Pelican
A Python-based static site generator that supports Markdown and reStructuredText, ideal for technical blogs.
Summary
Pros
- Written in Python
- No database required
- Markdown and reStructuredText support
- Extensible plugin system
- Active community and development
Cons
- Command-line focused workflow
- Requires Python knowledge for customization
- Less beginner-friendly than some alternatives
- Fewer themes than WordPress or Hugo
- Limited built-in features compared to dynamic CMS
Pricing
Free (open source)
Features
| Feature | Support |
|---|---|
| Core Features | |
| SEO | PartialBasic SEO through templates, but requires additional configuration for advanced features |
| Sitemap | Via pluginAvailable through pelican-sitemap plugin |
| RSS Feed | YesBuilt-in Atom and RSS feed generation |
| Theming system | YesSupport for custom and third-party themes with Jinja2 templating |
| Plugin system | YesExtensive plugin system with Python-based plugins |
| Content Management | |
| Emoji | Via pluginRequires Markdown extension or custom plugin |
| Image optimization | Via pluginAvailable through pelican-image-process or similar plugins |
| Taxonomies | PartialBuilt-in support for categories and tags, custom taxonomies require plugins |
| Pagination | YesBuilt-in pagination for article listings |
| Table of contents | Via pluginAvailable through plugins or Markdown extensions |
| Comments | Via integrationIntegration with Disqus built-in, other systems require custom theme integration |
| Integrations | |
| Social media integration | Via pluginRequires plugins like pelican-social-share or custom theme integration |
| Analytics | Via integrationCan be added through theme templates or dedicated plugins |
| Newsletter | Via integrationRequires manual integration through theme templates |
| Search | Via pluginOptions include tipue_search plugin or client-side search integration |
| Headless CMS integration | LimitedPossible but not as seamless as with other generators; requires custom integration |
| Advanced Features | |
| Multilingual | YesBuilt-in i18n support with the pelican-i18n_subsites plugin |
| AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) | Via pluginWould require custom plugin implementation |
| PWA (Progressive Web App) | Via integrationRequires manual implementation in theme |
| Specialized Content | |
| PlantUML | Via pluginCan be added via custom plugin or Markdown extension |
| Mermaid | Via pluginThrough custom plugin or Markdown extension |
| KaTeX (math) | Via pluginMath support through pelican-render-math or similar plugins |
| GitHub Gists integration | Via pluginCan be integrated through custom plugins or theme modifications |
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