Hugo vs MkDocs: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will discuss the key differences between Hugo and MkDocs, two popular static site generators.

1. Development Language: Hugo is built using the Go programming language, while MkDocs is primarily written in Python. This difference in development language affects the ease of customization and the ecosystem of themes and plugins available for each static site generator.

2. Configuration: Hugo uses a simple configuration file, typically stored in YAML or TOML format, to define site-wide settings and specify content directories. On the other hand, MkDocs relies on a single configuration file, usually in YAML format, to define page structure, navigation, and theme selection.

3. Markup Language: Hugo supports multiple markup languages, including Markdown, AsciiDoc, and HTML, providing flexibility for authors. MkDocs, however, focuses exclusively on Markdown, simplifying the writing process for content creators.

4. Template Engine: Hugo employs its own powerful template engine, allowing users to create highly customizable layouts and themes. MkDocs, on the other hand, relies on Jinja2, a popular template engine within the Python ecosystem, which offers a similar level of flexibility but with some differences in syntax and features.

5. Build Time: Hugo is known for its exceptional build speed and can generate a large static site within seconds. MkDocs, while still relatively fast, may take a little longer to build a site due to its Python-based architecture. The difference in build time can be significant for larger projects with extensive content.

6. Hosting and Deployment: Hugo generates a website that consists of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, which can be easily hosted on any web server. MkDocs, on the other hand, generates a static website that can be hosted on a variety of platforms, including popular services like GitHub Pages and Netlify. However, it may require additional configurations or plugins for specific deployment scenarios.

In summary, the key differences between Hugo and MkDocs lie in their development language, configuration methods, supported markup languages, template engines, build time, and the hosting and deployment options they offer.