Gatsby Build Times are Slow: Fix or Migrate?
Slow Gatsby builds need a clear choice: optimise plugins, data, and images in place, or move to Next.js when publishing and cache limits justify it.
Articles
Static Sites
Static sites are websites where pages are generated ahead of the request, usually during a build or publishing workflow. The articles in this category cover static generation with CMS content, build hooks, Gatsby, Next.js, Netlify, and the operational trade‑offs that appear when a supposedly simple static site starts depending on live editorial data.
Below you will find a subset of articles from my blog specifically about Static Sites. This is an area I have worked with for many years, and it has been a regular subject in my writing. There are twenty‑nine articles collected together for you below.
Gatsby Build Times are Slow: Fix or Migrate? 
Gatsby to Next.js Migration Checklist. Gatsby to Next.js Migration Checklist
A practical Gatsby to Next.js migration checklist covering routes, data, rendering, plugins, images, redirects, preview, sitemaps, and SEO validation.
Why Next.js Builds Time Out on Vercel. Why Next.js Builds Time Out on Vercel
Debug Next.js build timeouts on Vercel by checking route generation, CMS data fan‑out, memory pressure, image work, caching, logs, and platform limits.
CMS Content Not Updating in Next.js. CMS Content Not Updating in Next.js
A production runbook for stale CMS content in Next.js, covering webhooks, route dependencies, ISR, cache boundaries, preview, and editor trust.
Optimising Next.js Performance with Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR). Optimising Next.js Performance with Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR)
How ISR improves Next.js performance by mixing static speed with controlled freshness, and where it fits best over fully dynamic rendering for changing content.
From Netlify Deploys to Vercel Pipelines. From Netlify Deploys to Vercel Pipelines
How deployment expectations moved from simple Netlify static deploys towards Vercel pipelines, previews, framework builds, observability, and rollback.
When Static Generation Stopped Being Simple. When Static Generation Stopped Being Simple
Why static generation became more complex as CMS previews, ISR, cache invalidation, build queues, e‑commerce data, and platform expectations grew.
Gatsby and Contentful: Why the Pair Worked. Gatsby and Contentful: Why the Pair Worked
Why Gatsby and Contentful worked well together for static sites, what made the model productive, and why teams later reassessed build time and fit.
Build‑Time SEO Checks in Gatsby. Build‑Time SEO Checks in Gatsby
Run build‑time SEO checks in Gatsby across routes, metadata, canonicals, headings, sitemaps, schema, redirects, CMS content gaps, and release confidence.
Automatically Generate Text Sitemaps in Gatsby. Automatically Generate Text Sitemaps in Gatsby
When it comes to text‑based sitemaps in Gatsby, gatsby‑plugin‑sitemap falls short. Fortunately, it is straightforward to implement using Node.js and GraphQL.
Keeping Gatsby Build Times Under Control. Keeping Gatsby Build Times Under Control
How to keep Gatsby build times under control by managing data volume, image work, plugins, GraphQL queries, caching, and deployment expectations.
Automatically Submit Sitemaps to Google During Gatsby Build. Automatically Submit Sitemaps to Google During Gatsby Build
You can let Google know that your website (and the content within) has been updated by submitting an updated sitemap automatically via a simple Node.js script.
Static Site Generators. Static Site Generators
Static site generators trade runtime complexity for build‑time output. This article looks at the benefits, the drawbacks, and where they fit best.
Incremental Static Regeneration and CMS Publishing Freshness. Incremental Static Regeneration and CMS Publishing Freshness
How Incremental Static Regeneration affects CMS publishing freshness, including rebuild timing, stale pages, previews, and editorial expectations.
Previewing CMS Content in Gatsby Workflows. Previewing CMS Content in Gatsby Workflows
Plan CMS preview in Gatsby workflows by setting expectations around draft content, preview builds, webhooks, deployment timing, and editor confidence.
Rendering CMS Rich Text Safely in Gatsby and React. Rendering CMS Rich Text Safely in Gatsby and React
Render CMS rich text safely in Gatsby and React with node mapping, link handling, embeds, headings, validation, and failure‑safe fallbacks.
Rendering Contentful Rich Code Snippets in Gatsby. Rendering Contentful Rich Code Snippets in Gatsby
Contentful rich text and Gatsby work well together until code snippets enter the picture. This guide shows how to render inline and block code cleanly.
Why Gatsby and Contentful Work Well Together. Why Gatsby and Contentful Work Well Together
Why Gatsby and Contentful can still work well for static sites, where the pairing becomes strained and when migration pressure is worth reviewing.
