Remix Static Routing

This skill covers using Remix as a static site generator (SSG) in this repository, including file-based routing conventions, dynamic segments, layout groups, and best practices for creating routes.

Key Concepts

1. Remix as a Static Site Generator

This repository uses Remix with Vite to generate a static site. Routes are pre-rendered at build time using the ssg-cli.ts script, which crawls routes and generates static HTML files.

2. File-Based Routing

Remix uses a flat file structure in app/routes/ where the file path maps directly to URL routes:

• app/routes/_landing._index/route.tsx → /
• app/routes/b._index/route.tsx → /b
• app/routes/b.$slug/route.tsx → /b/:slug
• app/routes/h.$slug/route.tsx → /h/:slug

3. Route File Naming Conventions

• Layout Groups (prefixed with _): Group related routes without affecting the URL

  • _landing groups landing page routes
  • _index denotes the index route for a segment

• Dynamic Segments (prefixed with $): Create parameterized routes

  • $slug captures a URL parameter named slug
  • Used in /b/$slug for blog posts and /h/$slug for help pages

• File Organization: Each route has its own directory with:

  • route.tsx - The main route component
  • Optional layout.tsx, error.tsx, or other Remix files

4. Route Component Structure

A typical route component exports a default React component and optional loaders/actions:

import type { LoaderFunctionArgs } from '@remix-run/node';

export async function loader(args: LoaderFunctionArgs) {
  // Load data at build time or request time
  return { data: '...' };
}

export default function RouteComponent() {
  // Render the route
  return <div>Content</div>;
}

5. Static Route Generation

For SSG, routes must be crawlable by the build system:

• Remix generates static HTML from all reachable routes
• Dynamic routes ($slug) need getStaticPaths or crawler hints
• The build system pre-fetches and renders all accessible routes

6. Styling and Assets

• Use Tailwind CSS for styling (see styling-react-with-tailwind skill)
• Import styles in route components or root layout
• Static assets go in public/ directory

Common Tasks

Creating a New Route

1. Create directory: app/routes/[segment]/
2. Create file: app/routes/[segment]/route.tsx
3. Export default React component
4. Export loader if data is needed
5. The route is automatically available at /{segment}

Creating a Dynamic Route

1. Use $ prefix: app/routes/section.$id/
2. Access params via useParams() or loader args
3. Ensure all IDs are discoverable by the crawler

Organizing Routes with Layouts

1. Use _ prefix for layout groups (e.g., _landing)
2. Create shared layout component in the group
3. Child routes inherit the layout without URL changes

Files and Configuration

• Route files: app/routes/**/route.tsx
• SSG CLI: ssg-cli.ts - Generates static site
• Root layout: app/root.tsx - Global layout and styling
• Build config: vite.config.ts - Vite + Remix build configuration

Best Practices

1. Keep routes simple - One concern per route file
2. Use loaders for data - Fetch data server-side before rendering
3. Name routes semantically - Use clear, descriptive names
4. Test with SSG - Verify routes render correctly in static build
5. Handle 404s - Create catch-all or error boundary routes
6. Optimize assets - Use static assets from public/ directory

Related Skills

• styling-react-with-tailwind - CSS styling approach
• Core Remix documentation for advanced patterns