[codeptualize]

And it's totally fine if it works you, I'm not saying one is better, I'm saying both are valid choices and if you statically export from a framework, it's not that different from what you describe.

> Frameworks force the dev into specific ways of doing things

Not really. Take Next.js, you can also use markdown (or more dynamic flavors of markdown like MDX/markdoc), you can use a headless cms, it doesn't really matter..

If you don't like Next.js you can pick a different solution, there are many! If Pelican is your jam, by all means, it's a great tool.

> I'm curious what you guys need on your sites that require so much JS.

In my day to day I work more on web apps, but lets stick to "simple" websites. Example: Using Next.js again, out of the box it does instant navigation by preloading new content on hover, and not doing full refreshes when they aren't needed. Great for the user, less bandwidth used, much faster sites. That's just one example.

[zlg_codes]

> Example: Using Next.js again, out of the box it does instant navigation by preloading new content on hover, and not doing full refreshes when they aren't needed. Great for the user, less bandwidth used, much faster sites. That's just one example.

I don't understand what you mean here. What content is being preloaded, what is being hovered on, why do you need only partial page loads? Is this for a doomscrolling UI where units of content are presented one or a few at a time, on an infinite scroll?

When I do navigation I just build a <ul> and put <li>s in it, programmatically if need be. Click to go where you want. Takes a full page load, but that's just how the Web works because you're going to another page. Links take you to other pages.

Is this for like an image gallery?

[codeptualize]

Could be, but also just page transitions, think a blog, documentation site, often you keep the navigation and just replace the content. If you are curious, it's quite easy to try. The results are really snappy, it's really nice.

But, I'm not trying to convince you. If you are happy with Pelican and it works for you, great.

All I'm pointing out is that we use these things because they do actually solve problems, often make things faster not slower, and allow me to make better websites and apps for my users. From simple websites, to complex applications.

[zlg_codes]

I'm not totally averse to trying things, I just often find myself unable to make much use of bespoke tools. It makes me feel uneasy to not have a strong grasp of what's going on under the hood of tools like that. Even Pelican bugs me with its extensible Generator and Renderer classes that still don't totally make sense to me.

There is a project I have in mind to build for a portfolio. An atlas of sorts. Is that something Next.js could make easier?

[codeptualize]

Could be! If it has a bunch of interactivity it will probably make your life a lot easier.

Idk if you know js/ts and React, so there might be some learning involved. (You could also check other fe frameworks if React is not your jam, some folks swear by Vue or Svelte.)

About knowing what’s going, I get that. For me I’ve wasted so much time setting up projects with webpack and all the the other stuff that I have a pretty good idea, but also I’m just thankful that I can just focus on my project haha.