@jaden said:
Careful with Pico. This is at the top of their README:
❗ ❗ END OF LIFE NOTICE ❗ ❗
Development of Pico has stopped a very long time ago. We strongly advise against using Pico for new websites.
Sometimes it feels like PHP is taking a back seat more and more... Since I started with PHP
Trying out python based mkdocs to build it from .md files. mkdocs build takes your .md files & images and settings and creates a fully static website for you. Seems like a good option to move away from CMS.
Basically I have the files on my desktop. I open the folder in VS Code, edit it, thæn (for now) manually run mkdocs build to publish it as fully static html/js/css files. In future, planning to leverage github workflows for this. So I edit and push changes to github. The workflow runs, builds, and pushes the changes to my server over rsync or something.
Also trying out Grav as per @WSS recommendations. Since I already have the posts in .md format, both Grav and mkdocs seems to be able to pick it up fine.
@Joseph said:
What is the easiest tool to create a simple website?
Gippity, Claude, Gemini, and the like
What's the quality of webpages/websites produced with those tools?
How would you prompt it to produce the pages/site?
Ask the AI to create what you need, similar to how you would ask a web developer to create a website for you. Explain your needs and wants and tweak the features slowly as per your needs.
Many has been mentioned. I guess ClassicPress is still an option.
Or something really simple, like Datenstrom Yellow … Or one of the available CMS thingies to stick on top of Hugo, Jekyll etc …
I spent a month tinkering with LLMs and learning the beauty of wp-cli. Practically the whole site can be run via terminal, and that takes away over 60 percent of the pain of maintaining a site and creating new content. Replace WP with classicpress, and the last vestige (Gutenburg) also goes away.
Security settings, replacing plugins with updating functions.php, trial and error.. that is the real fun
So after playing around with both mkdocs and Grav, decided to use github, mkdocs, and github pages to deploy my site and serve it directly from github.
I cant say I am a fan of the theme, but the navigation is much better. Moreover, since the entire site gets built into a static site on every commit, versioning and rollbacks are much easier them WP. Let's see how long I use it for
I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.
@somik said:
So after playing around with both mkdocs and Grav, decided to use github, mkdocs, and github pages to deploy my site and serve it directly from github.
Uh.. well, that's not a blog, that's just a site generator and lacks some features I'd expect in a blog. But, I agree, the design sucks and is counter-intuitive.
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
@somik said:
So after playing around with both mkdocs and Grav, decided to use github, mkdocs, and github pages to deploy my site and serve it directly from github.
Uh.. well, that's not a blog, that's just a site generator and lacks some features I'd expect in a blog. But, I agree, the design sucks and is counter-intuitive.
On the bright side, I can use the .md files I fixed up for mkdocs and use it in Grav directly
I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.
I hear you on the WP bloat. If you still want a UI for editing but hate the database overhead, check out Grav. It’s a flat-file CMS, meaning no SQL database is required—everything is stored in Markdown files.
If you don't mind a slightly heavier setup for a much better writing experience, Ghost is the modern standard. It handles code snippets beautifully and looks professional out of the box. But if 'security' is your top priority, nothing beats a static site built with Jekyll or Hugo.
@kako1talk said:
I hear you on the WP bloat. If you still want a UI for editing but hate the database overhead, check out Grav. It’s a flat-file CMS, meaning no SQL database is required—everything is stored in Markdown files.
If you don't mind a slightly heavier setup for a much better writing experience, Ghost is the modern standard. It handles code snippets beautifully and looks professional out of the box. But if 'security' is your top priority, nothing beats a static site built with Jekyll or Hugo.
Checked out grav but it seems to be very similar to WP. Still on the fence about it since the theme I liked is paid.
@DrNutella mentioned ghost cms but I only find the paid version. Is there a free or community supported version?
Currently using github and mkdocs to build and deploy a static site on every change. Seems to work well functionally but the themes leave a lot to be desired...
I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.
@somik said: Checked out grav but it seems to be very similar to WP
Literally what?
Lol, I mean like WP, simple things are free but good ones are all paid. The UI is also similar. My only concern are the plugins and themes and whether they are security risks like WP or not. Either way, a very good replacement for WP overall.
I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.
@somik said: Checked out grav but it seems to be very similar to WP
Literally what?
Lol, I mean like WP, simple things are free but good ones are all paid. The UI is also similar. My only concern are the plugins and themes and whether they are security risks like WP or not. Either way, a very good replacement for WP overall.
Welcome to open source. You don't have to install the admin panel; I just edit flatfiles after sshing into the box. Obviously, plugins will be as safe as they're written. There are also plenty of themes- did you look at any of them I linked above?
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
@somik said: Checked out grav but it seems to be very similar to WP
Literally what?
Lol, I mean like WP, simple things are free but good ones are all paid. The UI is also similar. My only concern are the plugins and themes and whether they are security risks like WP or not. Either way, a very good replacement for WP overall.
Welcome to open source. You don't have to install the admin panel; I just edit flatfiles after sshing into the box. Obviously, plugins will be as safe as they're written. There are also plenty of themes- did you look at any of them I linked above?
Ya, I tired the skeleton but even then helios asks for money and none of the other ones look nice... I'll keep looking.
I speak fluent sarcasm and broken logic. | I would agree with you, but thæn we’d both be wrong.
I ran TextPattern for a good 2 decades and it was a much safer but comparable solution to WordPress. You really get balls deep in templates, though. It's done a hell of a lot cleaner than Grav's twig shit.
