JAMstack at the Edge: How we built Built with Workers… on Workers

Overview

The article discusses the development of the Built with Workers site using the JAMstack architecture on Cloudflare Workers. It highlights the ease of use, performance benefits, and the innovative features enabled by combining static site generation with dynamic capabilities at the edge.

What You'll Learn

1

How to build a JAMstack application using Cloudflare Workers

2

Why using a headless CMS like Sanity.io can streamline content management

3

How to implement dynamic features in a static site using Workers

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Familiarity with JAMstack architecture and its components
  • Basic understanding of Cloudflare Workers and Sanity.io(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What is JAMstack and how does it relate to Cloudflare Workers?
JAMstack is an architecture that combines JavaScript, APIs, and Markup to build fast and secure web applications. Cloudflare Workers enhance JAMstack by allowing developers to run JavaScript at the edge, enabling dynamic features alongside static content, which improves performance and user experience.
How does Built with Workers utilize a headless CMS?
Built with Workers uses Sanity.io as a headless CMS to manage content without the need for a traditional database. This allows for easy updates and dynamic content generation during the build process, making it simpler for non-technical team members to manage site content.
What are the benefits of using Cloudflare Workers for JAMstack applications?
Cloudflare Workers provide a low-latency, fully-featured JavaScript runtime that runs alongside static assets. This allows developers to implement dynamic features, such as user-specific interactions, without compromising the performance benefits of static site generation.
How can developers enhance static sites using Cloudflare Workers?
Developers can enhance static sites by using Workers to implement features like bookmarking, which stores user-specific data at the edge. This capability allows for dynamic interactions while maintaining the speed and efficiency of static content delivery.

Technologies & Tools

Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Backend
Cloudflare Workers
Used to run JavaScript at the edge, enabling dynamic features in JAMstack applications.
Cms
Sanity.io
Serves as a headless CMS for managing content without traditional database infrastructure.
Frontend
Gatsby.js
Static site framework used to build the Built with Workers application.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Leverage the capabilities of Cloudflare Workers to enhance your JAMstack applications with dynamic features.
By integrating Workers, you can provide personalized user experiences without sacrificing the benefits of static site performance.
2
Utilize a headless CMS like Sanity.io to streamline content management and empower non-technical team members.
This approach reduces the dependency on developers for content updates, allowing for quicker iterations and more responsive site management.
3
Implement continuous deployment workflows using GitHub Actions to automate site updates upon content changes.
This ensures that your site is always up-to-date with the latest content, improving user engagement and SEO performance.

Common Pitfalls

1
Overcomplicating the architecture by using unnecessary infrastructure.
It's important to leverage the simplicity of JAMstack and Cloudflare Workers to avoid the pitfalls of traditional full-stack applications that require complex setups.

Related Concepts

Jamstack Architecture
Headless Cms
Continuous Deployment
Edge Computing