SSG Resources and Tools
Resource listings
These sites consolidate all the resources and offer multiple methods of narrowing the massive list, such as the base language the apps were created with. They both include learning resources such as training videos.
- Jamstack.org: This site’s tools directory focuses on SSGs and CMS products and also includes videos and learning materials. Sponsored by Netlify.
- The New Dynamic: This directory looks at the wider ecosystem and includes critical SSG integrations such as e-commerce and comment handling tools.
Popular SSGs
- Jekyll: Written in Ruby, this is the godfather of the Jamstack movement.
- Hugo: Built for speed, this system is also widely used in academia. Written in Go.
- Gatsby: React-based SSG written to support wide-range of site types.
- 11ty: Eleventy was created as a simpler Javascript-based alternative to Jekyll. Supports 11 templating languages.
- Next.js: Next.js is a React framework designed for creating full-stack web applications. Static site generation is one of the tools in its belt.
- Astro: Astro is arguably the halfway point between 11ty and Next.js — it's a static site generator by default, but you can also integrate dynamic web applications authored in server-side rendering frameworks such as React, Svelte and Vue.
Popular Graphical Front Ends and “Headless CMS”
There are dozens of SSG front ends. Here are select ones that are open source or have free options for one-off sites…
- DecapCMS is an open source CMS designed for content management in a Git repository. Perfect for many static sites generators.
- SiteLeaf and Forestry.io: These are cloud-based CMS that offer free individual accounts.
- Strapi: Open-source CMS featuring atomic-level content type building tools.
- TinaCMS: Open-source, Git-backed visual-editing oriented CMS.
- PayloadCMS and Directus: Open-source CMS options requiring a full database and server setup (not unlike Wordpress or Drupal. Your data is then delivered via API.
- Publii: A different approach — your content management and static site generation is in one app entirely private on your personal computer.
SSG hosting
Because static sites do not require databases, hosting overhead is minimal and can often be had for free. These hosts frequently have their own templates for getting started. They are known for speed as they are global content delivery networks (CDN) which host copies of your site on servers worldwide. The nearest server to your viewer is the one which delivers your site. While often free, additional services, such as custom domains cost additional.
Popular options for static sites include:
Themes and Tools
- Collection Builder: Open source tool for creating digital collection and exhibit websites with static site generators.
