Static websites: The next generation of websites
Static websites have three main advantages:
- Improved performance: Because SSGs generate web pages ahead of time instead of on demand (as in a standard CMS), the websites’ speed performance is significantly higher, especially under load.
- Resource savings: Static websites are stored and served via CDN, there is no need to manage expensive server resources such as RAM memory and CPU processors that increase significantly with high traffic.
- Customization: Developers can create any template they want. They are not limited by the fields provided by the CMS or by the built-in templates of the CMS.
What is a Static Site Generator?
A Static Site Generator (for the sake of convenience – SSG) is a tool that helps build a static website from input files.
The SSG pulls content that has been entered into a source (for example, from a Headless CMS) and applies it to a predefined template, and then generates a static HTML page from the content and the template.
The most significant difference between developing a static website with SSG and regular website development (for example using WordPress), is in the way the website responds when the user performs an action. While in dynamic websites, the system rebuilds a page according to the user’s request, in static websites all the pages are built in advance.
In dynamic websites, every time a user visits the website, the system rebuilds the page they requested for them. In dynamic websites, built on top of a CMS like WordPress or Drupal, every user action triggers a series of actions: the request is sent to the server, the server pulls the content from the database, assembles the page, and only then it is served to the user.
In static websites, the construction of all the pages on the website is done in advance, during the build process. The pages are stored on a CDN so that in real time, when a user requests to see a page, the website serves them an HTML page that has already been built. Some of the functionality of dynamic websites will be affected by using SSG, but in the end, the loading speed of the website is significantly higher and this is one of the most significant advantages of static websites.
Static websites are websites that are stored on a CDN and allow the content of a page to be refreshed without accessing the server on which the website is stored. When users try to access a page on a static website, the closest CDN to them responds immediately with an HTML file, which makes the website load faster.
Why do you need a static site?
The most prominent and significant advantage of a static site is its speed performance. Since the site serves the user with HTML pages that have already been built, the loading speed of the pages in particular and the performance of the site in general improve significantly. Improving the loading speed of pages improves the user experience on the site and increases the chances of the site’s success.
As of May 2021, page loading speed is an official ranking factor for Google (in terms of SEO), so a static site will help you improve your site’s ranking in the world’s most popular search engine. With SSG you will get a faster site that helps you meet your business goals.
Another significant advantage of a static site is its security level. Since the site is built in a flatter way and uses only static files, it is less exposed to threats, so its security level is higher.
Another important advantage of static sites is their high scalability. Static sites allow for adjustments, extensions, and changes to be made easily and relatively simply. The expansion options in these types of sites are many, and programmers can add dynamic elements by using third-party APIs. In general, the SSG world is full of innovation, and it is possible to find new Frameworks and tools at a relatively high frequency, including tools that are only available in a Server-side environment.
In addition, static sites allow you to customize the content management system (CMS) to the specific needs of each site. If the site administrator uses multiple content management systems simultaneously, the CMS can be adapted to allow it to use multiple content management systems simultaneously.
Another significant advantage is that SSG saves a lot of resources. Loading pages from a CDN significantly reduces the cost of storage on servers.
Of course, SSG also has disadvantages, the main one being that this tool is less user-friendly, especially for website administrators who are not programmers or who do not have technical knowledge, which can make it difficult for them to manage content. However, there are now content management tools for static sites that are also suitable for people with less technical knowledge.
Another disadvantage of static sites is the difficulty of integrating dynamic and interactive elements into pages. The many extension options of SSG have allowed programmers to find a solution to this problem as well, and it is now possible to add such elements to static sites, but the solutions are still complex and require investment in development and in-depth knowledge of developers.
How to choose the right SSG for you?
Similar to many questions in the field of website development, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Choosing an SSG depends on a variety of variables and characteristics, including the business needs of the brand, the experience and level of technical knowledge of the team working on the project, the features required on the website, and the programming language in which you are developing.
