Start blog with Gatsby

February 25, 2024

Why not WordPress?

I have years of experience with WordPress sites, therefore I wouldn't use it for my blog.

WordPress cons

  • Because it needs maintenance, and I don't want to spend time with it.
  • Auto updates could break the theme or the plugins, and I don't want to fix it.

Why use a static site generator?

  • I'd like a static site generator because it's fast and secure.
  • I don't need to worry about the security updates, because there is no database and no server-side code.
  • The content is in files, and I can use git to version control it.
  • There is no hassle to test locally because I do not need to sync the database!
  • The markdown is easy to write, and any advanced feature can be added with react components.
  • If needed, I can later add a headless CMS, and I can use the same gatsby site to display the content.

Why Gatsby?

  • Popular, and well-documented.
  • Have starter templates, and plugins.

Why not Next.js?

  • I feel like it's more suitable for web applications, and more complex sites.

Why did I start blogging?

I could say I want to share my knowledge, but the truth is, I want to prove my knowledge, document my projects and ideas, build a personal brand and have a point to refer to when someone asks what I'm doing, and have done.


Profile picture Jan Śmigielski

Written by Jan Śmigielski a software engineer, full stack developer. You can find me on LinkedIn

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