Getting Started with SvelteKit: A Complete Guide
Learn how to build modern web applications with SvelteKit, from setup to deployment. This comprehensive guide covers routing, state management, and best practices.
SvelteKit has revolutionized the way we build web applications by combining the simplicity of Svelte with powerful full-stack capabilities. Whether you're coming from React, Vue, or are completely new to frontend frameworks, this guide will help you understand the core concepts and get you building real applications quickly.
Why Choose SvelteKit?
Unlike traditional frameworks that do most of their work in the browser, Svelte shifts that work into a compile step that happens when you build your app. This means:
- Smaller bundle sizes - No framework runtime overhead
- Better performance - Optimized vanilla JavaScript output
- Simpler syntax - Less boilerplate, more readable code
- Built-in reactivity - No need for complex state management libraries
Setting Up Your First Project
Getting started with SvelteKit is incredibly straightforward. The team has done an excellent job making the developer experience smooth from day one.
npm create svelte@latest my-app
cd my-app
npm install
npm run dev
This creates a new SvelteKit project with everything you need to get started, including TypeScript support, ESLint configuration, and a basic project structure.
Understanding the File-Based Routing
One of SvelteKit's most powerful features is its file-based routing system. Simply create
files in the src/routes directory, and they automatically become
routes in your application:
src/routes/+page.svelte→ `/`src/routes/about/+page.svelte→ `/about`src/routes/blog/[slug]/+page.svelte→ `/blog/anything`