Build Awesome (Eleventy) 4.0 Alpha: A Simpler Static Site Generator with a Backward-Compatible Install
A simpler site generator. Transforms a directory of templates (of varying types) into HTML.
At a glance
- What is it?
- Build Awesome, the project behind Eleventy, is a JavaScript static site generator that turns template directories into HTML. The 4.0 alpha adds a new package name while keeping the old install path working.
- Who is it for?
- Adopt Build Awesome if you need a JavaScript-based static site generator that handles multiple template languages and values a backward-compatible migration path. The 4.0 alpha is not for production sites yet, given its alpha status and the presence of multiple test suites that suggest ongoing churn.
- Can I use it commercially?
- Yes. MIT is a permissive licence: you can use, modify and sell software built on it, as long as you keep its copyright and licence notices.
- Is it still maintained?
- Yes. The repository last received commits 1 day ago.
- What is it written in?
- Mainly JavaScript, according to GitHub's language statistics.
Answers come from the project's GitHub data, last synced on September 15, 2026, and from our analysis. They are not legal advice.
DEEP OPEN-SOURCE ANALYSIS
What Build Awesome Actually Solves
Build Awesome, also known as Eleventy, addresses the problem of generating a static website from a directory of templates without forcing you into a single template language. The README describes it as 'a simpler static site generator' and 'an alternative to Jekyll.' It is written in JavaScript, which means you can use the same language for your build tooling and your site logic. The core use case is for developers who want the simplicity of static output but need flexibility in how they author content. It accepts HTML, Markdown, JavaScript, Liquid, and Nunjucks out of the box, with addons for WebC, Sass, Vue, Svelte, TypeScript, and JSX. That breadth makes it a candidate for projects where the team has mixed preferences or where content authors are not comfortable with a single templating syntax. The project is not aimed at non-technical users; it assumes you can run npm commands and edit configuration files.
How the Build Process Works
The mechanism is straightforward: you point Build Awesome at a directory of templates, and it transforms them into HTML. The README says it 'transforms a directory of templates (of varying types) into HTML.' This is a batch operation, not a runtime rendering engine. The build process reads each template, processes it according to its file type, and writes the resulting HTML to an output directory. The support for multiple template engines suggests that the core uses a plugin or adapter pattern to delegate parsing and rendering to each engine. For example, Markdown files go through a Markdown processor, Liquid files through a Liquid renderer, and JavaScript templates are executed as modules. The documentation, linked from the README, would contain the exact configuration keys, but the README itself does not list them. What is clear is that the build is deterministic and produces static files, which you can then host anywhere without a server-side runtime.
Installation and the Backward-Compatible Package Name
Installation is a two-line npm command. The README shows: 'npm install @awesome.me/buildawesome --save-dev' and then notes that the old name still works: 'npm install @11ty/eleventy --save-dev'. This is a deliberate migration strategy. The project is releasing 4.0 under a new scope, but they keep the legacy package name functional for existing users. That is a rare courtesy in open source, and it reduces the friction of upgrading. The 'save-dev' flag indicates that the generator is a development-time dependency, not a runtime one. After installation, you run 'npm test' to execute the test suites. The README lists three test runners: ava as the primary suite, the Node.js test runner as secondary, and Vitest in Browser Mode for browser tests. This is more testing infrastructure than many static site generators have, which suggests a focus on reliability. For an alpha release, that is a good sign, though it also means the codebase is under active change.
Testing and Benchmarking Infrastructure
The project takes testing seriously. The README mentions a 'Benchmark for Performance Regressions' at a separate repository, plus continuous integration on GitHub Actions and code coverage statistics. That is a concrete signal that the maintainers care about performance and correctness. The presence of browser tests via Vitest in Browser Mode is notable, because most static site generators only test server-side rendering. This suggests that Build Awesome may have client-side features or that they are testing the build output in a browser context. The benchmark suite is separate, meaning you can run performance comparisons without polluting the main test suite. For an engineer evaluating adoption, this infrastructure reduces the risk of silent breakage. However, the alpha status means these tests are still catching issues, and you should expect bugs.
Plugins and the Extension Ecosystem
Build Awesome supports plugins, and the README directs you to the official docs on plugins. The template addons for WebC, Sass, Vue, Svelte, TypeScript, and JSX are likely implemented as plugins. This is a key extensibility point: you are not limited to the built-in template types. The plugin system is how you add custom template languages or transform pipelines. The README does not detail the plugin API, so you would need to consult the documentation. The existence of a 'Top Feature Requests' discussion and a 'Top Bugs' issue list indicates that the community drives the roadmap. That is useful for planning: you can see what is coming and what is broken. For a v4 alpha, the plugin ecosystem may not yet be fully migrated, so verify that your favourite plugin supports the new package name.
Limitations and When It Is the Wrong Tool
The most obvious limitation is that the latest releases are alpha versions: v4.0.0-alpha.9 and v4.0.0-alpha.10. Alpha software is not stable, and you should not use it for a production site without extensive testing. The README does not list any known limitations, but the alpha tag itself is a warning. Another limitation is that the README does not describe configuration options, so you must rely on external documentation. That is fine for experienced users but a barrier for newcomers. The tool is also wrong for projects that need dynamic content or server-side processing; it generates static HTML only. If you need a blog with user comments or a shopping cart, you will need to integrate a third-party service. Finally, the project is JavaScript-centric, so if your team is not comfortable with Node.js, you might be better off with a Ruby-based tool like Jekyll, which the README explicitly positions itself against.
A Real Alternative: Jekyll and the Difference in Approach
The README names Jekyll as the direct alternative. Jekyll is written in Ruby, while Build Awesome is written in JavaScript. That is the fundamental difference. Jekyll uses a single template language (Liquid) by default, though it supports plugins. Build Awesome supports multiple template languages natively, including JavaScript templates, which means you can write templates in the same language as your build scripts. Jekyll is more opinionated about directory structure and configuration, while Eleventy is known for being flexible. If you are a Ruby developer or you prefer a batteries-included approach, Jekyll might be simpler. If you are a JavaScript developer who wants to use Nunjucks or Vue components in your static site, Build Awesome is the more natural fit. The trade-off is that Jekyll has a longer history and a larger ecosystem, whereas Build Awesome is newer and more modular.
Maintenance and Upgrade Cost
The project is actively maintained, with a last push on July 1, 2026, and two alpha releases on the same day. That indicates rapid iteration. The migration path from Eleventy 3.x to 4.0 is eased by the backward-compatible package name, but you still need to test your build output. The README mentions a community roadmap and a bug tracker, which means you can monitor known issues. The licence is MIT, which is permissive and allows commercial use without restriction. The upgrade cost is moderate: you will need to update your package.json to use the new name, but the old name still works, so you can defer. The presence of multiple test suites means the maintainers are likely to catch regressions, but alpha releases can introduce breaking changes between versions. Before adopting, check the release notes for alpha.9 and alpha.10 to see what changed, and run your own build with the new package to confirm compatibility with your templates and plugins.
Editorial conclusion
Adopt Build Awesome if you need a JavaScript-based static site generator that handles multiple template languages and values a backward-compatible migration path. The 4.0 alpha is not for production sites yet, given its alpha status and the presence of multiple test suites that suggest ongoing churn. Before adopting, verify that your current Eleventy plugins and custom template types work with the new @awesome.me/buildawesome package, and check the GitHub Discussions for known bugs in the 4.0 branch. If you rely on a stable, long-term-supported generator, stick with the stable Eleventy 3.x line until 4.0 reaches a release candidate.
Community notes