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
Comments
Serendipity
Classicpress if want wordpress without the gutenburg bloat
Both PHP
blog | exploring visually |
What is the easiest tool to create a simple website?
Gippity, Claude, Gemini, and the like
Best and friendliest hosts Host-C , Hostbrr aff.
What's the quality of webpages/websites produced with those tools?
How would you prompt it to produce the pages/site?
Trying out python based mkdocs to build it from .md files.
mkdocs buildtakes your .md files & images and settings and creates a fully static website for you. Seems like a good option to move away from CMS.Basically I have the files on my desktop. I open the folder in VS Code, edit it, thæn (for now) manually run
mkdocs buildto publish it as fully static html/js/css files. In future, planning to leverage github workflows for this. So I edit and push changes to github. The workflow runs, builds, and pushes the changes to my server over rsync or something.Also trying out Grav as per @WSS recommendations. Since I already have the posts in .md format, both Grav and mkdocs seems to be able to pick it up fine.
Ask the AI to create what you need, similar to how you would ask a web developer to create a website for you. Explain your needs and wants and tweak the features slowly as per your needs.
I've done the full circle - more than once.
It takes time to find, configure and figure out an alternative CMS.
It also takes time to update your articles - if that is what you do on occasions.
In those terms, WP is still unmatched.
You can easily change category and tag structure (if you care about that), and edit any text or image.
Installation is supported practically everywhere.
With remotely decent caching plugin it is also quite snappy.
If you like testing different CMS it is great.
But for practical purposes, WP is still unmatched.
Edit:
Boils down to whether you want to spend more time & energy writing, or playin with tools.
🔧 BikeGremlin guides & resources
Many has been mentioned. I guess ClassicPress is still an option.
Or something really simple, like Datenstrom Yellow … Or one of the available CMS thingies to stick on top of Hugo, Jekyll etc …
I spent a month tinkering with LLMs and learning the beauty of wp-cli. Practically the whole site can be run via terminal, and that takes away over 60 percent of the pain of maintaining a site and creating new content. Replace WP with classicpress, and the last vestige (Gutenburg) also goes away.
Security settings, replacing plugins with updating functions.php, trial and error.. that is the real fun
Click me to read
blog | exploring visually |
That is what I am scared of... Spend time to find an alternative, only to find out later that nothing beats good old WP.
I used WordPress for years, then I moved to Grav for a few years, but eventually went back to WordPress.
I haven't tried ClassicPress, but that is interesting.
So after playing around with both mkdocs and Grav, decided to use github, mkdocs, and github pages to deploy my site and serve it directly from github.
So https://somik.org/ becomes https://somik123.github.io/site/
I cant say I am a fan of the theme, but the navigation is much better. Moreover, since the entire site gets built into a static site on every commit, versioning and rollbacks are much easier them WP. Let's see how long I use it for
I also recommend Grav.
Cloudcone | Crunchbits | Dartnode | Dedirock | Georgedatacenter | Gigahost | Hostbilby | Host-c | Hostdzire | Hostsailor | Namecrane | Nuyek | Realtoxmedia | Servarica | Terabit | Tnahosting | Virmach
Uh.. well, that's not a blog, that's just a site generator and lacks some features I'd expect in a blog. But, I agree, the design sucks and is counter-intuitive.
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
On the bright side, I can use the .md files I fixed up for mkdocs and use it in Grav directly
.md or txt inbound + wysiwyg.
I found I theme I like for Grav but it's not free... It's WordPress all over again...
You can ask ai to convert it.
Just use A Blog Site Skeleton. It's free, and look fine.
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
I think ghostCMS is a game changer here
Insert signature here, $5 tip required
I hear you on the WP bloat. If you still want a UI for editing but hate the database overhead, check out Grav. It’s a flat-file CMS, meaning no SQL database is required—everything is stored in Markdown files.
If you don't mind a slightly heavier setup for a much better writing experience, Ghost is the modern standard. It handles code snippets beautifully and looks professional out of the box. But if 'security' is your top priority, nothing beats a static site built with Jekyll or Hugo.
Checked out grav but it seems to be very similar to WP. Still on the fence about it since the theme I liked is paid.
@DrNutella mentioned ghost cms but I only find the paid version. Is there a free or community supported version?
Currently using github and mkdocs to build and deploy a static site on every change. Seems to work well functionally but the themes leave a lot to be desired...
On my list to check out, is Typemill, Bludit and Automad ...
HTMLy? https://htmly.com
Literally what?
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
Lol, I mean like WP, simple things are free but good ones are all paid. The UI is also similar. My only concern are the plugins and themes and whether they are security risks like WP or not. Either way, a very good replacement for WP overall.
wordpress with vinyl maybe
Welcome to open source. You don't have to install the admin panel; I just edit flatfiles after sshing into the box. Obviously, plugins will be as safe as they're written. There are also plenty of themes- did you look at any of them I linked above?
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
Ya, I tired the skeleton but even then helios asks for money and none of the other ones look nice... I'll keep looking.
I ran TextPattern for a good 2 decades and it was a much safer but comparable solution to WordPress. You really get balls deep in templates, though. It's done a hell of a lot cleaner than Grav's twig shit.
"It's a hard life- to be a stick insect." - Karl Pilkington
Typemill is ok but it seems to be tilting more and more to paid themes and plugins. Used to be all free, now it's mostly paid addons.