--- layout: integration title: Deploy Starlight with Sites description: Create a Astro-based documentation site with Appwrite Sites date: 2025-05-19 featured: false isPartner: true isNew: true cover: /images/integrations/sites-starlight/cover.avif category: sites product: avatar: '/images/integrations/avatars/starlight.avif' vendor: Starlight description: 'Starlight is a documentation website framework built with Astro that helps you build beautiful, high-performance documentation sites with minimal setup.' platform: - 'Cloud' - 'Self-hosted' images: - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/cover.avif - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/homepage.avif - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/search-site.avif - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/clone-template.avif - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/site-details.avif - /images/integrations/sites-starlight/success.avif --- Starlight is a modern documentation framework built on top of Astro that makes it easy to create beautiful, high-performance documentation websites. Built with Astro and powered by Markdown, Starlight helps you focus on writing content while taking care of the technical details. With Appwrite Sites, you can deploy your Starlight documentation in minutes using our pre-built template, with features like automatic builds, custom domains, and global CDN distribution. # How does the integration work? [Appwrite Sites](https://appwrite.io/products/sites) provides a ready-to-use Starlight template that you can deploy instantly. The template comes with a pre-configured setup optimized for documentation sites, making it easy to get started without any complex configuration. To deploy the Starlight template with Appwrite Sites, follow these steps: ## Create site After signing into your Appwrite console, look at the sidebar on the left. Under the **Deploy** section, you will find the **Sites** button. Clicking it opens the Sites page. Here, you will see the **Sites** tab selected by default. Click **Create site** to start the deployment process. ![Create new site](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/create-site.avif) At this point, Appwrite offers two options: **Clone a template** or **Connect a repository**. For this guide, we will focus on cloning the Starlight template, which lets you quickly set up a documentation site based on a pre-built project. ![Create new site](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/clone-template.avif) ## Finding the Starlight template When you select **Clone a template**, you'll see a library of templates. To find the Starlight template: 1. Use the search bar at the top and type "Starlight" ![Search templates](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/search-site.avif) After selecting the template, you'll need to choose how to deploy it, Clicking the Starlight template will open a new page where you can configure your documentation site. ## Configuring your site ### Setting up site details Once you have selected the Starlight template, you will be prompted to enter basic details for your site. You will need to provide a **Site name** and a **Site ID**. The Site ID becomes part of your site's URL, so it should be lowercase and use hyphens if necessary. ![Configure site details](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/site-details.avif) At this stage, you can choose whether to connect your repository now or later. If you choose **Connect your repository**, you will be able to either create a new repository based on the template or link it to an existing one. If you prefer to skip this step for now, you can choose **Connect later** and connect your version control later using the CLI or through the settings page. If you opt to connect a repository immediately, you will see the following options: - Select whether to create a new repository or connect to an existing one - (Optional) Choose a GitHub organization if you have access to multiple organizations - Name your repository if you are creating a new one - Decide whether to keep the repository private by ticking the checkbox Additionally, you can define the domain for your site, using the Appwrite Sites domain. After reviewing your configuration, click **Deploy**. ## Monitoring the deployment Once you initiate the deployment, you will be taken to a progress page where you can monitor the build and deployment in real time. The logs will show you the different stages of the build process. Depending on the size of your template and the dependencies involved, this process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. ![Configure site details](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/deployment-screen.avif) ## Access your site After your site has been successfully deployed, Appwrite will show you a **Congratulations** page. ![Configure site details](/images/integrations/sites-starlight/success.avif) ## Next step Appwrite provides a few options to help you continue setting up or expanding your project. You can **Add domain**, connecting an existing custom domain you own or registering a new one through the console. You can **Share site**, allowing you to collaborate with your team by sharing access to your project. You can also **Open on mobile**, previewing your live site directly from a mobile or tablet device to ensure everything looks and functions as expected across different screen sizes. ## Wrapping up And with that, the Starlight template is deployed to Appwrite Sites. You can explore other templates or deploy any other websites you'd like. ## More Resources - [Appwrite Sites Docs](/docs/products/sites) - [Starlight Website](https://starlight.astro.build/) - [Appwrite Sites video announcement](https://youtu.be/0cERQxFjTW4) - [Appwrite Discord server](/discord)