Overview

PlainSite is a unique static site generator that is designed to be hackable and user-friendly. Although it’s no longer actively maintained, it offers a robust skeletal framework for users who want full control over crafting their web pages. With its straightforward setup process and well-structured directory layout, PlainSite caters to developers who appreciate customizing their site from the ground up, while still benefiting from features like live previews and automatic file handling.

PlainSite is particularly appealing to those familiar with Ruby and Markdown, as it ensures a seamless experience in creating and managing content. It’s perfect for anyone looking to host a simple blog or informative site with minimal dependencies and maximum customization capabilities.

Features

• Full Control of Page Generation: Users can take charge of generating their own pages, making it easy to modify or update content as necessary.
• Git Integration: PlainSite works with Git, allowing it to only generate pages for posts that have been modified since the last build.
• Live Reload Preview Server: The built-in server provides immediate feedback with live previews as you make changes to your posts or pages.
• Relative URL Generation: Supports viewing the site directly through the file protocol, eliminating the need for an external server during development.
• Automatic Cleanup: Deleted posts automatically have their corresponding pages cleaned up, keeping your site tidy.
• Easy Pagination: Pagination is made simple, enabling effortless navigation through multiple posts or categories.
• Structured File Management: With a logical directory structure, it’s easy to organize assets, templates, and content, making site maintenance straightforward.
• Customizability with ERB Templates: Users can create customized page layouts using ERB template files, enhancing design flexibility.