MSTCA.org Refresh pt.2
Stephen Burke
A refresh of the MSTCA website using modern technologies.
A refresh of the MSTCA website using modern technologies.
The Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) website was in need of a refresh for a second time. We had previously built the site using Gatsby, a modern static site generator. The site was built to be fast and secure, but the MSTCA wanted to move to a more modern stack that would allow for more flexibility and ease of use for content authors.
I built a new site using Next.js, Typescript, Tailwind.css, and Sanity.io.
This allowed me to use modern technologies that have been battle-tested and are widely used in the industry. The site has a fast and responsive feel because of its server-side rendering capabilities. I decided to stay with Netlify for hosting and continuous deployment, as it has been a great experience for the MSTCA.
The organization wanted to keep the blog component, so I used Sanity.io to help the content authors easily add new blog posts. Sanity.io is a headless CMS that allows for easy content management and has a great user interface for content authors. With the content modeling capabilities of Sanity, we were able to create a custom schema that fits the needs of the MSTCA.
The content authors are super pleased with Sanity and how easy it is to update content on the site with zero-deployments; this is a huge win for the MSTCA.
As for the styling, I used Tailwind.css to create a modern and responsive design that is easy to maintain. The MSTCA wanted a clean and simple design that is easy to navigate, and I believe we achieved that with the new site. Along with the custom components and layouts, I implemented Google Analytics for tracking and monitoring the site’s performance and page views.
Here is a table of the tech stack used for the project:
| Tech | Description |
|---|---|
| Next.js | SSR Framework using React |
| Typescript | Typesafety |
| Netlify | Hosting and continuous deployment |
| Tailwind CSS | Class styling |
| Sanity.io | Headless CMS for content management |
| Google Analytics | Tracking and monitoring |
Note: All styles, layouts, and content are chosen and maintained by the MSTCA.