What is Svelte? A modern JavaScript framework that compiles your code to vanilla JS at build time (no runtime framework overhead).

Key Features

Compile-time magic - No virtual DOM, smaller bundle sizes
Reactive by default - Variables automatically update the UI
Simple syntax - Less boilerplate than React/Vue
Built-in state management - Stores included
Great performance - Fast runtime, small bundles

Basic Syntax

<script>
  let count = 0;
  $: doubled = count * 2; // Reactive statement
</script>

<button on:click={() => count++}>
  Count: {count} (doubled: {doubled})
</button>

<style>
  button { color: blue; }
</style>

Core Concepts

Components - .svelte files with script, markup, style
Reactivity - $: for reactive statements
Props - export let name to receive data
Events - on:click, custom events with dispatch
Stores - Global state management
SvelteKit - Full-stack framework (like Next.js for React)

Why Choose Svelte?

✅ Smaller bundles - Compiles away framework code

✅ Less code - More concise than React/Vue

✅ Better performance - No virtual DOM overhead

✅ Easier learning curve - Closer to vanilla JS/HTML

✅ Great DX - Excellent dev tools and error messages

When to Use

New projects prioritizing performance
Teams wanting simpler syntax
Apps needing small bundle sizes
Developers wanting to try something modern

Svelte is great for building fast, lightweight web apps with less code complexity than traditional frameworks.

Svelte Learning Roadmap

Phase 1: Prerequisites (1-2 weeks)

HTML/CSS Fundamentals
- Semantic HTML
- CSS Grid & Flexbox
- Responsive design basics
JavaScript Essentials
- ES6+ features (arrow functions, destructuring, modules)
- DOM manipulation
- Async/await, Promises
- Array methods (map, filter, reduce)

Phase 2: Svelte Basics (2-3 weeks)

Week 1: Core Concepts

Getting Started
- Install Node.js and npm
- Create first Svelte app: npm create svelte@latest my-app
- Understand the project structure
- Run development server
Basic Syntax
- Component structure (.svelte files)
- Script, markup, and style blocks
- Reactive variables with $:
- Event handling (on:click, on:input)

Week 2: Component Fundamentals

Data & Reactivity
- Component state
- Props and prop passing
- Reactive statements and declarations
- Two-way binding with bind:
Control Flow
- Conditional rendering ({#if})
- Lists and loops ({#each})
- Key blocks for optimization

Phase 3: Intermediate Svelte (3-4 weeks)

Week 3-4: Advanced Components

Component Communication
- Custom events and event dispatching
- Slots and named slots
- Component composition patterns
- Context API for global state
Lifecycle & Effects
- Component lifecycle (onMount, onDestroy)
- beforeUpdate and afterUpdate
- tick() function for DOM updates

Week 5-6: Stores & State Management

Svelte Stores
- Writable stores
- Readable stores
- Derived stores
- Custom stores and store contracts
- Using stores in components

Phase 4: SvelteKit & Production (4-5 weeks)

Week 7-8: SvelteKit Basics

Setup & Routing
- Create SvelteKit project
- File-based routing system
- Dynamic routes and parameters
- Layout components
Data Loading
- Page and layout load functions
- Server-side vs client-side loading
- Form actions and progressive enhancement

Week 9-10: SvelteKit Advanced

Advanced Features
- API routes and endpoints
- Server-side rendering (SSR)
- Static site generation (SSG)
- Pre-rendering strategies
Deployment & Optimization
- Build optimization
- Deploy to Vercel, Netlify, or other platforms
- Performance best practices

Week 11: Real Project

Build a complete application (todo app, blog, or dashboard)
Implement authentication
Add a database (Supabase, Firebase, or traditional DB)
Deploy to production

Phase 5: Advanced Topics (Ongoing)

Performance & Optimization

Bundle analysis and code splitting
Lazy loading components
Animation and transitions
Accessibility best practices

Ecosystem & Tools

Testing
- Vitest for unit testing
- Playwright for E2E testing
- Testing Library for component testing
Styling Solutions
- CSS-in-JS alternatives
- Tailwind CSS integration
- CSS custom properties
Advanced Patterns
- Micro-frontends with Svelte
- PWA features
- WebSocket integration
- GraphQL with Svelte

Recommended Resources

Official Documentation

Svelte Tutorial - Interactive tutorial
SvelteKit Docs - Complete guide
Svelte Examples - Code examples

Practice Projects (Build These!)

Beginner: Counter app, Todo list
Intermediate: Weather app, Recipe finder
Advanced: E-commerce site, Social media dashboard
Expert: Real-time chat app, Data visualization tool

YouTube Channels

Svelte Society
Fireship (Svelte content)
The Net Ninja

Communities

Timeline Summary

Total Time: 3-4 months (assuming 10-15 hours/week)
Minimum Viable: 6-8 weeks to build simple apps
Job Ready: 3-4 months with portfolio projects

Pro Tips

Build projects after each phase - don't just read!
Join the community early for help and motivation
Compare Svelte solutions to React/Vue to understand differences
Focus on understanding reactivity - it's Svelte's superpower
Start with Svelte before jumping to SvelteKit

Roadmap Svelte