Scully vs. Eleventy
By SW Habitation
Scully
Eleventy
Have you ever been to a website that loads super fast? Chances are it uses an SSG (Static Site Generator). It’s a tool that builds your site ahead of time, so when someone visits, they get the page instantly. No waiting around for things to load it’s just there.
What is Scully?
Scully is the first static site generator for Angular. It takes your Angular app, crawls the routes, pre-renders each page, and exports static HTML files that can be served directly.
This results in faster load times and better SEO because search engines can read your content without waiting for JavaScript to execute.
Key Features of Scully
- Fast Build Process: Quickly converts your Angular app into a static site.
- Plugins System: Extend functionality with custom plugins for tasks like image optimization or content transformations.
- Pre-rendering: Generates static HTML for each route, improving performance and SEO.
- Angular Focused: Built specifically for Angular projects, making integration smooth.
- Markdown Support: Easily create content-driven sites using markdown files.
- Automatic Route Discovery: No need to manually define routes — Scully finds them automatically.
Advantages of Scully
- SEO-Friendly: Static content is easily indexed by search engines.
- Boosted Performance: Pre-renders pages for faster load times.
- Extendable: Customize builds with plugins tailored to your needs.
- Simple Setup: No complicated configurations —just install and go.
- Perfect for Angular: Seamlessly integrates with existing Angular projects.
Disadvantages of Scully
- Smaller Community: Compared to React or Vue SSGs, Scully has a smaller community and fewer resources.
- Learning Curve: Requires understanding of Angular and Scully’s pre-rendering process.
- Angular Only: Not suitable for projects outside the Angular ecosystem.
What is Eleventy ?
Eleventy is a static site generator that takes your content whether it’s Markdown, HTML, or other template languages and compiles it into static HTML files.
Unlike some other SSGs, Eleventy doesn’t lock you into a specific front-end framework, giving you the freedom to structure your project however you like. It’s designed to be simple, flexible, and fast, making it a favorite among web developers who appreciate minimalism.
Key Features of Eleventy
- Community Support: Growing community with tons of plugins and resources.
- Great for SEO: Generates static HTML, making your site search engine-friendly.
- Multiple Template Languages: Supports Markdown, Nunjucks, Liquid, Pug, and more.
- Fast Builds: Optimized for performance with lightning-fast build times.
- Simple Configuration: No complex setup — just a simple .eleventy.js config file.
- Flexible Data Handling: Use front matter, JSON, or JavaScript to handle data.
- No JavaScript Framework Required: Works with plain HTML and CSS if you prefer.
Advantages of Eleventy
- Lightweight: No heavy dependencies or boilerplate code.
- Fast and SEO-Friendly: Static HTML means quick load times and great SEO.
- Simplicity: No need to overthink just build.
- Ideal for Content-Driven Sites: Perfect for blogs, portfolios, and documentation.
- Flexible Content: Use different templating languages in one project.
Disadvantages of Eleventy
- Limited Out-of-the-Box Features: Requires plugins for things like image optimisation or RSS feeds.
- Minimal Abstractions: No built-in state management — you handle everything yourself.
- Learning Curve: Understanding its flexibility takes a bit of time.
Comparison Between Scully vs Eleventy
Use Cases of Scully
- Portfolios: Highlight your projects with a sleek, fast portfolio.
- Personal Blogs: Markdown support makes blogging simple and fast.
- Documentation Sites: Pre-rendered content ensures fast, accessible documentation.
- Company Websites: Improved SEO and performance help showcase your business.
Use Cases of Eleventy
- Personal Blogs and Portfolios: Simple content-focused sites.
- SEO-Friendly Sites: Static HTML means better indexing by search engines.
- Documentation Sites: Great for organising and presenting technical documentation.
- Minimalist Projects: Ideal when you want full control with minimal abstraction.
Other Resources
Conclusion
Static Site Generators are a big game changer if you’re looking to build a website that’s fast, secure, and easy to maintain. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, portfolio, or a business website, they give you the freedom to focus on what really matters, your content and your users without all the extra complexity.
The best part? You’re not locked into one way of doing things. You can choose the tools and tech you’re most comfortable with, and scale things up as your site grows. From lightning-fast load times to better SEO and easy hosting, SSGs make the whole process smoother.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what fits your workflow and goals best. Pick the one that feels right to your requirements, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful, high-performing website that you’re proud of 🙌
Frequently asked questions
Is Scully easy to integrate with Angular?
Yes, integrating Scully with Angular is simple with just a few commands. It works alongside Angular’s powerful features but optimizes it for static site generation.
Does Scully handle SEO?
Yes, Scully automatically generates meta tags, sitemaps, and other SEO-friendly elements for better search engine optimization.
What’s the main benefit of using Scully with Angular?
Scully gives Angular apps static site generation (SSG) capabilities. It helps you pre-render pages at build time, improving page load speeds and search engine visibility.
Can I use Scully with any Angular project?
Yes, If you're already using Angular, you can add Scully to your project to generate a static version of it for better SEO and performance.
Is Eleventy fast?
Yes very fast, Eleventy is known for its quick build times and low overhead, making it perfect for fast static websites.
Does Eleventy have built-in data handling?
Yes, Eleventy handles data from JSON, YAML, Markdown, and more, which can be injected directly into your templates.
Is Eleventy SEO-friendly?
Yes, Eleventy outputs clean HTML with customizable metadata, so you can fine-tune your SEO strategy easily.
Does Eleventy support multiple templates?
Yes, Eleventy is template agnostic means you can use Nunjucks, Liquid, Markdown, Pug, and more.
Next blog that you can read...
By SW Habitation