Documentation System Comparison
Comparative Study
Section titled “Comparative Study”| Feature | Astro (Starlight) | Sphinx | GitBook | Pure Markdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Modern Static Site Generator (SSG) | Python-based Generator | Proprietary SaaS Platform | Raw Text Files |
| Input Format | MDX (Markdown + Components) | reStructuredText (reST) / MD | WYSIWYG + Markdown Sync | Markdown (.md) |
| Performance | Best. Zero-JS default (Islands). | Good, heavier HTML. | Moderate. Heavy scripts. | N/A (Viewer dependent). |
| Customization | High. React, Vue, Tailwind. | Moderate. Requires Python. | Low. Locked ecosystem. | None. |
| Dev Experience | Excellent. JS/TS stack. | Good for Python devs. | Low (GUI-focused). | Basic. |
| Pricing | Free (Open Source). | Free (Open Source). | Freemium (Expensive teams). | Free. |
1. Pure Markdown
Section titled “1. Pure Markdown”- Pros: Zero setup, universally readable, lives in repo.
- Cons: No navigation, search, branding, or interactivity. It is a file format, not a system.
2. Sphinx
Section titled “2. Sphinx”- Pros: Industry standard for Python. Great at API docs and cross-referencing.
- Cons: Relies on
reStructuredText. Theming is often dated. Extending functionality requires Python knowledge.
3. GitBook
Section titled “3. GitBook”- Pros: “Just works.” Great for non-technical writers.
- Cons: Vendor Lock-in. Limited customization. Expensive for private team docs. Heavy client-side JS.
4. Astro (Starlight)
Section titled “4. Astro (Starlight)”- Pros: Best-in-class performance. Supports interactive components (MDX). “Docs-as-code” workflow.
- Cons: Requires web dev knowledge (Node.js) to set up.
Why We Chose Astro
Section titled “Why We Chose Astro”We selected Astro (specifically the Starlight template) for the best balance of developer control and performance.
1. “Docs-as-Code” Philosophy
Section titled “1. “Docs-as-Code” Philosophy”Unlike GitBook, Astro lives in our repository. Documentation changes are reviewed in Pull Requests alongside code, fitting our existing CI/CD workflow.
2. MDX & Component Islands
Section titled “2. MDX & Component Islands”We are not limited to static text.
- Scenario: To document a UI component, we import the actual component into the docs using MDX.
- Astro renders static HTML by default but hydrates it with JavaScript only when necessary (Islands Architecture).
3. No Vendor Lock-in
Section titled “3. No Vendor Lock-in”We own the pipeline. Hosting on Vercel, Netlify, or a private VPS is free and under our control.
4. Modern Tech Stack
Section titled “4. Modern Tech Stack”It utilizes modern TypeScript and Tailwind CSS, making styling and maintenance easier for developers familiar with current web standards.
Conclusion: We chose Astro because it provides the structure of Sphinx and the modernity of a Single Page App without the cost or lock-in of GitBook.