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The world’s fastest framework for building websites.
:globe_with_meridians: Jekyll is a blog-aware static site generator in Ruby
A simpler site generator. Transforms a directory of templates (of varying types) into HTML.
The best React-based framework with performance, scalability and security built in.
A fast, simple & powerful blog framework, powered by Node.js.
Static site generator that supports Markdown and reST syntax. Powered by Python.
Quick Overview
Ghost is an open-source, professional publishing platform built on a modern Node.js technology stack. It's designed to be a powerful and flexible alternative to traditional blogging platforms, offering a clean, minimalist interface for content creation and management.
Pros
- User-friendly and intuitive admin interface
- Built-in SEO tools and optimizations
- Extensible through themes and integrations
- Headless CMS capabilities for modern web development
Cons
- Steeper learning curve compared to some simpler blogging platforms
- Limited plugin ecosystem compared to WordPress
- Self-hosting can be challenging for non-technical users
- Some advanced features require a paid subscription
Getting Started
To get started with Ghost, follow these steps:
- Install Node.js (v16 or higher) and MySQL (v8 or higher) on your system.
- Install Ghost-CLI globally:
npm install ghost-cli@latest -g
- Create a new directory for your Ghost installation and navigate to it:
mkdir ghost-blog && cd ghost-blog
- Install Ghost:
ghost install
- Follow the prompts to configure your Ghost installation.
- Once completed, access your Ghost admin panel at
http://localhost:2368/ghost
.
For more detailed instructions and advanced configurations, refer to the official Ghost documentation at https://ghost.org/docs/.
Competitor Comparisons
The world’s fastest framework for building websites.
Pros of Hugo
- Faster build times and better performance for static sites
- No database required, simplifying deployment and maintenance
- Extensive theme ecosystem with numerous free and paid options
Cons of Hugo
- Steeper learning curve, especially for non-technical users
- Limited built-in features compared to Ghost's full CMS capabilities
- Lacks native commenting system and user management
Code Comparison
Hugo (Go template):
{{ range .Pages }}
<h2>{{ .Title }}</h2>
{{ .Content }}
{{ end }}
Ghost (Handlebars):
{{#foreach posts}}
<h2>{{title}}</h2>
{{content}}
{{/foreach}}
Hugo and Ghost are both popular content management systems, but they serve different purposes. Hugo is a static site generator focused on speed and simplicity, while Ghost is a full-featured dynamic CMS tailored for publishing.
Hugo excels in performance and ease of deployment, making it ideal for static websites and blogs. It doesn't require a database, which simplifies hosting and improves security. However, Hugo has a steeper learning curve and lacks some built-in features that Ghost offers out of the box.
Ghost, on the other hand, provides a more user-friendly interface and includes features like built-in SEO tools, a native editor, and user management. It's better suited for dynamic content and multi-author blogs but requires more server resources and maintenance.
:globe_with_meridians: Jekyll is a blog-aware static site generator in Ruby
Pros of Jekyll
- Simpler setup and deployment, especially for static sites
- Tighter integration with GitHub Pages for free hosting
- Lighter weight and faster performance for basic blogs
Cons of Jekyll
- Less user-friendly for non-technical users
- Limited built-in features compared to Ghost's rich ecosystem
- Requires more manual work for advanced functionality
Code Comparison
Jekyll (Liquid template):
{% for post in site.posts %}
<h2>{{ post.title }}</h2>
{{ post.excerpt }}
{% endfor %}
Ghost (Handlebars template):
{{#foreach posts}}
<h2>{{title}}</h2>
{{excerpt}}
{{/foreach}}
Both Jekyll and Ghost are popular content management systems, but they cater to different needs. Jekyll is a static site generator that excels in simplicity and speed, making it ideal for developers and small projects. It's particularly well-suited for GitHub Pages integration.
Ghost, on the other hand, is a full-featured, dynamic CMS that offers a more comprehensive set of tools for professional publishers. It provides a user-friendly interface and robust features out of the box, but requires more server resources and technical knowledge for setup and maintenance.
The code comparison shows similarities in templating syntax, with Jekyll using Liquid and Ghost using Handlebars. Both allow for easy iteration over posts, but Ghost's dynamic nature enables more complex operations without rebuilding the entire site.
A simpler site generator. Transforms a directory of templates (of varying types) into HTML.
Pros of Eleventy
- Lightweight and flexible static site generator
- Supports multiple template languages (Nunjucks, Liquid, Handlebars, etc.)
- Easy to extend with plugins and custom JavaScript functions
Cons of Eleventy
- Lacks built-in CMS functionality
- Requires more technical knowledge for content management
- Limited out-of-the-box features compared to full-fledged CMS platforms
Code Comparison
Eleventy (JavaScript):
module.exports = function(eleventyConfig) {
eleventyConfig.addPassthroughCopy("src/css");
return {
dir: { input: "src", output: "_site" }
};
};
Ghost (JavaScript):
const ghost = require('ghost');
ghost().then(function (ghostServer) {
ghostServer.start();
});
Key Differences
- Eleventy is a static site generator, while Ghost is a full-featured CMS
- Eleventy offers more flexibility in templating, Ghost provides a user-friendly admin interface
- Eleventy requires separate hosting and content management, Ghost includes these features
- Eleventy is better suited for developers, Ghost caters to both developers and content creators
- Eleventy generates static files, Ghost serves dynamic content by default
The best React-based framework with performance, scalability and security built in.
