Last Modified on July 1, 2025
Comparison
Dynamic site generators and WordPress both create websites, but they differ significantly in their approach and resulting capabilities. WordPress is a popular Content Management System (CMS) that dynamically generates content on the fly, while dynamic site generators produce static HTML files that are then served to users. WordPress excels in ease of use for content management and offers a vast ecosystem of themes and plugins, making it suitable for various website types, especially those requiring frequent content updates and user interaction. Dynamic site generators, on the other hand, are often favored by developers for their speed, security, and scalability, particularly for projects where content is less frequently updated and performance is a top priority
WordPress:
Pros:
- User-friendly interface for content creation and management.
- Extensive library of themes and plugins for customization and functionality.
- Large community support and readily available resources.
- Good for blogs, news sites, and websites requiring frequent content updates.
- Dynamic content generation allows for personalized experiences and user-specific content.
Cons:
- Can become slow and cumbersome with heavy plugins or large amounts of content.
- Security vulnerabilities can arise from outdated plugins or themes.
- Can require more server resources than static sites.
- Can be more challenging to scale for extremely large or high-traffic websites.
Dynamic Site Generators:
Pros:
- Improved security
- Easier to scale for high-traffic websites.
- Typically more cost-effective in terms of hosting and maintenance.
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve for non-developers.
- Requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage.
- Less flexibility for dynamic content and user interactions.
- May require additional tools for content management.
Flat-file app
A flat file database is basically a giant collection of data in which the tables and records have no relation between any other tables. In fact, one could have a single table (e.g., My Small Business Data) with everything stored in it, from customers to sales to orders to invoices.
We can imagine a CMS with no database or even with a file database (like the Old Cobol); these sites are not CMS, they are for static content, like boards of news or small apps.
There are without a relational database, and keep the info to HTML files or just to Old School text files. The last is named Flat-File CMS.
Flat-File CMS:
- Content Storage: Stores content directly in files (e.g., Markdown, YAML).
- Simplicity: Offers a simpler architecture, making it easier to set up and manage, especially for smaller websites.
- Performance: Pages load faster because there’s no database to query.
- Scalability: Can be more efficient for websites with lower traffic or simpler content structures.
- Examples: Grav, Pico, Kirby
In 1985, I had some lessons for COBOL; it was using a Flat-File. After this was the Pro*Cobol that supports Oracle DB. The last is able to handle complex data structures and relationships.
What is the difference between WordPress and flat-file CMS?
The main difference between WordPress and a flat-file CMS lies in how they store and manage content. WordPress, a popular database-driven CMS, relies on a database (like MySQL) to store content, while a flat-file CMS stores content directly in text files (often using Markdown). This fundamental difference impacts website speed, security, and extensibility.
When to choose which:
WordPress:
Suitable for websites needing complex features, a large amount of content, and a wide range of customization options.
Flat-file CMS:
Ideal for smaller to medium-sized websites, blogs, or portfolios where speed, security, and simplicity are paramount.
Definitions from Google.
I want to add that many factors influence the speed, the security, the overall performance, like speed of disks, machine capacity, speed of network, quality of SQL queries, and many more like earthquakes e.t.c.
Having backups is essential, and if your business is large, it may be required to have Cluster Technology or a Disaster Recovery Site.