Python Static Website Generator Tutorial

Python is a great language for creating static websites, and with the right tools, you can build a website quickly and easily.

One of the most popular Python static website generators is Pelican, which is known for its simplicity and flexibility.

Pelican allows you to create a static website by converting Markdown or reStructuredText files into HTML pages, which can then be served directly by a web server.

I tried many existing static site generators, but none of them quite fit what I was looking for. Some were too bloated, others too incomplete, or opinionated without good overlap between what I wanted to do and what they required from me.

If you're like me and want a custom solution, it's worth considering building your own static site generator. This way, you can tailor it to your specific needs and avoid the overhead of implementing new features in existing tools.

If you're not sure whether a static site is right for you, consider the types of sites that don't necessarily need to be dynamic: personal blog posts, documentation pages, landing pages, portfolio pages, and brochure sites.

I tried many existing static site generators, but wasn't enamored with any of them. Some were too bloated, others too incomplete, or opinionated without good overlap between what I wanted to do and what they required from me.

There were too many options, each with its own set of flaws, like shopping the cereal aisle when your favorite is out of stock. None quite right.

I could have made one or several of these work well for me, but it would have taken too much time.

Static sites can load much faster than dynamic sites, with servers dealing with fewer requests and no database involved. This results in a seamless user experience.

In most cases, static websites will outperform dynamic websites due to the reduced load on servers. This is especially true for simple sites that don't require a database.

Some examples of sites that don't need to be dynamic include personal blog posts, documentation pages, and portfolio pages. These types of sites can benefit greatly from static site generators.

You can't use static website generators for websites that require a database, such as online shops or websites with user registration. This limits the use of static sites, but it's not a deal-breaker for many types of websites.

If you're looking for a performance boost, a well-optimized CMS like WordPress can be just as fast as a static site. However, if you're confident that you won't need dynamic functionality, a static site generator might be the way to go.

Here are some examples of sites that are well-suited for static site generators:

These types of sites can benefit from the simplicity and performance of static site generators.

I've been experimenting with writing posts using Markdown with YAML metadata, and I've found it to be a really effective way to create portable and long-lasting content.

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that's easy to read and write, and it's mostly based on the Github-Flavored-Markdown specification. I've been using Typora, a great Markdown editor on Linux, which allows me to see exactly what my posts will look like when I publish them.

To write posts, I place the metadata at the top of the document as YAML front-matter, which makes it easy to keep track of the post's details.

Here are some key features of writing posts with Markdown and YAML metadata:

Writing posts using Markdown and YAML metadata has really streamlined my content creation process, and I'm excited to see how it will help me generate static HTML pages for my website.

To set up a Python static website generator, you need a config.py file in the directory where you'll build your site. This file is automatically generated when you run aurora new [site-name].

The config.py file defines a few values that the website generator uses when processing your site. The BASE_URLS dictionary is used to define the base URL for your site, which is useful for maintaining multiple environments like local, staging, and production. For example, you can configure a site with local and staging environments.

YAML Front-Matter Metadata is a crucial part of writing posts in Markdown.

You can place post metadata at the top of the document as YAML front-matter. This data will be used by the site generator to create your blog post.

The supported metadata fields include post_title, post_description, author, date, slug, topics, related_posts, render_toc, and enable_comments.

Here are the details of each field:

The post_title field should be a string and is required, while the post_description field is optional. The author field is also required and can be set to the default author in sitegen.config.

To render collections of data, you can use a JSON file in your site's pages/_data directory. This file should have a .json extension, like the coffee.json file.

You can create a list of JSON objects within this file, such as a list of coffee shop reviews. Every entry must have a layout key that corresponds with the name of the template used to render the page.

For example, the coffee layout will be rendered using the pages/_layouts/coffee.html template. You'll need to create this template in the pages/_layouts directory.

Every entry must also have a slug key that corresponds with the name of the generated page. This will create a file in the _site output directory, like _site/coffee/rosslyn-coffee/index.html.

By following these steps, you can easily render your JSON data as web pages with Aurora.

Implementation is where the rubber meets the road. You've got your plan, now it's time to put it into action.

The first step in implementation is to define clear goals and objectives. This will help guide your decisions and ensure everyone is on the same page.

According to the project plan, the project timeline is 12 weeks, with key milestones at weeks 4 and 8. This will help keep the team on track and ensure progress is being made.

