Static Website Generators (SSGs) have become increasingly popular over the past decade. This article explores how the developer-friendly build process, easier deployment, improved performance and better security can benefit your website. First, let's clarify the meaning of the word "static website generator"...

Key Points

• Static Website Generator (SSG) provides enhanced flexibility, allowing developers to insert widgets or custom components into files directly without being restricted by Content Management System (CMS).
• SSG enhances website performance by creating precache pages that load faster and can be easily deployed through the Global Content Distribution Network (CDN).
• SSG reduces server-side dependencies and improves reliability because they only require client HTML files and related resources, so they are less prone to crashing or failure.
• SSG provides superior security by minimizing attack vectors and allowing content versioning to be easily tracked and restored to previous versions if necessary.

What is a static website?

Recalling the first website you built. Most developers start by creating a series of pages contained in a single HTML file. Each page calls resources such as images, CSS, and some JavaScript code. You may start these files directly from the file system without the need for a web server. Everything was simple at that time. But as the website becomes larger and more complex, difficulties follow. Consider the navigation: it may be similar in every file, but adding a new page requires updating all other pages. Even references to CSS and images can become clumsy as the folder structure evolves. You may have considered options like server-side inclusion or PHP, but the simpler option might be Content Management System (CMS)…

What is a content management system?

CMS usually provides an administrative control panel. These panels allow authors to write content stored in the backend database. When a visitor requests a URL, the CMS will: 1. Determine which page is needed; 2. Request the corresponding content from the database; 3. Load the HTML template (usually from the file system); 4. Render the content in the template; 5. Format The HTML page is returned to the visitor's browser.

This is done almost instantly. A template can contain code that generates menus based on the navigation hierarchy. Everything went well, with more than 4 in 10 people choosing to manage their website using the open source WordPress CMS based on PHP/MySQL. Unfortunately, CMS brings a series of different problems:- You need to comply with how CMS works. Adding custom text or components can be cumbersome; - The server has more workload and performance may be affected; - There are other failure points. A software upgrade or a database failure may cause your website to go down.

What is a static website generator?

SSG is a tradeoff between a static website that uses manually encoded and a full CMS, while retaining the advantages of both. Essentially, you can use CMS-like concepts such as templates to generate websites based on static HTML pages. Content can be extracted from a database, a Markdown file, an API, or any practical storage location. Site generation can be done on your development machine, staging server, or built using services when pushing changes to a code repository. The generated HTML files and other resources are then deployed to the real-time web server. The term "static" does not mean "unchanged". SSG builds the page once, while CMS builds the page every time it is requested. The end result is the same, and the user will never know the difference. The related concept is "headless" or "decoupled" CMS. These systems use interfaces such as WordPress to handle content management, but allow other systems to access data through the REST API or the GraphQL API. Therefore, SSGs such as Eleventy can build static websites using WordPress page content extracted from internal servers. The generated HTML file can be uploaded to a web server, but WordPress installations never require public access from outside the organization. The term Jamstack (JavaScript, API, and tagging) is also used in aspects related to static sites. It refers to the rise of frameworks, serverless functions and related tools that generate static files but allow for the creation of more complex interactivity. Popular static website generators include Jekyll, Eleventy, Gatsby, Hugo, and Metalsmith. SSG is available in most languages ??(see StaticGen for more information). Frameworks such as Next.js will render the page statically when possible, but will also allow developers to run server-side code if necessary. Let's look at the benefits of using SSG...

1. Flexibility

CMS usually limits your options because they are bound to a database with specific fields. If you want to add a Twitter widget to certain pages, you usually need a plugin, a shortcode, or some customization feature. In a static site, widgets can simply insert files directly or use parts/fragments. Limits are rare because you are not subject to restrictions imposed by CMS.

2. Better performance

Most CMS applications provide built-in or plug-in-driven caching systems to ensure pages are generated and reused as much as possible. This works, although the overhead of managing, verifying, and regenerating cached pages remains. Static sites can create precache pages that never need to expire. Files can also be scaled down before deployment to ensure minimal load and can be easily deployed through the Global Content Distribution Network (CDN). Static sites always perform better than CMS-driven versions using template-like templates.

3. Less server-side dependencies

Typical WordPress installation requires:- Applicable operating systems, such as Ubuntu or CentOS;- Web servers, such as Apache or NGINX;- PHP with related extensions and web server configuration;- MySQL;- WordPress applications;- Any necessary plugins; - Theme/template code.

These dependencies must be installed and managed. WordPress requires less effort than some other applications, but a single update can still lead to confusion. Static website generators may require as many dependencies, but they can run on the developer's PC and will not be deployed to a production server. SSG generates client HTML files and related resources that can be hosted on any web server. No need to install, manage or maintain anything else.

4. Improve reliability

CMS is complex, with many moving parts and failure points. After running your WordPress site for a while, you will almost certainly encounter the terrible "Cannot establish database connection" error. Unexpected CMS problems can result from sudden traffic surges that can overload servers, crash databases, or limit active connections. It is less work to provide static sites. In many cases, the server only needs to return flat files, so scaling based on traffic needs becomes simple. It is still possible to crash the web server or overload the API, but this requires quite a lot of concurrent requests.

