How Long Does It Take to Build a Decent Jekyll Website?

The time required to build a decent Jekyll website truly hinges on your definition of ldquo;decentrdquo; and your specific needs. In fact, the process can be surprisingly quick with the right tools at your disposal.

Quick Setup with Jekyll-Now

While it's true that you can set up a Jekyll blog in minutes without delving into command-line operations, thanks to tools like jekyll-now, the barrier to entry is remarkably low. Jekyll is widely recognized as a lightweight alternative to WordPress, providing HTML an AKA STATIC file format that is deeply favorable to Google and other search engines.

Static vs. Dynamic Websites

Unlike dynamic websites, which rely on database functionality and Class-driven websites with processing times, Jekyll generates static content directly from your files. This means your website loads almost instantaneously. The choice between fast food and a gourmet menu is ldquo;it dependsrdquo; it depends on your user experience goals and the preferences of your audience.

Your Pain Points Matter

The duration and complexity of building a Jekyll website aren't about how quickly it can be developed but rather what your pain points are. These could include load speed, security, and resource allocations. It's also a matter of the level of expertise you or your clients bring to the table. For some developers, this is more about streamlining the workflow and identifying areas for improvement.

Blog vs. Static Site Generator

Some developers prefer using WordPress, Joomla, or any static site generator based on their workflow and improvements they wish to achieve. In some cases, you might find that most front-end landing pages are heavily reliant on HTML and JavaScript, loaded from a database or static files. Many publishing websites also leverage static site generators over data-driven frameworks.

Real-World Example

A good example to illustrate the power of a static site generator is Smashing Magazine, a prominent publication for web designers and developers. Despite its significant investment in server, plugins, and optimization techniques, they were still lagging behind in performance compared to a static site generator like Jekyll.

Switching to a Jekyll website, they reported an impressive improvement of 280%. According to their own words, the transition significantly enhanced their load times and overall user experience.

Conclusion

Building a decent Jekyll website is as much about your goals and pain points as it is about your development skills and tools. By choosing the right approach and leveraging the right tools, you can achieve a fast, secure, and user-friendly website that caters to modern web standards and user expectations.