Ask HN: What is the easiest to use static site generator?

4 pointshackercurious10y ago11 comments

I am trying to determine the easiest to use static site generator. I have found there are now several hundred static site generators and I understand most of these are forks of the main static site generators.

By easiest I mean the most user friendly to set-up and create a site, best documentation, and has an active group of users/community.

11 comments

stadeschuldt10y ago

It really boils down to your language preference:

For Ruby: Jekyll http://jekyllrb.com or Middleman https://middlemanapp.com (in case you want a site rather than a blog) For Python: Pelican http://blog.getpelican.com

bbcbasic10y ago

Inspired by your question I had a quick Google.

This one seems quite easy http://gohugo.io.

You download the built binary, no dependencies, lots of themes available. Had it working in a few minutes. (The git clone step didn't work for me but I just went to github and downloaded the zip.)

hackercuriousOP10y ago

Thanks for the tip on Hugo, it looks good will check it out. There are so many static s. gens.

https://www.staticgen.com/

jjude10y ago

Checkout Olai, (http://olai.in), a hosted static site generator. Nothing to setup. Connect Amazon S3 or Github page and you are done. Bonus: Use your desktop blog editors, like MarsEdit.

Disclosure: Olai is my baby.

thenomad10y ago

Pricing's a bit confusing. Is that 10 new posts a month or are you only allowed 10 posts ever? :)

lalwanivikas10y ago

Jekyll.

If you are just getting started, you can read this tutorial I wrote for SitePoint:

http://www.sitepoint.com/set-jekyll-blog-5-minutes-poole/

someguy123310y ago

What purpose are you using them for? I tried Jekyll and found it just got in the way of me creating sites, so I found Middleman.

Middleman is much easier than Jekyll if you want to build any kind-of normal non-blog website.

hackercuriousOP10y ago

I was trying to want to build a simple kind-of normal non-blog website also. Thanks for the tip on Middleman.

gadders10y ago

CityDesk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CityDesk

(or it was 15 years ago)

hackercuriousOP10y ago

>It really boils down to your language preference:

I was looking for the easiest-setup, operation, posting on web, updating content etc.

In this way I have only the preference of simple use.

tuananh10y ago

active groups of user/community: jekyll probably.

jekyll documentation is good too.

it's quite easy

seems to fit with your needs.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

11 comments

stadeschuldt10y ago

It really boils down to your language preference:

For Ruby: Jekyll http://jekyllrb.com or Middleman https://middlemanapp.com (in case you want a site rather than a blog) For Python: Pelican http://blog.getpelican.com

bbcbasic10y ago

Inspired by your question I had a quick Google.

This one seems quite easy http://gohugo.io.

You download the built binary, no dependencies, lots of themes available. Had it working in a few minutes. (The git clone step didn't work for me but I just went to github and downloaded the zip.)

hackercuriousOP10y ago

Thanks for the tip on Hugo, it looks good will check it out. There are so many static s. gens.

https://www.staticgen.com/

jjude10y ago

Checkout Olai, (http://olai.in), a hosted static site generator. Nothing to setup. Connect Amazon S3 or Github page and you are done. Bonus: Use your desktop blog editors, like MarsEdit.

Disclosure: Olai is my baby.

thenomad10y ago

Pricing's a bit confusing. Is that 10 new posts a month or are you only allowed 10 posts ever? :)

lalwanivikas10y ago

Jekyll.

If you are just getting started, you can read this tutorial I wrote for SitePoint:

http://www.sitepoint.com/set-jekyll-blog-5-minutes-poole/

someguy123310y ago

What purpose are you using them for? I tried Jekyll and found it just got in the way of me creating sites, so I found Middleman.

Middleman is much easier than Jekyll if you want to build any kind-of normal non-blog website.

hackercuriousOP10y ago

I was trying to want to build a simple kind-of normal non-blog website also. Thanks for the tip on Middleman.

gadders10y ago

CityDesk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CityDesk

(or it was 15 years ago)

hackercuriousOP10y ago

>It really boils down to your language preference:

I was looking for the easiest-setup, operation, posting on web, updating content etc.

In this way I have only the preference of simple use.

tuananh10y ago

active groups of user/community: jekyll probably.

jekyll documentation is good too.

it's quite easy

seems to fit with your needs.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse