Why I Build Static-First Systems

Most websites don’t fail because the ideas are hard.

They fail because the implementation choices create complexity that no one maintains. Over time, that complexity becomes the product: slow pages, broken forms, security patches that never happen, and a trail of “temporary” workarounds that stick around for years.

Static-first is my default because it’s boring in the best possible way: fast, durable, secure by default, easy to audit, and easy to hand off.

This isn’t ideology. It’s a maintenance strategy.

  • Personal hub: https://justintahai.pages.dev
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What I mean by “static-first”

Static-first means the site’s primary output is plain files served at the edge:

  • HTML (already rendered)
  • CSS
  • JavaScript (only where needed)
  • Images / assets
  • Optional: a build step that generates pages from content

And the “dynamic” parts—if you truly need them—are added selectively:

  • A form service (or a tiny endpoint)
  • Search
  • Authentication
  • A small API for admin-only workflows

Static-first doesn’t mean “no logic.”
It means logic is the exception, not the default.

Why it’s my default

1) Performance is simpler (and stays simple)

Static sites are fast because they don’t ask a server to do work at request time. There’s no database connection to wait on, no templating engine running per visitor, no cold starts for basic pages.

You don’t have to “optimize” as much because you’re starting from the right architecture: pre-rendered pages + edge delivery.

That matters for people and for search engines.

2) Security risk drops dramatically

A static site has a smaller attack surface. There’s no admin panel exposed to the public. No runtime framework waiting on patches. No database credentials in production. No server to break into.

If you only deploy files, the average attacker has less to target.

Security becomes:

  • correct headers
  • least-privilege configuration
  • minimal third-party scripts
  • careful handling of any forms/auth you add

That’s a much more defendable posture for most organizations.

3) Maintenance cost goes down (the part people ignore)

The real cost of a website isn’t launch day. It’s year 2, year 3, year 5—when the developer is gone and nobody remembers how the stack works.

Static-first reduces the “bus factor”:

  • fewer moving pieces
  • fewer required updates
  • fewer dependency surprises

If a new person needs to take over, they can:

  • open the repo
  • read the HTML/Markdown
  • deploy it anywhere

That’s what “durable” looks like.

4) Accessibility is easier to keep correct

Accessibility is hardest when rendering is inconsistent and UI complexity snowballs.

Static-first encourages:

  • clear headings
  • real link text
  • predictable navigation
  • reduced layout thrash
  • fewer interactive traps

You can still build interactive features, but you do it deliberately and test them. Most pages remain simple, readable, and stable.

When I say “accessibility-first,” static-first is usually the most reliable way to get there.

5) Handoff is clean: no vendor lock-in

A static site can be hosted almost anywhere:

  • GitHub Pages
  • Cloudflare Pages
  • Netlify
  • S3 + CDN
  • traditional hosting

You’re not locked into a particular CMS vendor, framework, or managed database.

That matters for real organizations because budgets change and people leave. I build so you can move on if you need to.

What goes wrong in “dynamic-first” websites

Dynamic stacks tend to invite predictable failure modes:

  • Everything becomes a database problem. Even pages that never change.
  • Admin panels become critical infrastructure. And then they get ignored until they break.
  • Dependencies drift. One plugin update breaks the build, and nobody wants to touch it.
  • Performance becomes a project. You spend money to “optimize” what didn’t need to be slow.
  • Security becomes reactive. Patch cycles become a lifestyle, not an event.

If your site truly needs complex runtime behavior, fine.
But most sites don’t. Most sites need clarity, speed, and stability.

What I build static-first (most common)

Static-first is an ideal fit for:

  • campaign / candidate sites
  • organizations and movements
  • service businesses
  • documentation portals
  • knowledge bases
  • landing pages and product pages
  • basic blogs / updates / press pages
  • policy text + sources / references
  • “start here” paths for officials, press, or clients

If the site is mostly content and navigation, static wins.

When I don’t use static-first (and why)

There are times where dynamic systems are the right choice:

  • complex user accounts and permissions
  • high-volume user-generated content
  • real-time workflows (chat, live collaboration)
  • heavy personalization
  • complex business logic with transactional requirements

Even then, I still often keep the public-facing part static:

  • marketing site is static
  • docs are static
  • app is dynamic behind it

This split keeps the complex part smaller and easier to secure.

My rule of thumb

I ask three questions:

1) Does the public need to change content constantly?
2) Do we require real-time database writes for most visits?
3) Will multiple people maintain this after launch?

If the answer to #2 is “no,” static-first is usually the better default.
If the answer to #3 is “yes,” static-first is almost always the better default.

A practical “stack” that stays durable

I optimize for boring tools that work:

  • content written in Markdown or simple HTML
  • a lightweight generator if needed (or none at all)
  • a clean CSS system (tokens / variables)
  • minimal JavaScript
  • strict security headers
  • deploy to edge hosting

That’s it.

The result is a site that:

  • loads fast
  • reads clean
  • is easy to audit
  • is hard to break
  • doesn’t need constant babysitting

Appendix: Static-first launch checklist (10-point)

If you only do ten things before launch, do these:

  1. One clear H1 per page; headings in order (H2 → H3).
  2. Verify contrast on text over images (especially buttons).
  3. Keyboard test: can you reach everything with Tab?
  4. Ensure every link has meaningful text (no “click here”).
  5. Add alt text for informative images; empty alt for decorative.
  6. Keep scripts minimal; avoid third‑party embeds unless necessary.
  7. Set a clean robots.txt + sitemap.xml.
  8. Add OpenGraph tags so links share cleanly.
  9. Cache assets aggressively; compress images.
  10. Put the deployment steps in the repo so anyone can repeat them.

For a fuller version, see: /checklists/static-launch-checklist/