Why Static Websites Still Matter (and How Jekyll Makes It Easy)
A static website is a type of website that delivers pre-built HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files directly to the browser. Unlike dynamic websites that generate content on-the-fly from a database or server-side logic (think WordPress or Django apps), static sites are served exactly as they are stored.
In simple terms: what you write is what the user gets.
❓ Why Use a Static Website?
There are several benefits to static websites, especially in an era where performance, simplicity, and security matter more than ever.
⚡ Speed
Since there’s no need for a backend to generate content dynamically, static sites are blazing fast. Content is already rendered and ready to go, which is ideal for improving load times and Core Web Vitals.
🔒 Security
There’s no server-side code running on your host (like PHP or Node.js), which means there’s a much smaller attack surface. No login screens, no exposed databases, no server code—just plain files.
🧘 Simplicity
You can focus purely on writing content or building the design, without worrying about configuring servers, installing databases, or managing complex CMS systems.
💰 Low to Zero Hosting Costs
Because static files are lightweight and don’t require a full backend stack, they can be hosted for free or extremely cheap. More on that below.
🛠️ Meet Jekyll: A Static Site Generator
Jekyll is one of the most popular static site generators out there. It takes markdown, Liquid templates, and configuration files, and transforms them into a full-fledged static website.
It’s a perfect fit for:
- Blogs
- Documentation
- Portfolio sites
- Simple marketing pages
Jekyll is built with Ruby and integrates seamlessly with GitHub Pages, making it beginner-friendly for developers and writers alike.
Key features include:
- Markdown support
- Theming and templating via Liquid
- Blog-aware structure (posts, tags, archives, etc.)
- Clean URL handling
To use Jekyll you need to thave Ruby installed on your system or simply use a devcontainer along with Visual Studio Code.
You can run it locally with:
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gem install jekyll bundler
jekyll new my-site
cd my-site
bundle exec jekyll serve
It will generate your site into a _site/ folder, ready to deploy.
☁️ Hosting Options for Static Sites
Once you have your static site built (with Jekyll or another generator like Hugo, Astro, or Eleventy), it’s time to publish it. Here are some popular and practical options:
1. GitHub Pages
This is the go-to choice for Jekyll users. GitHub will automatically build and host your Jekyll site for free if you push it to a special repository branch.
Pros:
- Free hosting with custom domain support
- CI/CD-like auto-build from your repo
- Built-in HTTPS
How to deploy: Just push your code to a repo named yourusername.github.io or enable Pages in the repository settings.
2. Cloudflare Pages
Cloudflare Pages supports static sites and can auto-deploy them from GitHub. It’s blazing fast and comes with all the perks of Cloudflare’s global CDN.
Pros:
- Free tier includes generous limits
- Easy Git integration
- Built-in caching and performance optimizations
How to deploy: Connect your GitHub repo and select the build command (jekyll build) and output folder (_site).
3. Self-Hosting via FTP
If you have access to your own web server or hosting provider, you can upload your static files manually using FTP.
Pros:
- Full control over the server
- No platform dependency
Cons:
- Manual updates unless you automate
- You manage your own security and backups
How to deploy: Use an FTP client like FileZilla or the command line to upload everything inside the _site/ folder to your server’s public_html/ or equivalent directory.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Static sites aren’t just for hobby projects anymore—they’re a powerful, modern solution for fast, secure, and maintainable websites. Whether you’re a developer looking to launch a personal blog or a business aiming to deliver content reliably and affordably, static websites make a compelling case.
Tools like Jekyll make static site generation approachable, and with hosting options like GitHub Pages, Cloudflare Pages, and simple FTP hosting, you’ve got no excuse not to give it a try.
Got a favorite static site generator or hosting workflow? Drop a comment or let me know what you’re building—I’d love to check it out.