The type of website you are developing
Matching the platform to the type of website you are developing is essential to the success of the website, and this is the first thing to consider when choosing an SSG. The features of a simple blog versus a heavy and complex e-commerce site are completely different, and you need to match the SSG to the features of the website you are developing.
There are a variety of SSG features, such as those developed to allow users to easily create image galleries and those created with specific Front-End design that is suitable for websites of a particular type.
However, most SSG tools allow support for websites of different types, from small brand websites to complex content portals to more powerful tools for managing large e-commerce sites.
What language and framework are you using?
Development with SSG is less limited than in the past in terms of the development language and frameworks that can be used. Today, you can find SSGs based on a variety of development languages that use different templates and run on different development environments. Accordingly, it is recommended to match the development language and framework you are using.
If you are writing code in JavaScript, the most popular frameworks for developing static websites are Gatsby and Next.js. Developing in a Vue environment? Check out Nuxt.js or Gridsome. Are you tired of heavy JS Frameworks? Check out Eleventy. If you like to write code with Go, then Hugo is probably the best framework for you.
Using a preferred language and framework can make the development process easier and the work easier. However, it is important to remember that the needs of your users and your business needs are more important, and therefore you need to match the development environment and framework to them first.
Many communities of developers have developed around SSG, where you can find answers to problems and questions that arise during the development process. Next.js and Gatsby are the most significant and largest players with active communities that offer a wealth of knowledge on everything related to website development with SSG. In addition, they enjoy the support of VC-funded companies – led by Gatsby, Inc and Vercel.
Next.js
Started as a small, no-configuration framework to allow for smoother use of Javascript, but today it already allows a variety of websites and applications with Next.JS, including the development of dynamic pages, static PWA websites, and more.
Next.js is a great framework for projects that require flexibility and the development of pages or parts that differ from each other. Its main advantage is that it allows for the development of a static website with the capabilities of a dynamic website.
Gatsby
Gatsby is the most popular framework in the world of static websites. It allows for the easy creation of interactive elements and the development of a very fast website with excellent performance in a relatively short time thanks to instant route changes and prefetching.
In addition, with Gatsby you can control a wide range of data sources using a single internal API, which makes it a great framework for marketing websites. It also offers broad support from a supportive community and a wide range of templates and plugins that will upgrade the website.
Nuxt.js
Nuxt is trying to do to Vue what Next did to React, meaning to solve most of the existing problems in React in application development. Today, it is a Higher-level Framework that comes with advanced elements and features, such as the ability to register additional API Routes, without using an external server.
Additional advantages include the ability to preview SSG, the vibrant community that is constantly developing and improving the framework, and more.
Eleventy
The significant advantage of Eleventy is that it uses Javascript to generate static pages, without the need for a Client-side Framework. The use of a framework with eleventy is optional and could be the reason that its use has been growing exponentially since it came to the world in 2018. Another advantage is that it is a Zero-config platform that is suitable for any project structure, supports 11 languages, and therefore is one of the best options in the world of static websites.
SSG Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Introduction
A lot of SSG tools have been developed in recent years, giving developers many options. Today, it is possible to develop with React-based frameworks, such as Gatsby or Next.js. However, not every project requires complex and heavy Client-Side JS. Accordingly, new and updated approaches to using the advanced tool have developed.
The Future of SSG
As CDNs become stronger than ever, we expect that soon there will be more tools that take advantage of on-demand rendering like DPR. With the right caching strategy, this approach can significantly reduce development time. It will not replace development completely, but it will reduce the number of pages that need to be developed in the first phase and allow you to focus on the critical pages, build them, launch them quickly, and then continue to build all the required pages.
Conclusion
Static websites now allow you to enjoy all the benefits of a CMS with improved performance of static HTML pages. Websites developed with modern SSG tools are reliable, secure, and can be changed and adapted. Their main advantage is the ability to handle high traffic volumes and save a lot of resources in the development process and afterwards.
