Static site generators: An introduction

A static site generator is a tool that generates a static HTML website from templates and content files. Static sites are simple websites that do not require a server-side language or a database. They are fast and easy to deploy, making them a popular choice for building static websites and blogs.

There are many static site generators available, including popular options like Jekyll, Hugo, and Gatsby. Static site generators typically work by separating the content and the templates of a website into separate files. The static site generator then combines the content and the templates to generate a set of static HTML files.

One of the main advantages of using a static site generator is that static sites are fast and scalable. Because static sites do not require a server-side language or a database, they can handle a large volume of traffic without the need for additional resources. This makes them a good choice for websites that receive a lot of traffic or that need to be highly available.

Another advantage of static site generators is that they are simple to deploy. Because static sites are just a collection of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, they can be easily uploaded to a web server or a content delivery network (CDN). This makes it easy to deploy updates and changes to a static site.

There are also some drawbacks to using static site generators. Because static sites do not have a server-side language or a database, they are not well-suited for building dynamic websites or applications that require real-time data. In addition, static sites do not provide the same level of flexibility as dynamic websites, as they do not allow for the use of server-side logic or the integration of external APIs.

Overall, static site generators are a useful tools for building fast and simple static websites and blogs.