Pros of Gatsby
- Highly flexible and customizable static site generator
- Extensive plugin ecosystem for added functionality
- Excellent performance due to static site generation and optimizations
Cons of Gatsby
- Steeper learning curve, especially for developers new to React
- Longer build times for large sites compared to Ghost
- Requires more technical expertise for setup and maintenance
Code Comparison
Ghost (JavaScript):
{{#get "posts" limit="3"}}
{{#foreach posts}}
<h2>{{title}}</h2>
<p>{{excerpt}}</p>
{{/foreach}}
{{/get}}
Gatsby (React):
import { graphql } from 'gatsby'
export const query = graphql`
query {
allMarkdownRemark(limit: 3) {
edges {
node {
frontmatter {
title
}
excerpt
}
}
}
}
`
Ghost is a full-featured content management system focused on blogging, while Gatsby is a static site generator that can be used for various types of websites. Ghost offers a more user-friendly interface for content creators, whereas Gatsby provides greater flexibility and performance optimization capabilities. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs of the project and the technical expertise of the development team.
A fast, simple & powerful blog framework, powered by Node.js.
Pros of Hexo
- Lightweight and faster to set up
- Supports a wide range of plugins and themes
- Static site generation for improved performance and security
Cons of Hexo
- Less user-friendly for non-technical users
- Limited built-in features compared to Ghost
- Requires more manual configuration and maintenance
Code Comparison
Hexo (JavaScript):
hexo.extend.generator.register('post', function(locals){
return locals.posts.map(function(post){
return {
path: post.path,
data: post.content
};
});
});
Ghost (JavaScript):
const ghostContentAPI = new GhostContentAPI({
url: 'https://your-ghost-site.com',
key: 'YOUR_CONTENT_API_KEY',
version: 'v3'
});
ghostContentAPI.posts
.browse({limit: 5, include: 'tags,authors'})
.then((posts) => {
console.log(posts);
})
.catch((err) => {
console.error(err);
});
Both Hexo and Ghost are popular content management systems, but they cater to different needs. Hexo is a static site generator that offers flexibility and performance, while Ghost is a more feature-rich, dynamic CMS with a user-friendly interface. The code examples showcase Hexo's generator function for creating posts and Ghost's Content API for retrieving posts, highlighting their different approaches to content management.
Static site generator that supports Markdown and reST syntax. Powered by Python.
Pros of Pelican
- Lightweight and fast, with minimal server requirements
- Highly customizable through themes and plugins
- Supports multiple markup languages (Markdown, reStructuredText, AsciiDoc)
Cons of Pelican
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Lacks built-in features like user management and SEO tools
- Requires manual deployment and hosting setup
Code Comparison
Pelican (Python):
from pelican import Pelican
from pelican.settings import read_settings
settings = read_settings('pelicanconf.py')
pelican = Pelican(settings)
pelican.run()
Ghost (JavaScript):
const ghost = require('ghost');
ghost().then(function (ghostServer) {
ghostServer.start();
});
Pelican is a static site generator written in Python, while Ghost is a dynamic content management system built with Node.js. Pelican generates static HTML files, which can be hosted on any web server, making it more lightweight and faster. Ghost, on the other hand, offers a more user-friendly interface and built-in features for blogging and content management.
Pelican is ideal for developers who prefer working with static sites and have experience with Python. Ghost is better suited for non-technical users and those who need a full-featured CMS with a modern admin interface.
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Ghost.org â¢
Forum â¢
Docs â¢
Contributing â¢
Twitter
The easiest way to get a production instance deployed is with our official Ghost(Pro) managed service. It takes about 2 minutes to launch a new site with worldwide CDN, backups, security and maintenance all done for you.
For most people this ends up being the best value option because of how much time it saves â and 100% of revenue goes to the Ghost Foundation; funding the maintenance and further development of the project itself. So youâll be supporting open source software and getting a great service!
Quickstart install
If you want to run your own instance of Ghost, in most cases the best way is to use our CLI tool
npm install ghost-cli -g
Then, if installing locally add the local
flag to get up and running in under a minute - Local install docs
ghost install local
or on a server run the full install, including automatic SSL setup using LetsEncrypt - Production install docs
ghost install
Check out our official documentation for more information about our recommended hosting stack & properly upgrading Ghost, plus everything you need to develop your own Ghost themes or work with our API.
Contributors & advanced developers
For anyone wishing to contribute to Ghost or to hack/customize core files we recommend following our full development setup guides: Contributor guide ⢠Developer setup
Ghost sponsors
A big thanks to our sponsors and partners who make Ghost possible. If you're interested in sponsoring Ghost and supporting the project, please check out our profile on GitHub sponsors :heart:
DigitalOcean ⢠Fastly
Getting help
Everyone can get help and support from a large community of developers over on the Ghost forum. Ghost(Pro) customers have access to 24/7 email support.
To stay up to date with all the latest news and product updates, make sure you subscribe to our changelog newsletter â or follow us on Twitter, if you prefer your updates bite-sized and facetious. :saxophone::turtle:
Copyright & license
Copyright (c) 2013-2024 Ghost Foundation - Released under the MIT license. Ghost and the Ghost Logo are trademarks of Ghost Foundation Ltd. Please see our trademark policy for info on acceptable usage.
Top Related Projects
The world’s fastest framework for building websites.
:globe_with_meridians: Jekyll is a blog-aware static site generator in Ruby
A simpler site generator. Transforms a directory of templates (of varying types) into HTML.
The best React-based framework with performance, scalability and security built in.
A fast, simple & powerful blog framework, powered by Node.js.
Static site generator that supports Markdown and reST syntax. Powered by Python.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot