11ty Easy Starter

11ty Easy Starter is a minimal boilerplate for the Eleventy static site generator that gets a new project running from a single install command and two npm scripts.

What is 11ty Easy Starter?

11ty Easy Starter is a GitHub-hosted boilerplate for building static websites with Eleventy (also known as 11ty). It accepts a source directory named src, compiles it into a deployable dist directory, and includes a local development server with live reload. The project is public, with the description "Start working immediately with 11ty."

Key Features

• One-command install — Clone or download the repository, then run npm i to install all dependencies required to start.
• Build script — The build command compiles the src directory into a dist directory, producing static output ready for hosting.
• Serve script with Browsersync — The serve command launches a Browsersync server that restarts every time a file is modified, enabling live reload during development.
• Eleventy core — The starter is built on Eleventy, a static site generator that transforms templates and content into plain HTML.
• Minimal setup — The README shows only two npm scripts, meaning no extra configuration or tooling is required to get started.

Who is it for?

• Developers learning Eleventy — Use the starter to understand how a simple Eleventy project is structured without the overhead of a full framework.
• Freelancers building static sites — Spin up a new client site quickly by cloning the repo and running serve to start editing.
• Prototypers — Use the live-reloading Browsersync server to iterate on HTML and content in real time.

What can you do with it?

• Build a static website — Run npm run build to compile the src folder into dist, then upload that folder to any static hosting service.
• Develop with live reload — Run npm run serve to open a local server that refreshes automatically on file saves, perfect for testing changes.
• Learn Eleventy's file structure — Examine the repository to see a minimal src-to-dist build pattern you can adapt for larger projects.

How does it work?

The README describes two steps after cloning: run npm i to install dependencies, then use either build to produce a static output or serve to launch a Browsersync server. The serve command watches the project files and restarts automatically on modifications.

FAQ

What does the build command do?

The build command reads the src directory and outputs a finished static site into a dist directory, suitable for deployment to any web server.

What does the serve command do?

The serve command starts a Browsersync server that automatically reloads the browser whenever a file in the project changes, providing a smooth development experience.

Do I need to configure anything after installing?

The only setup mentioned is running npm i after cloning. The README does not list any additional configuration steps, so you can start working immediately.