Eleventy vs. Bridgetown
By SW Habitation
Eleventy
Bridgetown
Have you ever been to a website that loads super fast? Chances are it uses an SSG (Static Site Generator). It’s a tool that builds your site ahead of time, so when someone visits, they get the page instantly. No waiting around for things to load it’s just there.
What is Eleventy ?
Eleventy is a static site generator that takes your content whether it’s Markdown, HTML, or other template languages and compiles it into static HTML files.
Unlike some other SSGs, Eleventy doesn’t lock you into a specific front-end framework, giving you the freedom to structure your project however you like. It’s designed to be simple, flexible, and fast, making it a favorite among web developers who appreciate minimalism.
Key Features of Eleventy
- Community Support: Growing community with tons of plugins and resources.
- Great for SEO: Generates static HTML, making your site search engine-friendly.
- Multiple Template Languages: Supports Markdown, Nunjucks, Liquid, Pug, and more.
- Fast Builds: Optimized for performance with lightning-fast build times.
- Simple Configuration: No complex setup — just a simple .eleventy.js config file.
- Flexible Data Handling: Use front matter, JSON, or JavaScript to handle data.
- No JavaScript Framework Required: Works with plain HTML and CSS if you prefer.
Advantages of Eleventy
- Lightweight: No heavy dependencies or boilerplate code.
- Fast and SEO-Friendly: Static HTML means quick load times and great SEO.
- Simplicity: No need to overthink just build.
- Ideal for Content-Driven Sites: Perfect for blogs, portfolios, and documentation.
- Flexible Content: Use different templating languages in one project.
Disadvantages of Eleventy
- Limited Out-of-the-Box Features: Requires plugins for things like image optimisation or RSS feeds.
- Minimal Abstractions: No built-in state management — you handle everything yourself.
- Learning Curve: Understanding its flexibility takes a bit of time.
What is Bridgetown ?
Bridgetown is a static site generator built with Ruby.
It is designed to help developers create fast, modern websites with ease. It’s often seen as the spiritual successor to jekyll, with a fresh take on static site generation. Bridgetown combines the power of Ruby with a modern development workflow, supporting things like webpack, dynamic content with APIs, and flexible templating options.
Key Features of Bridgetown
- Component-Based Architecture: It supports reusable components for cleaner code.
- Built-In Asset Pipeline: It integrates with webpack for managing assets like CSS and JavaScript.
- Ruby-Powered: It leverages the simplicity and power of Ruby.
- Flexible Data Sources: It pull content from YAML, JSON, CSV, or external APIs.
- SEO-Friendly: It generates clean, semantic HTML with built-in SEO optimisations.
- Markdown and Liquid Support: It writes content in Markdown and use liquid for templating.
- API Support: It fetches dynamic content from APIs while keeping the site static.
Advantages of Bridgetown
- Extensible: Custom plugins and extensions for advanced use cases.
- Fast and Lightweight: Generates static HTML for quick load times.
- Great for Ruby Developers: Familiar tooling and language.
- Easy Content Management: Ideal for blogs and documentation sites.
- Powerful Templating: Supports Liquid, ERB, and other templating engines.
Disadvantages of Bridgetown
- Ruby Knowledge Required: Best suited for Ruby developers.
- Smaller Community: Compared to older SSGs like Jekyll, the community is still growing.
- More Setup: Requires setting up a Ruby environment, which may be unfamiliar to non-Ruby developers.
Comparison Between Eleventy vs Bridgetown
Use Cases of Eleventy
- Personal Blogs and Portfolios: Simple content-focused sites.
- SEO-Friendly Sites: Static HTML means better indexing by search engines.
- Documentation Sites: Great for organising and presenting technical documentation.
- Minimalist Projects: Ideal when you want full control with minimal abstraction.
Use Cases of Bridgetown
- Content-Driven Sites: Great for blogs, documentation sites, and portfolios.
- Ruby Lovers: If Ruby is your jam, you’ll feel right at home.
- Small Projects with Big Potential: Clean structure and fast build times make it a good fit for smaller projects that may grow.
- Custom Workflows: Offers flexibility in handling assets and external data sources.
Other Resources
Conclusion
Static Site Generators are a big game changer if you’re looking to build a website that’s fast, secure, and easy to maintain. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, portfolio, or a business website, they give you the freedom to focus on what really matters, your content and your users without all the extra complexity.
The best part? You’re not locked into one way of doing things. You can choose the tools and tech you’re most comfortable with, and scale things up as your site grows. From lightning-fast load times to better SEO and easy hosting, SSGs make the whole process smoother.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what fits your workflow and goals best. Pick the one that feels right to your requirements, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful, high-performing website that you’re proud of 🙌
Frequently asked questions
Is Eleventy fast?
Yes very fast, Eleventy is known for its quick build times and low overhead, making it perfect for fast static websites.
Does Eleventy have built-in data handling?
Yes, Eleventy handles data from JSON, YAML, Markdown, and more, which can be injected directly into your templates.
Is Eleventy SEO-friendly?
Yes, Eleventy outputs clean HTML with customizable metadata, so you can fine-tune your SEO strategy easily.
Does Eleventy support multiple templates?
Yes, Eleventy is template agnostic means you can use Nunjucks, Liquid, Markdown, Pug, and more.
Is Bridgetown actively maintained?
Yes, Bridgetown has an active community, and it’s regularly updated with new features and bug fixes. You’ll always have access to the latest updates.
Is Bridgetown content-friendly?
Yes, It works well with Markdown, custom components, and layouts, so you can easily create structured content.
Is Bridgetown only for Ruby devs?
Yes, Bridgetown is built for Ruby developers and works well with the Ruby on Rails ecosystem. If you’re familiar with Ruby, you’ll love its seamless integration.
Is Bridgetown a good Jekyll alternative?
Bridgetown is a modern alternative to Jekyll, with a more flexible architecture, faster build times, and improved plugin support.
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By SW Habitation