solid-impl-solidstart

name	solid-impl-solidstart
description	Use when building SolidStart applications with SSR, file-based routing, or server functions. Prevents incorrect 'use server' placement, broken hydration, and misuse of query/createAsync patterns. Covers file-based routing, data loading with query and createAsync, server functions, actions with form integration, SSR streaming, hydration, and API routes. Keywords: SolidStart, use server, createAsync, query, file-based routing, SSR, hydration, API routes, Vinxi, Nitro.
license	MIT
compatibility	Designed for Claude Code. Requires SolidStart 1.x with SolidJS 1.x/2.x and TypeScript.
metadata	{"author":"OpenAEC-Foundation","version":"1.0"}

solid-impl-solidstart

Quick Reference

Architecture Stack

Layer	Technology	Role
SolidJS	Fine-grained reactivity	Component rendering, signals, stores
Vite	Bundler	Dev server, HMR, production builds
Nitro	Server runtime	Deployment adapters, server functions
Vinxi	CLI + config	Combines Vite + Nitro into unified tooling

Project Structure

src/
├── routes/              # File-based routing (ALWAYS here)
│   ├── index.tsx        # / route
│   ├── about.tsx        # /about route
│   └── api/             # API routes
├── entry-client.tsx     # Client hydration entry
├── entry-server.tsx     # Server request handler
└── app.tsx              # Root component (Router + FileRoutes)

Minimum app.tsx

import { Suspense } from "solid-js";
import { Router } from "@solidjs/router";
import { FileRoutes } from "@solidjs/start/router";

export default function App() {
  return (
    <Router root={(props) => <Suspense>{props.children}</Suspense>}>
      <FileRoutes />
    </Router>
  );
}

Critical Warnings

ALWAYS make "use server" functions async -- the directive requires the function to return a Promise. Non-async server functions cause runtime errors.

ALWAYS throw redirect() from server functions -- NEVER return redirect(). Redirect is implemented as a thrown response, not a return value. Returning it does nothing.

NEVER use getServerSideProps, useLoaderData, or any Next.js/React Router data loading patterns. SolidStart uses query() + createAsync() exclusively.

NEVER use useEffect for data fetching -- SolidStart has NO equivalent of React's useEffect data fetching pattern. ALWAYS use query() + createAsync().

NEVER use element={<Component />} on Route -- ALWAYS use component={Component}. The React pattern creates the component immediately, breaking Solid's deferred rendering.

NEVER use the deprecated 0.x APIs (createServerData$, createServerAction$) -- ALWAYS use query(), action(), and "use server" from SolidStart 1.0+.

---

File-Based Routing Convention Table

File Pattern	URL	Description
routes/index.tsx	/	Home route
routes/about.tsx	/about	Static route
routes/blog/article.tsx	/blog/article	Nested route
routes/blog.tsx + routes/blog/	Layout wrapper	Layout for /blog/* children
routes/users/[id].tsx	/users/:id	Dynamic parameter
routes/users/[[id]].tsx	/users or /users/:id	Optional parameter
routes/docs/[...path].tsx	/docs/*	Catch-all parameter
routes/(admin)/dashboard.tsx	/dashboard	Route group (no URL segment)
routes/api/users.ts	/api/users	API route (no default export)

Dynamic Route Parameters

import { useParams } from "@solidjs/router";

// routes/users/[id].tsx
export default function UserPage() {
  const params = useParams();
  return <div>User: {params.id}</div>;
}

// routes/docs/[...path].tsx -- catch-all
export default function DocsPage() {
  const params = useParams();
  // params.path = "guides/getting-started" (slash-delimited)
  return <div>Doc: {params.path}</div>;
}

Nested Layout Pattern

// routes/blog.tsx -- layout wrapper for /blog/*
import type { RouteSectionProps } from "@solidjs/router";

export default function BlogLayout(props: RouteSectionProps) {
  return (
    <div>
      <nav>Blog Navigation</nav>
      {props.children}
    </div>
  );
}

---

Decision Tree: Data Loading

Need server-side data?
├─ YES: Is it a read operation (query)?
│  ├─ YES: Use query() + createAsync()
│  │  └─ Need fine-grained store updates? → Use createAsyncStore()
│  └─ NO: It's a mutation → Use action() (see Actions section)
└─ NO: Client-only data
   └─ Use createSignal/createResource directly

---

Data Loading Pattern

Step 1: Define a Query with Server Function

import { query } from "@solidjs/router";

const getUser = query(async (id: string) => {
  "use server";
  const user = await db.getUser(id);
  if (!user) throw new Error("User not found");
  return user;
}, "user");

Step 2: Consume with createAsync

import { createAsync } from "@solidjs/router";
import { Suspense } from "solid-js";

export default function UserPage() {
  const params = useParams();
  const user = createAsync(() => getUser(params.id));

  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<p>Loading...</p>}>
      <h1>{user()?.name}</h1>
    </Suspense>
  );
}

Step 3: Preload for Instant Navigation

import type { RouteDefinition } from "@solidjs/router";

export const route = {
  preload({ params }) {
    getUser(params.id); // fire-and-forget, warms cache
  },
} satisfies RouteDefinition;

