs. Jamstack Development Model

In the traditional architecture, building and hosting are linked together. When a user requests a page, a response is generated by interacting with the database, web server, app servers, and backend code. This response is then sent to the browser in form of an entire HTML page which results in slow loading time and puts the system at risk due to its complex structure (servers, databases etc.).

In the Jamstack flow, building and hosting are separated. When a user requests a page, it is already pre-built and stored in the CDN for quick access. A Static Site Generator is used to build the static pages which are then shipped to the CDN. These pre-built files are then served directly to the browser, providing faster speeds and reduced chances of security attacks as there is no interaction with servers.

Is Jamstack a static method to build websites and web applications?

Well, we can call it as “New Static”. How? We have explained in this section.

Static content refers to files that are unchanging and do not require processing before they can be served up.

In this regard, the concept of Jamstack does have some aspects of being static because all the code used in building sites with it is pre-compiled ahead of time so there’s no need for any server-side computing or rendering when delivering pages over HTTP requests.

However, the difference lies in how those compiled files are then used by browsers – with Jamstack they’re delivered directly without any further computation or processing taking place on servers like would happen with some other methods (such as PHP).

As such while static elements are indeed part of what makes up a website built on a Jamstack stack – it is not exclusively ‘static’ per se since dynamic interactions take place between client/browser via API calls etc which can result in pages changing depending on user input etc.

Whether it’s JAMStack or Jamstack?

The Jamstack is a modern web development architecture that has been steadily gaining popularity since its release in 2016. The J A M of JAMStack stands for client-side JavaScript, reusable APIs, and prebuilt Markup.

At its core, the Jamstack utilizes static site generators (SSGs) to compile HTML markup from source files like Markdown or Liquid.

SSG ensures that page content loads instantaneously for users by eliminating traditional back-end requests.

Additionally, it simplifies the deployment process by allowing developers to quickly deploy sites with one command after creating their codebase locally.

Best practises to follow while using Jamstack

When working with the Jamstack there are several best practices that should be followed for optimal results.

Make your code as lightweight as possible

Ensure that your site is as lightweight as possible by utilizing best coding practices such as minifying your code and compressing assets like images or videos before uploading them to the server.

Use modern chaching mechanisms

Additionally, it’s important to employ good caching strategies so that content can be loaded quickly when requested by a user without having to make additional requests each time they visit your page.

Follow standard security protocols

Finally, making sure you use HTTPS protocols across all domains will help keep any communication between clients and servers secure from malicious attacks or third parties accessing sensitive data.

Following these simple steps you’ll be able to fully utilize the benefits of using the Jamstack for developing efficient web applications without sacrificing performance or security.

Why you should use Jamstack?

The benefits of Jamstack are numerous, ranging from improved security and faster loading times to cost savings. By utilizing Jamstack technologies, businesses can achieve more reliable performance, better scalability, and reduced hosting costs compared to traditional web development platforms such as WordPress.

Jamstack solutions are often easier to maintain and update than their traditional counterparts due to the fact that they require less code overall.

Since changes take place on a distributed system rather than a centralized one like in WordPress websites, there is less risk of downtime or data loss if something unexpected happens.

Using Jamstack for business decisions allows organizations to have greater flexibility while still reaping the rewards of modern web development practices.

Here are some reasons why you should use Jamstack.

Performance

Jamstack sites are fast. They are served from a CDN so users get the benefits of low latency and high availability. And because they are static sites, they can be pre-rendered which means the browser can load the site faster.

Security

Jamstack sites are more secure. Because they are static, there is no server to hack. And because they are served from a CDN, they benefit from the security that the CDN provides.

Cost of ownership

Jamstack sites are cheaper to host and maintain. Because they are static, they require less infrastructure and can be deployed to serverless environments which can further reduce costs.

Developer experience

Jamstack sites are easier to develop and deploy. The build process is simpler and there is no need to provision or manage servers. This makes it an ideal platform for developers who want to focus on building great experiences for their users rather than managing infrastructure

When to select Jamstack for your web project?

While it would be great to say that Jamstack is suitable for everyone, this isn’t always the case.

To decide which web development approach is best for you and your business goals, consider the pros and cons of each option and consult with your technical and marketing team. This is often the most effective way to make an informed decision.

Alternatively you can talk to us and share your thought process about your project.

There are few more pointers you should consider:

If you are less worried about performance of your website/app, don’t go with Jamstack. You can speak to our web development experts here.

If you team is well aquainted with WordPress and they are comfortable using same tech, don’t go with Jamstack.

If you wish to explore new tech and achieve performance and security, you can consider going with Jamstack.

Do you have a project that is perfect for the Jamstack approach? Are you looking for ways to make your website more secure and perform better?

Schedule a free session with us now and find out what we can do to help your business succeed.