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Python Site Generator

Learn more about site generators in Python

A Python site generator, often referred to as a "static site generator," is a tool used to create static websites. Unlike dynamic websites that generate content on the server for each visitor, static sites pre-generate all their pages and serve them as-is.

This approach offers advantages in terms of performance, security, and simplicity.

Static site generators typically work by combining content, often written in markup or a lightweight templating language, with templates to generate HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that make up the website.

Some popular Python-Based static site generators include:

✅ Pelican​

Pelican is a widely used static site generator that allows you to write content in Markdown, reStructuredText, or other formats and convert it into HTML.

  • Sample generator:
pelican-quickstart
pelican content -o output -s pelicanconf.py

✅ MkDocs​

MkDocs is a simple static site generator focused on creating documentation websites. It allows you to write documentation in Markdown and automatically generates an attractive site.

  • Sample generator:
mkdocs new my-project
mkdocs build

✅ Sphinx​

Sphinx is primarily used for generating documentation for Python projects, but it can be adapted for creating static sites. It uses reStructuredText and provides extensive customization options.

  • Sample generator:
sphinx-quickstart
make html

✅ Nikola​

Nikola is a flexible static site generator that supports various markup formats and provides features like blogging, galleries, and multilingual sites.

  • Sample generator:
nikola init my-site
nikola build

✅ Lektor​

Lektor is a content management system and static site generator combined. It offers a web-based admin interface and supports custom data models.

  • Sample generator:
lektor quickstart
lektor build

✅ In Summary​

These are just a few examples of Python site generators. Depending on your specific requirements, you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

They allow you to create websites efficiently by separating content from presentation and generating static HTML pages, which can be easily deployed to web servers.

✅ Resources​