5. Excellent safety

There are many reasons why someone might want to attack your website. Traffic hijacking, malicious advertising, links, authenticity spoofing, and malware hosting all allow unauthorized users to receive money and/or praise. CMS opens up many attack vectors. The most obvious thing is the login screen: it is only as secure as the weakest user password. Note that any page running server-side code also provides potential vulnerabilities—such as spam through your contact form. It may not be obvious that someone has gained access; The worst culprit wants to stay hidden. Static sites may require little server-side functionality. Some risks still exist, but they are rarely as problematic as before:- Someone can access the server via SSH or FTP and tamper with the page or upload files. However, it is usually easy to check for changes (probably using git status), erase the entire site, and then regenerate it again; - The API called by the static site is exposed in the browser and can be exploited like any server-side code - e.g. Form Email Program. Good security practices, CORS and CSP will help.

6. Precautions for client control

You can spend weeks building an attractive CMS theme for clients that will destroy their website within minutes of handover! Using CMS is not necessarily easy, and it provides considerable power for content editors. You can lock permissions like plugin installation, but this doesn't prevent someone from changing fonts, introducing conflicting colors, adding inferior photos, or breaking layouts. Static sites can be limited or flexible depending on your choice. If you use Markdown or similar flat files, the editor is unlikely to make mistakes or adversely affect the page style. Some people will miss the CMS content management panel, but you can: 1. Use their existing CMS and clean up the data before generating it; or 2. Provide simpler processes such as editing Git-based in StackEdit or Hackmd.io document.

7. Version control and testing

Database data is volatile. CMS allows users to add, delete or change content at any time. Wiping the entire site takes only a few clicks. You can back up the database, but even if you do this regularly, you may still lose some data. Static sites are usually safer. Content can be stored in:- Flat Files: It can then be versioned using Git or similar systems. Old content will be preserved and changes can be quickly undoed; - Private database: Data is only needed when the site is generated, so it does not need to be exposed on public servers.

Testing has also become easier, as the site can be generated and previewed anywhere – even on the client’s PC. With more effort, you can implement deployment systems to build your site remotely and update your live server after pushing new content to the repository, reviewing, and approval. So in the static site world, everything is beautiful. Yeah? Please read my follow-up article "7 Reasons to Not Use a Static Website Generator". For a practical demonstration of building a site using the static website generator, see: - How to Create a Static Site with Metalsmith; - Getting Started with Eleventy; - How to Use WordPress as a Headless CMS for Eleventy

FAQ for Static Website Generators (FAQ)

What are the main advantages of using static website generators?

Static website generator offers multiple advantages. First, they provide enhanced security because they do not require a database, thus reducing the risk of attacks. Second, they provide improved performance. Since sites are pre-built, they load faster, providing a better user experience. Third, they are cost-effective. Hosting a static site is usually less expensive than a dynamic site. Finally, they provide versioning control for content, allowing you to track changes and restore to previous versions if needed.

How does a static website generator improve website performance?

Static website generator improves website performance by pre-building all pages of the website. This means that when a user requests a page, the service can be provided immediately without any server-side processing. This greatly reduces the loading time of the website, thus providing a faster and smoother user experience.

Can I use static website generator for large websites?

Yes, you can use static website generators for large websites. However, as the site size grows, build times may increase. This is because the generator must pre-built each page. Still, performance benefits often outweigh longer build times, especially in sites where content does not change frequently.

How is the security of static sites?

Static sites are usually safer than dynamic sites. This is because they do not depend on database or server-side processing, which are common targets for attacks. However, as with any website, static sites are not immune to all types of attacks, so it is important to follow best practices for web security.

What skills are required to use static website generators?

To use a static website generator, you usually need some knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Some generators also need to know about specific programming languages, such as Ruby or Python. Additionally, you may need to be familiar with using command line and version control systems, such as Git.

Can I use static website generator with headless CMS?

Yes, you can use static website generators with headless CMS. This allows you to manage content in CMS and then build your site using the generator. This can be a powerful combination that offers the advantages of CMS as well as the performance and security benefits of static sites.

How to choose the right static website generator?

Selecting the right static website generator depends on your specific needs and skills. Consider factors such as the language it is built, the template system it is using, its build speed, community support and its compatibility with other tools you are using.

Can I use static website generator for e-commerce?

Yes, you can use static website generators for e-commerce. However, since static sites don't have a built-in backend, you need to use third-party services to handle aspects like cart functionality and payment processing.

What are some popular static website generators?

Some popular static website generators include Jekyll, Hugo, Next.js, Gatsby, and Hexo. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to choose the generator that best suits your needs.

How does the static website generator handle dynamic content?

While static website generators are best suited for static content, they can handle dynamic content with the help of third-party services. For example, you can use the API to extract dynamic data, or use services like Disqus for comments or use services like Formspree for forms.

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