The Eleventy starter set is a static site generator template for Eleventy that pairs JavaScript templating with Tailwind CSS and PostCSS to build responsive-image-ready blogs or simple sites. Development was suspended on September 11, 2021, and the README directs users to the Eleventy Starter Projects page for alternatives.
What is the Eleventy starter set?
This is a starter set for the Eleventy static site generator (SSG), by the author of the eleventy_solo_starter_njk repository. It takes Markdown sample posts and site parameters from /_data/metadata.json and /_data/siteparams.json and outputs a static HTML site with a hashed CSS bundle in production. The template uses JavaScript templating (.11ty.js) rather than Nunjucks; a Nunjucks version lives in a separate repository.
Key Features
- JavaScript templating — Pages and layouts are written as .11ty.js files, giving developers who prefer JavaScript over Nunjucks a familiar workflow.
- Responsive images — The eleventy-img plugin and an image shortcode generate responsive images with multiple sizes and formats.
- Tailwind CSS and PostCSS — The styling pipeline uses Tailwind CSS with PostCSS, and as of version 2.1.0 includes the @tailwindcss/jit library for just-in-time compilation.
- Hashed CSS filenames — In production mode the generated CSS gets a hashed filename for caching; in development it loads a local index.css.
- Sample posts in Markdown — Example posts are included to demonstrate the templates, shortcodes, and layout behavior.
- Data-driven configuration — Site title, metadata, and parameters are edited in /_data/metadata.json and /_data/siteparams.json.
- Local development server — Running npm run start starts a server at http://localhost:3000.
Who is it for?
- Eleventy developers who want a pre-configured project with the eleventy-img plugin and Tailwind CSS already wired up.
- Bloggers who want to start a static blog from sample Markdown posts and customize the design using Tailwind utilities.
- Learners who want to study how a real Eleventy project combines JavaScript templating, PostCSS/Tailwind, and responsive images in one codebase.
What can you do with it?
- Developers: clone the repository, run npm install and npm run start, then edit the sample content to turn it into a fully custom static site.
- Blog owners: replace the sample posts with your own Markdown files and adjust the metadata to publish a fast, static blog.
- Students of Eleventy: read the sample posts and .11ty.js templates to see how the image shortcode and Tailwind/JIT build are connected.
How does the Eleventy starter set work?
The repository README lists a seven-step process: clone the repo, edit /_data/metadata.json and /_data/siteparams.json to match your site, run npm install, run npm run start to view the site at http://localhost:3000, read the sample posts, edit the content, and finally deploy the site to any static host.
FAQ
Is this starter set still actively maintained?
No. Development was suspended as of September 11, 2021. The README directs users to the Eleventy Starter Projects page to find alternative starter sets that are still active.
Does this starter use Nunjucks templates?
No, it uses JavaScript templating (.11ty.js). If you prefer Nunjucks, the same author provides a separate repository called eleventy_solo_starter_njk with the Nunjucks version.
What CSS tooling does the template include?
The template comes with Tailwind CSS, PostCSS, and the @tailwindcss/jit library for just-in-time compilation. It also outputs a hashed CSS file in production for caching.
How do I run the site locally?
Clone the repository, run npm install to load dependencies, then run npm run start. The site will be available at http://localhost:3000 in your browser.
Can I use the image shortcode on my own pages?
Yes. The starter provides an image shortcode wired to the eleventy-img plugin. You can use it in your templates and Markdown content to generate responsive images automatically.
