Gitbook vs Jekyll: What are the differences?

Introduction

Gitbook and Jekyll are two popular static site generators that are commonly used for building websites. While both of these tools serve the same purpose, there are several key differences between them. This markdown code will outline and compare these differences.

1. Installation and Setup: Gitbook requires a specific installation process and dependencies, including Node.js, Git, and the Gitbook CLI. On the other hand, Jekyll is a Ruby gem that can be easily installed using the RubyGems package manager.

2. Content Organization: Gitbook is designed specifically for creating books and documentation, providing features like multi-level navigation, sidebar, and chapters. Jekyll, on the other hand, offers more flexibility and can be used to build a wide variety of websites, including blogs, portfolios, and online stores.

3. Customization and Theming: Gitbook offers limited customization options with predefined themes, and updating the theme requires CSS knowledge. Jekyll, on the other hand, provides extensive customization capabilities with the ability to create and modify themes using HTML, CSS, and Liquid (Jekyll's templating language).

4. Dynamic Generation: Gitbook generates static HTML files that can be hosted anywhere, making it easier to deploy and scale. Jekyll also generates static HTML files, but it has the ability to generate dynamic content by using plugins and data files.

5. Plugin Ecosystem: Gitbook has a relatively small plugin ecosystem compared to Jekyll. While Gitbook does have some plugins available for extending its functionality, Jekyll has a larger and more active plugin community, offering a wide range of plugins for various purposes.

6. Community and Support: Gitbook has a smaller community and may have limited support resources. Jekyll, being around for a longer time, has a larger and more active community, making it easier to find documentation, tutorials, and assistance.

In Summary, Gitbook and Jekyll have notable differences in terms of installation and setup, content organization, customization and theming, dynamic generation, plugin ecosystem, and community and support.