In the ever-evolving world of web development, simplicity often paves the way for effective solutions. Laman.js is a framework designed to streamline the creation of modern websites with a focus on ease of use and efficiency. Ideal for freelancers, web developers, and small to medium-sized projects, Laman.js offers an elegant solution for building websites without unnecessary complexity.
Laman.js is a minimalist framework that combines the essential needs for web development into a simple package. Unlike complex frameworks such as Vue, React, or Next.js, Laman.js focuses on providing core functionalities required for modern web projects:
With Laman.js, you get a lightweight framework that covers routing, templating, and data fetching, making it ideal for building both static and dynamic websites with minimal overhead.
Edge.js
Laman.js employs Edge.js as its template engine. Edge.js is a templating engine that enables server-side rendering with JavaScript code. This allows Laman.js to handle dynamic data and create web pages with high efficiency. With Edge.js, you can use a familiar syntax to write HTML templates and embed server-side logic directly within the templates.
Vite
For JavaScript development, Laman.js leverages Vite, a modern build tool that is incredibly fast. Vite offers a smooth development experience with hot module replacement (HMR) and fast build processes. It simplifies writing and managing JavaScript code in your project, providing an easy way to write, test, and update code quickly.
Express
On the production server side, Laman.js relies on Express to handle the web server. Express is a minimal and popular server-side framework for Node.js. With Express, Laman.js can efficiently handle HTTP requests, manage server routing, and perform various other server functions. This ensures that Laman.js runs web applications optimally in a production environment.
Laman.js is designed to simplify web development, particularly for common tasks such as creating company profiles, brand websites, landing pages, and e-commerce sites. Many developers today use headless CMS platforms like Strapi and integrate them with templating engines or frameworks that may be overkill for the project’s needs.
Laman.js fills this gap by providing a straightforward solution that includes:
Installation and Setup
Getting started with Laman.js is straightforward. To set up a new project, simply run the following command:
npm init lamanjs my-webThis command will set up the basic project structure so you can start building your website right away.
Documentation
For comprehensive guides and documentation on Laman.js, visit Laman.js Documentation. Here, you will find detailed information on features, configuration, and usage to help you make the most out of this framework.
One of the advantages of Laman.js is its easy integration with LamanHub. Although Laman.js itself does not provide unique deployment features, LamanHub simplifies the hosting process. With a single command, you can deploy your project and have it live:
npm run deployLamanHub will automatically host your project with a subdomain, SSL, and custom domain options, making the deployment process incredibly easy.
Laman.js is particularly well-suited for:
Its simplicity and efficiency make it an ideal choice for projects that do not require high complexity.
Currently, the Laman.js community is in its early stages. Much of the development is still being done independently, but there are plans to expand the community and support further. The goal is to create a supportive ecosystem around Laman.js where developers can share resources, collaborate, and contribute to the growth of the framework.
Laman.js offers a simple yet effective approach to web development by providing essential features in an easy-to-use framework. With a focus on filesystem-based routing, template rendering with Edge.js, development support from Vite, and production server handling with Express, Laman.js is a valuable tool for developers working on small to medium-sized projects. Whether you’re building a company profile, brand website, or e-commerce site, Laman.js delivers the simplicity and efficiency needed to bring your web project to life.