Traditional Multi-Page Applications vs Static Site Generator

Developers should learn MPAs for scenarios requiring SEO optimization, as server-rendered pages are easily crawlable by search engines, and for applications with simple interactivity where full page reloads are acceptable meets developers should use static site generators for content-heavy websites like blogs, documentation, portfolios, and marketing sites where content changes infrequently. Here's our take.

Traditional Multi-Page Applications

Nice Pick

Developers should learn MPAs for scenarios requiring SEO optimization, as server-rendered pages are easily crawlable by search engines, and for applications with simple interactivity where full page reloads are acceptable

Pros

• They are also useful when building content-heavy websites like blogs, e-commerce platforms, or news sites that benefit from fast initial load times and straightforward server-side logic
• Related to: server-side-rendering, html

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Static Site Generator

Developers should use Static Site Generators for content-heavy websites like blogs, documentation, portfolios, and marketing sites where content changes infrequently

Pros

• They are ideal when performance, security, and low hosting costs are priorities, as static files reduce server load and vulnerabilities compared to dynamic server-rendered sites
• Related to: markdown, git

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Traditional Multi-Page Applications is a concept while Static Site Generator is a tool. We picked Traditional Multi-Page Applications based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Traditional Multi-Page Applications wins

Based on overall popularity. Traditional Multi-Page Applications is more widely used, but Static Site Generator excels in its own space.