Basic CMS vs Static Site Generator

Developers should learn or use a Basic CMS when building or maintaining websites for clients or projects that require frequent content updates by non-technical users, as it simplifies content management and reduces the need for direct code changes meets developers should use a static site generator when building fast, secure, and scalable websites with predictable content, as it eliminates server-side rendering overhead and reduces vulnerabilities compared to dynamic sites. Here's our take.

Basic CMS

Nice Pick

Developers should learn or use a Basic CMS when building or maintaining websites for clients or projects that require frequent content updates by non-technical users, as it simplifies content management and reduces the need for direct code changes

Pros

• It is particularly useful for small to medium-sized websites, blogs, or portfolios where ease of use and quick deployment are priorities, and when advanced customization or complex features are not required
• Related to: wordpress, drupal

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Static Site Generator

Developers should use a Static Site Generator when building fast, secure, and scalable websites with predictable content, as it eliminates server-side rendering overhead and reduces vulnerabilities compared to dynamic sites

Pros

• It's ideal for projects like blogs, documentation, or landing pages where performance and simplicity are priorities, and it integrates well with modern workflows using version control and headless CMSs
• Related to: jamstack, markdown

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Basic CMS is a platform while Static Site Generator is a tool. We picked Basic CMS based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Basic CMS wins

Based on overall popularity. Basic CMS is more widely used, but Static Site Generator excels in its own space.