Why we built RicoFast
Most open-source SaaS templates fall into one of two camps. Some are bare-bones starters — a hero, three feature cards, a pricing page — and you spend the next two weeks rebuilding everything else. Others are maximalist bundles with eighty sections you'll never use, four color themes you'll never pick, and a build pipeline you don't fully understand.
RicoFast is built for the middle. Nine pages that cover what a real SaaS site actually needs. Fifteen-plus section components you mix and match. A documented design system that holds together even after you swap the content. Restraint over bloat.
We picked Astro because zero JavaScript by default keeps marketing sites fast, even as you add sections. We picked Tailwind v4 because the new @theme token system makes rebranding a one-file edit. We picked Instrument Serif + Inter because the pairing gives the template editorial weight without being precious about it.
What we care about
Clean code
Readable, maintainable, and well-structured. Every component follows the same conventions.
User-first design
Accessibility and usability are non-negotiable. Every component is tested in both light and dark mode.
Thoughtful craft
Spacing, typography, and motion are deliberate, not default. The details add up.
Open by default
MIT-licensed, no vendor lock-in, no attribution required. Roadmap shaped by what people actually build.
How we got here
- v0.1 Sep 2025
First sketches
Started as a side project — a designer-built SaaS template that didn't look like a template. Hero, three feature cards, a pricing page. Forked from a personal portfolio repo.
- v1.0 Jan 2026
Initial public release
Nine pages, fifteen sections, dark mode, MDX blog and changelog. Released on GitHub under MIT. First wave of forks and bug reports — most of them turned into v1.1 features.
- v1.2 Mar 2026
Content layer + polish
Migrated to Astro v5 Content Layer API. Tightened dark mode contrast, cut cold-build time by 30%, added the BrowserFrame reusable component. See the launch post for details.
- v2.0 May 2026
Story-first refresh
Refocused around a coherent virtual brand to make the demo feel like a real product. Cleaned portfolio leftovers, rewrote section copy, upgraded every visual placeholder.
Open source
RicoFast is MIT-licensed on GitHub. Open issues, send PRs, suggest features. The roadmap is steered by what people are actually trying to ship.