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Jekyll vs Slate: What are the differences?
Introduction:
Jekyll and Slate are popular tools used for building websites. Despite serving the same purpose, they have key differences that set them apart. Below are the main differences between Jekyll and Slate.
Static vs. Dynamic: Jekyll is a static site generator, which means it generates HTML files during the build process, resulting in faster loading times and easier hosting. On the other hand, Slate is a dynamic documentation tool that uses React to generate pages on the fly, providing a more interactive user experience but requiring server-side rendering.
Theme Customization: Jekyll offers a wide range of themes that can be easily customized, making it suitable for those looking for a quick and straightforward website setup. In contrast, Slate provides fewer theme options but allows for more granular customization, making it ideal for users who want complete control over the design and functionality of their website.
Community Support: Jekyll has a large and active community of developers and users, which means there are plenty of resources, plugins, and templates available for customization and problem-solving. While Slate has a smaller community, it is growing rapidly and offers a more specialized focus on documentation-related features, making it a great choice for projects that require robust documentation capabilities.
Hosting Options: Jekyll websites can be easily hosted on platforms like GitHub Pages, making it a convenient choice for developers who prefer simplicity and integration with version control systems. On the other hand, Slate requires a server environment to run, which may involve more complex hosting setups and maintenance requirements.
Ease of Use: Jekyll is known for its simplicity and ease of use, with a minimal configuration required to get started. In comparison, Slate may have a steeper learning curve due to its dynamic nature and React-based architecture, making it more suitable for users with prior experience in web development.
In Summary, Jekyll is a static site generator with a strong community support and simple hosting options, while Slate is a dynamic documentation tool with advanced customization capabilities and a specialized focus on documentation features.
As a Frontend Developer I wanted something simple to generate static websites with technology I am familiar with. GatsbyJS was in the stack I am familiar with, does not need any other languages / package managers and allows quick content deployment in pure HTML
or Markdown
(what you prefer for a project). It also does not require you to understand a theming engine if you need a custom design.
Pros of Jekyll
- Github pages integration74
- Open source54
- It's slick, customisable and hackerish37
- Easy to deploy24
- Straightforward cms for the hacker mindset23
- Gitlab pages integration7
- Best for blogging5
- Low maintenance2
- Easy to integrate localization2
- Huge plugins ecosystem1
- Authoring freedom and simplicity1
Pros of Slate
- Easy setup5
- Simple to Use3
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Cons of Jekyll
- Build time increases exponentially as site grows4
- Lack of developments lately2
- Og doesn't work with postings dynamically1