A New Era of Full-Stack Frameworks

If you’ve ever been frustrated by:

  • npm install taking minutes (or hours) before you can even write code,
  • bloated dependencies weighing hundreds of KB,
  • or the complexity of deploying edge-ready apps to Vercel/Netlify,

then Fresh 2.0 might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Fresh is a full-stack framework from the Deno team that promises fast, zero-config development and edge-first deployment. And with the release of Fresh 2.0 (beta), it now comes with a Vite-powered build mode that takes the experience to the next level.

What is Fresh?

Fresh

Fresh is a Deno-native web framework that emphasizes simplicity and performance.

  • Runtime: Runs directly on Deno (no Node.js), with first-class TypeScript support.
  • Rendering: Uses Preact with Islands Architecture – only hydrate the parts of the page that need interactivity, leaving the rest as fast, zero-JS HTML.
  • Deployment: Officially paired with Deno Deploy, enabling global edge distribution with one command.

In short: it’s like Next.js, but simpler, faster, and designed from the ground up for modern edge-first applications.

Fresh 2.0 Beta: What’s New?

In September 2024, the Deno team announced that Fresh 2.0 had entered beta (release candidate).

  • The API is frozen — backward compatibility is guaranteed.
  • The framework is production-ready for trials.
  • A major milestone: built-in Vite mode.

Vite Mode: Three Big Upgrades

Enabling Vite mode is as simple as tweaking fresh.config.ts:

ts
1234 
      // fresh.config.ts
export default {
  build: { target: "vite" }, // Enable Vite mode
};

And the payoff is huge:

  1. ⚡ Instant HMR (Hot Module Replacement)
    Millisecond-level updates. Save a file and see changes immediately — no full reloads.

  2. 🚀 Lightning-Fast Cold Starts
    The dev server launches in milliseconds, even on low-end machines.

  3. 🔌 Vite Plugin Ecosystem
    Reuse the rich Vite ecosystem:

Getting Started in 30 Seconds

bash
1234567891011 
      # 1. Create a new Fresh app
deno run -A -r https://fresh.deno.dev my-app

# 2. Move into the project
cd my-app

# 3. Start the dev server (native mode)
deno task start

# Or run in Vite mode (HMR + fast startup)
deno task start:vite

Open http://localhost:8000 and your app is live. 🎉

Example: Islands Architecture in Action

Fresh Islands Structure

Fresh encourages you to think in islands of interactivity.

tsx
1234567891011 
      // islands/Counter.tsx
import { useState } from "preact/hooks";

export default function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </button>
  );
}

In your page:

tsx
1234567891011 
      // routes/index.tsx
import Counter from "../islands/Counter.tsx";

export default function Home() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello Fresh!</h1>
      <Counter />
    </div>
  );
}
  • The heading renders as pure HTML (zero JS).
  • The button counter hydrates only when needed.

Deployment Options

bash
1 
      deno deploy

One command pushes your app to 30+ global edge nodes.

2. Cloudflare Pages / Workers (Vite mode only)

Push your repo to GitHub, and Cloudflare Pages automatically detects vite.config.ts. Within minutes, your app is online.

When to Choose Fresh 2.0

  • You want fast prototyping without endless config.
  • You’re tired of Node.js dependency hell.
  • You need edge-first deployment for real-time apps.
  • You want SSR + Islands Architecture without the overhead of a full SPA.

Final Thoughts

Fresh 2.0 with Vite is not just another framework — it’s a new full-stack paradigm:

  • Dev experience: as refreshing as Vite.
  • Runtime: as lightweight as Deno.
  • Deployment: as seamless as serverless edge functions.

The future of full-stack might already be here. 🌍

👉 Official resources: