Static Site Generators: Returning to a Simpler Web 🪷

The web has evolved into increasingly complex platforms, with sites relying on databases, dynamic frameworks, and numerous scripts. However, for a simple content-based website, this approach is counterproductive.

Static site generators offer a simpler, faster, and more efficient alternative. Instead of dynamically loading content with each visit, these tools pre-generate static HTML pages. The result?

Increased performance – Static sites are ultra-fast since they don’t require database access or server-side code execution.

Enhanced security – Less reliance on databases and dynamic CMS platforms means fewer hacking risks.

Reduced maintenance – No need for constant plugin updates or security patches.

Simple and cost-effective hosting – A static site can be hosted for free on platforms like GitHub Pages, Netlify, or Vercel, eliminating the need for a complex server setup.

For a content-based website (blog, portfolio, documentation), returning to a simpler web with a static site generator allows you to focus on what really matters: content and user experience, without unnecessary technical constraints.

Why make things complicated when they can be simple?

The problem with static site generators is that they require a build phase, and the process is not always accessible to non-technical users. Therefore, I will suggest 6 solutions that simplify this process of generating static files, either through a CMS or a graphical interface

Disclaimer: the links below do not open directly onto the resources cited but on a summary with more details than here, so you don't have to read all the tool's documentation to understand what it is and what its main features are. If you're interested by the resource, there's a button to go directly to the relevant site. See "Visit this tool's website" blue button, top right on desktop view

1. Quiqr

Quirq is a blazingly fast Hugo CMS App to generate static site. If you want to publish your site with a ready made template or you want to create your Hugo website from scratch Quiqr has everything you need to get you started.

2. Primo

Primo is a visual CMS that makes it a blast to build pages, manage content, and edit code - one block at a time.

3. Publii

Publii is a new Static CMS with GUI to build an extremely safe, fast and stylish HTML website. It is a desktop-based CMS for Windows, Mac and Linux that makes creating static websites fast and hassle-free, even for beginners.

4. Stapy

Stapy is a Static Site Generator. It works with Python on any operating system without additional packages.

5. Lektor

Lektor is a flexible and powerful static content management system for building complex and beautiful websites out of flat files — for people who do not want to make a compromise between a CMS and a static blog engine.

6. Kirby & Staticache plugin

Kirby is a flatfile CMS writen in PHP and Staticache is a plugin for Kirby CMS. It gives you the performance of a static site generator for your regular Kirby CMS installations.