🔗 Static Site Generators
Jan talks about how static site generators are far more complicated than WordPress, despite (ironically) their output being far simpler.
I enjoyed this post from Jan once I’d translated it from Dutch and could actually read it. He talks about the irony of how the output of a static site generator is so simple, yet they’re somehow difficult to set up and maintain.
Since I’ve been around the block when it comes to blogging platforms, I have some thoughts on this.
While talking about his time testing Jekyll, Jan says:
Ruby dependency mess, this is not what anyone wants, drama.
I get where he’s coming from. Dependency issues with Ruby can be annoying. But honestly, I can’t say I’ve had any real problems with Jekyll while using Ubuntu. For me it’s been as simple as following the install instructions, running a quick bundle install, and I was off to the races.
Yes, setting up a static site is definitely more involved than installing WordPress. I completely agree there. But once it’s up and running, I’ve found there’s very little ongoing maintenance. The worst it gets for me is when a gem updates and I need to run bundle update before getting back to work.
WordPress, on the other hand, has always been more frustrating for me to manage. There’s just so much noise in the admin UI. So many panels, so many settings, so much stuff most people will never touch. And then you have plugins, their updates, their banners, their upsells. It becomes… messy.
That said, if you’re willing to ignore those frustrations, WordPress can be simple. Especially if you stick to an off-the-shelf theme and don’t tinker.
The truth is, it’s great that we have all these options. Different people have different expectations, preferences, and levels of comfort. Some folks want a managed dashboard full of knobs and switches. Others want a quiet folder of Markdown files and a build command.
I don’t agree that static site generators are inherently more difficult than WordPress. It really comes down to the use case and the person using the tool.
Anyway, go read Jan’s post — it’s interesting. And if you have opinions, drop me an email or leave a comment below.