Subtitle: Learn about how SSGs such as Jekyll and Hugo are transforming how we construct, host, and scale sites with speed, simplicity, and security.
The Day I Gave Up WordPress for Good
A couple of years back, I had a portfolio site on WordPress. It was beautiful—until it wasn't. Plugin conflicts, slow loading, and a hacking attempt made me rethink everything. I wanted something simpler, faster, and safer.
That's when I discovered Jekyll.
I rebuilt my website in a weekend. No database. No security holes. GitHub Pages free hosting. Loaded in milliseconds and performed like silk. I was hooked.
This experience introduced me to the world of Static Site Generators (SSGs)—and they revolutionized web development for me.
What Is a Static Site Generator (SSG)?
SSGs such as Jekyll, Hugo, and Eleventy accept your content (typically written in Markdown), wed it with templates, and produce a completely static site. These sites don't need a server or database to execute—they're pregenerated files waiting to be served on the fly.
Why Developers Love SSGs
- Speed Never Before
Static sites are absurdly fast. No server-side rendering, no database queries—just plain HTML/CSS/JS delivered directly to the browser.
Faster site = better SEO, lower bounce rates, and happier users.
Bulletproof Security
No dynamic content = less attack surface. SSGs are nearly immune to typical web attacks like SQL injection or plugin exploits.Free Hosting on GitHub Pages or Netlify
Imagine deploying your site with a push to GitHub—and for free. That's the magic of Jekyll on GitHub Pages or Hugo on Netlify.Version Control with Git
Your entire site is a Git repo. Version control, back out mistakes, and collaborate easily.Scalability Without the Weight
No server load. Whether you have 100 visitors or 1 million, static files are dealt with easily.
When Do You Use a Static Site Generator?
SSGs are perfect for:
Developer portfolios
Blogs and documentation
Landing pages and microsites
Project sites and resumes
However, if your site heavily depends on dynamic content (comments, user logs, or ecommerce), you may need a stronger backend or hybrid setup involving headless CMSs.
Which One to Use?
Jekyll: Perfect for integration with GitHub Pages, blogs, and docs.
Hugo: Renowned for speed and adaptability. Well-suited for large, multi-language sites.
Eleventy (11ty): Modern, lightweight, JavaScript-friendly.
Quick Start: Set Up a Jekyll Site in 5 Steps
Install Jekyll with Ruby: gem install jekyll bundler
Create a site: jekyll new mysite
Serve it locally: cd mysite && bundle exec jekyll serve
Push to GitHub and enable GitHub Pages
Your site is alive!
Conclusion: The SSG Revolution Has Arrived
Static Site Generators are no fad—they're an answer. Whether you're a developer in need of speed or a creator tired of cumbersome CMS sites, SSGs offer a lean, modern path.
Your portfolio, brand, or blog deserves a site that is fast, stable, and future-proof.
Used an SSG before? Let me know in the comments. Or, interested in what's best for you? Leave your use case and I'll provide you with tailored advice.