Which one should I choose? Between CMS and Static Site Generators

Choosing between a CMS (Content Management System) or Static Site Generator (SSG) depends on the nature of the website you want to create, as well as your needs for usability and website maintenance. Both technologies have different strengths and weaknesses. To determine which one is most suitable for you, you should start by understanding the differences between CMS and SSG, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each.

CMS (Content Management System)

CMS is a system that allows you to manage and customize website content without needing extensive coding knowledge. The system will have an interface where users can add, edit, or manage content in real time.

Advantages of CMS

• Easy content management: You can create a website without needing programming knowledge.
• There is a user interface: The interface is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows for easy updating and management of content.
• Flexibility: There are many plugins and themes to choose from. You can add features or designs as needed, such as adding an online store feature or SEO.
• Supports multiple users: CMS such as WordPress or Joomla! Can manage multiple user permissions, which is beneficial for organizations with multiple teams to oversee.
• Real-time content updates: Content can be updated immediately through the user interface without having to wait for the webpage to be rebuilt like with SSG.

Disadvantages of CMS

• Performance is slower than SSG: Websites built with CMS like WordPress may operate slower than SSG because they need to load files from the server and retrieve data from the database with every visit.
• Security risks: CMS is a primary target for hackers, especially if plugins and themes are not updated or maintained.
• Complexity: Although CMS is user-friendly, using too many plugins or features can slow down the website and cause plugin compatibility issues.

Suitable for

• A website that frequently updates its content
• Blog website, news website, or online store
• Users without coding experience who want to control website content by themselves.

Static Site Generators (SSG)

Static Site Generators are a way of creating websites by pre-converting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files into static files, which can be loaded quickly from a server or Content Delivery Network (CDN) without needing to pull data from a database or other servers.

The advantages of SSG

• High speed: Since SSG generates website pages as static files in advance, the website loads faster than a CMS that has to retrieve data from the database every time it is accessed.
• High security: Since there are no databases or servers to connect to, the risk of being attacked or hacked is reduced.
• High performance: Works quickly when loading web pages and is suitable for high-traffic websites.
• Supports SEO well: Since every page of the website is pre-generated as HTML files, search engine bots can easily access the content.

Disadvantages of SSG

• Updating content is more complicated: When you need to update new content, you have to build the website anew every time, which may not be convenient for websites that are frequently updated.
• Need knowledge in coding: SSG often uses tools like Jekyll, Hugo, or Gatsby, which require knowledge of HTML, CSS, and website-building tools.
• Content management is more complex than CMS: If you have a team of multiple people who need to update content regularly, SSG may not be as convenient as a CMS with a multi-user content management system.

Suitable for

• Websites with static content and infrequent updates, such as portfolio websites or informational display websites.
• A website that focuses on speed and high-performance
• Developers who are knowledgeable about coding and do not want to use a database

Which one should I choose?

• Choose a CMS: If you need a website that can frequently update content, has flexibility in adding features, and has an easy-to-use content management interface, a CMS is a good choice, such as WordPress or Shopify, especially for those without coding skills.
• Choose SSG: If you want a website that is fast, secure, and does not require frequent content updates, SSG would be more suitable. Especially if you or your team have coding skills and are familiar with build tools like Jekyll or Gatsby.

Choosing between a CMS or an SSG depends on the nature of the website you want to create and your skills. If you want convenience, a CMS would be a better choice. However, if you need speed and security, an SSG is also an interesting option.