Table Of Content
New 11ty Website Starters: My Approach to Lightweight and Reader-Friendly Web Design #
I've been diving deep into the Eleventy (11ty) Static Site Generator (SSG) lately, and I'm excited to share some new website starters I've developed with a friend. These themes are built around the #minicomp ontology: minimal design, minimal maintenance, and minimal obsolescence. My goal with both projects was to create lightweight, flexible, and highly readable web experiences that reflect my passion for simplicity and usability.
1. Imbricate feat. μ CSS #
Imbricate feat. μ CSS started as a thought experiment with a friend. We wanted to see how far we could take the concept of an ultra-lightweight theme using the μ CSS framework, which is just 1KB in size. This theme is all about keeping things simple and responsive, staying true to the #minicomp principles.
Some of the features I'm particularly proud of include:
- Tiny footprint: The minimal size of the μ CSS framework keeps the site fast and efficient.
- Simplicity and Responsiveness: I aimed to make a theme that's easy to maintain and perfect for projects where speed and simplicity are top priorities.
If you'd like to see it in action, check out the demo site or dig into the GitHub repository to explore the code.
μ CSS #
μ CSS is an incredibly interesting framework for website development due to its ultra-compact size, lightning-fast speed, and refreshing simplicity. At just 1 KB, μ CSS embodies the "less is more" philosophy, ensuring that websites load quickly and maintain a minimal footprint. Its mobile-first design approach guarantees compatibility across all screen sizes and browsers, while its straightforward styling keeps content legible and accessible to all visitors. μ CSS proves that effective web design doesn't need to be complicated—it just needs to get the point across.
2. 11ty Long Reads #
The idea for 11ty Long Reads came from a conversation on Blue Sky with @tessalaprofessa. They mentioned how great it would be if blog themes had features like Instapaper and e-readers, giving users control over the reading experience by adjusting font family, font size, line height, font color, and background color.
I built this theme with that vision in mind, offering:
- Customizable Reading Experience: Readers can adjust visual settings to make long-form content more comfortable to read.
- E-Reader Style Features: The theme is ideal for blogs or any site with a focus on extended reading sessions.
Feel free to explore the demo and, if you're interested, the GitHub repository has all the code.
What I like about these themes #
I believe that websites shouldn't just look good---they should also be practical and sustainable. Both of these 11ty starters are designed to help creators build sites that are not only beautiful and functional but also align with the ideals of the #minicomp movement.
Whether you're looking to create a no-frills, fast-loading site or a customizable, reader-focused blog, I hope these starters provide a solid foundation. As always, I'm looking forward to seeing how others might use and adapt these tools.