The implementation team will consist of 5 members, each with a specific role: project manager, technical lead, business analyst, quality assurance, and communications officer. This will ensure all aspects of the project are covered.

The project management software will be used to track progress, assign tasks, and manage deadlines. This will help keep everyone organized and on the same page.

Regular meetings will be held bi-weekly to discuss progress, address any issues, and make adjustments as needed. This will help keep the team informed and ensure any problems are caught early.

In an Aurora site, the root directory has a specific structure that's worth understanding. By default, it includes a pages directory.

The pages directory is where you store all the pages used to generate your site. Any file in this directory, or a folder you create within it (except for _layouts and _data), will be rendered on your website.

For example, if you create a pages/interests/coffee.html file, this will generate a page called _site/pages/interests/coffee/index.html.

Here's a breakdown of the main directories within pages:

The posts directory is unique, as it's processed with additional logic to automatically generate date archive and category archive pages, if applicable.

To configure your Aurora site, you need a config.py file in the directory where you'll build your site. This file is automatically generated when you run aurora new [site-name].

The config.py file defines a few values that Aurora will use when processing your website. You can customize these values to suit your needs.

You can define multiple environments for your site using the BASE_URLS dictionary. This is useful if you want to maintain separate environments for local, staging, and production.

For example, you can configure a site with a local and staging environment. This allows you to test your site on different environments before deploying it to production.

All paths used for storing templates, input posts, generated outputs, and caching are configurable in sitegen.config. This makes it easy to customize the storage locations for your site's files.

Caching of previously processed images and posts is automatically enabled in Aurora. This significantly reduces build time, especially when processing images.

Pelican is a static website generator that's built around Python, making it a great option if you're already familiar with the language.

You can use Pelican to create static pages using Markdown and reStructuredText, giving you a lot of flexibility in how you design your website.

Pelican comes with a set of themes that you can customize to suit your needs, and it also includes multilingual support, making it a great choice for websites that need to cater to different languages.

One of the standout features of Pelican is its ability to import data from third-party sources, including WordPress, RSS feeds, and more, making it a great option for a headless setup.

Pelican's robust set of plugins lets you extend its functionality to suit your needs, making it a lean and efficient static site generator.

Local Previewing is a convenient feature that allows you to see your site in action right away.

Immediately after building your site, sitegen starts a local HTTP server, serving your site to localhost for previewing. This means you can access your site by visiting a specific address in your web browser.

CTRL + C is the key combination that shuts down the local HTTP server when you're done previewing.

First, prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, just like we discussed in the "Urgency and Importance" section. This will help you tackle the most critical tasks first.

Make sure to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, as we did in the "Task Breakdown" section. This will make it easier to focus on one task at a time.

Create a schedule and stick to it, just like we outlined in the "Scheduling" section. This will help you stay on track and make the most of your time.

Don't forget to review and adjust your schedule regularly, as we mentioned in the "Scheduling" section. This will help you stay on track and adapt to any changes or unexpected tasks.

Use tools like to-do lists and calendars to stay organized and on top of your tasks, just like we discussed in the "Task Management" section.

You can define custom functions called hooks to run before a file is processed by a Python static website generator like Aurora.

These hooks can be used to save metadata about a page that can then be consumed by a template.

To define a hook, you need to write a hook function with the right type signature and add it to the HOOKS dictionary in your config.py file.

A hook function must return the page_state dictionary, otherwise the page cannot be processed correctly.

You can register multiple hooks in the same file by using the syntax: REGISTERED_HOOKS = {'hooks': ['word_count_hook', 'another_hook']}.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when working with hooks:

By using hooks, you can customize the behavior of your website generator and make it more efficient.

When choosing a Python static website generator, you have several tools and options to consider.

Mkdocs is a popular choice, known for its simplicity and ease of use. It's also highly customizable.

Pelican is another option, offering a wide range of themes and plugins to extend its functionality.

Hugo is a fast and flexible option, with a strong focus on performance and scalability.

If you're new to static website generators, you might want to start with Mkdocs due to its user-friendly interface.

Managing a Python static website generator is crucial for maintaining a well-organized project.

Mkdocs is a popular Python static website generator that allows you to easily organize your project with its built-in support for folders and files.

With Mkdocs, you can create a structure that mirrors your project's organization, making it easy to find and update content.

You can use folders to separate your content into sections, such as a "getting started" folder for introductory materials.

Mkdocs also supports themes, which can be used to customize the look and feel of your website.