Pelican is a Python-based static site generator that allows you to create fast and secure websites with ease. It's easy to learn and use, even if you have no experience with Python or web development. In this article, we'll explore the features of Pelican and why it's a great choice for your next static website.
What is Pelican?
Pelican is a static site generator that generates HTML pages from markdown or reStructuredText files. It's built using Python and uses Jinja2 templates for the theme system. The generated website can be hosted on any web server or a CDN, and there is no need for any server-side scripting or database.
Why use Pelican?
There are several reasons to use Pelican for your next static website:
- Flexibility: Pelican is highly customizable and has a simple plugin system that allows you to extend its functionality.
- Speed: Static sites are much faster than dynamic sites because there is no need to generate content on the fly.
- Security: With no server-side scripting or database, there is less chance of security vulnerabilities.
- Portability: Since the generated site is just a bunch of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, the site can be hosted anywhere.
How to use Pelican?
Pelican is easy to use, even for beginners. Here are the steps to get started with Pelican:
Step 1: Install Pelican
To install Pelican, you need to have Python and pip installed on your system. Once you have those, run the following command:
pip install pelicanStep 2: Create a new Pelican project
Once Pelican is installed, you can create a new Pelican project by running the following command:
pelican-quickstartThis command will walk you through the process of setting up your Pelican project, including configuring the project settings, creating a theme, and creating your first content file.
Step 3: Add content
You can add content to your Pelican site by creating a new markdown or reStructuredText file in the content directory. Pelican also supports other file formats like HTML, and you can use the file extension to specify which parser to use.
Step 4: Generate the site
Once you have created some content, you can generate the site by running the following command:
pelican content -s pelicanconf.pyThis command will generate the HTML pages in the output directory, based on the settings in the pelicanconf.py file.
Conclusion
Pelican is a powerful and flexible static site generator that can help you create fast and secure websites with ease. With its easy-to-use interface and extensive plugin system, Pelican is a great choice for developers and website owners who want to create custom websites without compromising performance or security. So, why not give Pelican a try for your next static website project?
