Testing Improved Hero Image System

Published: July 7, 2024

Testing the Improved Hero Image System

This post demonstrates the new, more author-friendly hero image system that allows direct use of images from src/assets/images/blog/heroes/.

What’s New?

Before (Complex Mapping System)

Authors had to:

1. Use predefined image mappings
2. Navigate complex mapping relationships
3. Understand which sample image their content would use

After (Direct Image System)

Authors can now:

1. Place hero images directly in src/assets/images/blog/heroes/
2. Use descriptive filenames like azure-deployment-hero.png
3. Add once, use everywhere - update ResponsiveImage.astro once per image
4. Reuse across posts - same hero image can be used in multiple blog posts

Hero Images Available

The system now includes several ready-to-use hero images:

• azure-deployment-hero - Perfect for Azure and deployment posts
• development-hero - Great for general development content
• sampleImg1Hero - Gaming/technology themed
• Plus all the original sample images: sampleImg1 through sampleImg5

Benefits for Authors

1. Clearer File Organization

src/assets/images/blog/heroes/
├── azure-deployment-hero.png    # Descriptive names
├── development-hero.png         # Easy to understand
└── my-custom-hero.jpg           # Add your own

2. Simpler Workflow

---
title: "My Blog Post"
heroImage: "azure-deployment-hero"  # Just use the image name
---

3. Better Performance

• All images still get Astro’s optimization
• Automatic responsive sizing
• WebP conversion for better loading
• Lazy loading support

Adding Your Own Hero Images

Adding a custom hero image is straightforward:

1. Add your image to src/assets/images/blog/heroes/
2. Update ResponsiveImage.astro with one import and one line
3. Use in any blog post with the image key

Testing Different Hero Images

This post uses the azure-deployment-hero image. Other posts can use:

• development-hero for general development content
• sampleImg1Hero for gaming/tech content
• Any of the sample images for backward compatibility

The system maintains full backward compatibility while providing a much cleaner authoring experience.

Conclusion

The improved hero image system strikes the right balance between:

• Author Experience: Simple, intuitive workflow
• Performance: Full Astro optimization benefits
• Flexibility: Easy to add custom images
• Maintenance: Backward compatibility preserved

This makes it much easier for authors to create visually appealing blog posts without wrestling with complex mapping systems.