---

Decision Tree: Mutations

Need to mutate server data?
├─ From a <form>?
│  ├─ YES: Use action={myAction} method="post"
│  │  └─ Need extra args? → Use action={myAction.with(extraArg)}
│  └─ NO: Programmatic mutation
│     └─ Use useAction(myAction) for imperative calls
└─ Track submission state?
   ├─ Single submission → useSubmission(myAction)
   └─ Multiple concurrent → useSubmissions(myAction)

---

Actions and Forms Pattern

Form-Based Action

import { action, redirect } from "@solidjs/router";

const addTodo = action(async (formData: FormData) => {
  "use server";
  const title = formData.get("title") as string;
  await db.addTodo(title);
  throw redirect("/todos");  // ALWAYS throw, NEVER return
}, "addTodo");

export default function NewTodo() {
  return (
    <form action={addTodo} method="post">
      <input name="title" required />
      <button type="submit">Add</button>
    </form>
  );
}

Programmatic Action with useAction

import { action, useAction } from "@solidjs/router";

const toggleTodo = action(async (id: string) => {
  "use server";
  await db.toggleTodo(id);
}, "toggleTodo");

function TodoItem(props: { id: string; done: boolean }) {
  const doToggle = useAction(toggleTodo);
  return (
    <button onClick={() => doToggle(props.id)}>
      {props.done ? "Undo" : "Done"}
    </button>
  );
}

Submission Tracking

import { useSubmission } from "@solidjs/router";

function TodoForm() {
  const submission = useSubmission(addTodo);
  return (
    <form action={addTodo} method="post">
      <input name="title" />
      <button disabled={submission.pending}>
        {submission.pending ? "Adding..." : "Add"}
      </button>
    </form>
  );
}

Response Helpers After Actions

import { redirect, reload, revalidate } from "@solidjs/router";

const updateUser = action(async (id: string, formData: FormData) => {
  "use server";
  await db.updateUser(id, Object.fromEntries(formData));
  // Option 1: Redirect (ALWAYS throw)
  throw redirect("/users");
  // Option 2: Revalidate specific query + redirect
  throw redirect("/users", { revalidate: getUser.keyFor(id) });
  // Option 3: Reload current page
  throw reload({ revalidate: getUser.key });
}, "updateUser");

---

Server Functions

Function-Level "use server"

const getData = async (id: string) => {
  "use server";
  return db.getData(id);  // Runs server-only, compiled to RPC
};

File-Level "use server"

// src/lib/server/queries.ts
"use server";

export async function getUsers() {
  return db.getUsers();
}

export async function getProduct(id: string) {
  return db.getProduct(id);
}

Serialization Requirement

Arguments and return values MUST be serializable (SolidStart uses Seroval). NEVER pass DOM nodes, functions, or class instances through server functions.

---

SSR and Hydration

Mode	Function	Use Case
Sync SSR	renderToString	Static pages, no async data
Streaming SSR	renderToStream	Dynamic pages with Suspense boundaries
Client hydration	hydrate	Attach reactivity to server-rendered HTML

Streaming SSR (Default in SolidStart)

import { renderToStream } from "solid-js/web";

const stream = renderToStream(() => <App />, {
  onCompleteShell() {
    // Shell rendered, Suspense fallbacks in place
  },
  onCompleteAll() {
    // All async content resolved
  },
});
stream.pipe(res);       // Node.js
stream.pipeTo(writable); // Web Streams

HydrationScript

ALWAYS include <HydrationScript /> once in the HTML head. It captures user events (click, input) before Solid loads, then replays them after hydration.

isServer

import { isServer } from "solid-js/web";

if (isServer) {
  // Tree-shaken from client bundle at build time
}

---

API Routes

API routes export named HTTP method handlers (NOT a default component):

// routes/api/users/[id].ts
import type { APIEvent } from "@solidjs/start/server";

export async function GET({ params }: APIEvent) {
  const user = await db.getUser(params.id);
  if (!user) return new Response("Not found", { status: 404 });
  return user; // Auto-serialized to JSON
}

export async function DELETE({ params }: APIEvent) {
  await db.deleteUser(params.id);
  return new Response(null, { status: 204 });
}

API routes are prioritized over UI routes at the same path.

---

SolidStart 0.x to 1.0 Migration

0.x (Deprecated)	1.0 (Current)
createServerData$	query() + createAsync()
createServerAction$	action()
createRouteData	query() + createAsync()
useRouteData()	createAsync(() => myQuery())
server$() wrapper	"use server" directive

---

Reference Links

• references/methods.md -- API signatures for query, createAsync, action, redirect, renderToStream, hydrate
• references/examples.md -- File routing, data loading, server functions, action/form, SSR, API route patterns
• references/anti-patterns.md -- Next.js patterns, getServerSideProps, useEffect data fetching, React Router patterns

Official Sources

• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-start
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-start/building-your-application/routing
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-start/reference/server/use-server
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-router/reference/data-apis/query
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-router/reference/data-apis/action
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-router/reference/data-apis/create-async
• https://docs.solidjs.com/reference/rendering/render-to-stream
• https://docs.solidjs.com/reference/rendering/hydrate
• https://docs.solidjs.com/solid-start/building-your-application/api-routes