@elderjs/elderjs is a modern and flexible static site generator built with Node.js. It provides a powerful and intuitive framework for creating static websites and blogs. Elder.js focuses on simplicity and performance, allowing developers to build fast and SEO-friendly websites with ease.
Sapper is a framework for building high-performance web applications with Svelte. It provides a powerful development experience by combining the simplicity and reactivity of Svelte with server-side rendering and routing capabilities. With Sapper, you can create dynamic and SEO-friendly web applications that load quickly and deliver a smooth user experience.
Sapper has been around for longer and has gained significant popularity within the Svelte community. On the other hand, Elder.js, while relatively newer, has also gained a growing user base and has been well-received in the static site generator space.
Scalability
Elder.js is designed specifically for building large-scale, production-ready websites with robust SEO capabilities. It offers built-in server rendering and static generation, making it suitable for scalable and performant applications. Sapper, on the other hand, is more geared towards smaller applications and may require additional configuration for larger projects.
Performance
Both Elder.js and Sapper perform well in terms of performance. Elder.js uses server-side rendering and efficient caching techniques to deliver fast-loading websites. Sapper, being built on top of Svelte, which is known for its small bundle size and fast runtime performance, also provides excellent performance.
Developer Experience
Sapper offers a smooth developer experience with its structured project layout and a rich set of built-in features like routing, code-splitting, and server-side rendering. Elder.js focuses on simplicity and ease of use, providing a minimalistic and straightforward API for developing static sites. It also offers a local development server with hot-reloading for a smooth development workflow.
Community and Ecosystem
Sapper has a larger and more established community due to its early adoption and association with the Svelte framework. It has a wider range of plugins, integrations, and resources available. Elder.js, while smaller, has an active and supportive community and a growing ecosystem of plugins and templates.
Learning Curve
Sapper may have a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its tight integration with Svelte and its unique project structure. Elder.js, being more focused on simplicity and conventional JavaScript practices, may be easier for developers new to static site generation.