Static is Still Cool: Webby
I’ve played with dynamic, database-driven web frameworks in order to create my blogs in the past and they were interesting projects to learn from. However, one thought kept nagging at me as I was carving my code – Is this overkill for a blog? The answer was a resounding yes. My blogging needs are really quite simple, much more suited to the calmer waters frequented by static website aficionados.
It is within those tranquil waters that the fantabulous Webby resides. In case you haven’t heard about Webby, it’s a ‘website management system’ that allows you to generate web pages from text-based templates. If you can handle the command line and utter the phrase – I don’ need no steenkin’ GUI! – on a regular basis like a rather poor stereotype from a Spaghetti Western, Webby could well become one of your Ruby weapons of choice.
A blog is basically a collection of static web pages. Once a post is written, it generally remains untouched. There may be the occasional tweak, but usually a post ain’t gonna change much if at all. There seems to be a temptation to fill a blog with numerous unwarranted bells and whistles in a vain attempt to encourage readership.
Does a blog really need a search capability? I’m yet to be convinced. Usually, my blog visits are the result of a Google search and once there, I might even be tempted to click on a few additional links. I don’t actually remember ever using a blog search box except to test if the ones that I created were working.
Tag clouds are popular, nevertheless, do they really add to the blog reading experience or are they just another web developer affectation?
Webby lets me publish on the web with the minimum of fuss and bother. I can use Textile, Markdown and Haml in my pages along with trusty ERB. I can customise and automate to my heart’s content, even including some javascript like the Disqus comment service in this site.
If you’re feeling the static vibe but Webby just doesn’t hit the spot, you might want to try these offerings on for size (they are in no particular order) -
My assertion is that static web pages are a good fit for blogging and yes, I think they’re still cool.
