The Case for Custom Coded Static Sites Over Wordpress and Wix

In the world of web development, the choice between custom coded static sites and platforms like Wordpress or Wix is an important one. While these website builders can be tempting with their ease of use and pre-built features, there are significant advantages to going the custom coded static site route.

Speed and Performance

One of the key benefits of custom coded static sites is their blazing fast speed and performance. Unlike Wordpress or Wix which rely on databases, plugins, and dynamic content generation, static sites are pre-built and served as flat HTML files. This means there is no need to query a database or execute server-side code with each page load. The result is near-instantaneous load times, which are crucial for providing a great user experience and SEO benefits.

In contrast, Wordpress and Wix sites often suffer from slowdowns due to the need to load multiple 3rd party plugins, scripts, and stylesheets. These bloated codebases can significantly impact page speed, frustrating users and hurting search rankings.

Security

Security is another area where custom coded static sites shine. With no databases, no content management systems, and no 3rd party plugins, the attack surface is dramatically reduced. There is simply less code and fewer external dependencies that could potentially be exploited by hackers.

Wordpress in particular has a long history of security vulnerabilities, with plugin conflicts, out-of-date software, and complex codebases creating many potential entry points for malicious actors. Wix may provide more security by virtue of being a closed platform, but users are still at the mercy of Wix's security measures and any vulnerabilities in their own system.

In contrast, a properly configured static site hosted on a secure platform like Netlify or Vercel is exponentially more difficult to compromise. The static files themselves are inherently secure, and the hosting provider handles tasks like SSL/TLS, DDoS protection, and other security best practices.

Developer Flexibility

While platforms like Wordpress and Wix promise ease of use, this often comes at the cost of developer flexibility. Customizing the look and feel, integrating with 3rd party services, and implementing complex functionality can be challenging and limited by the platform's capabilities.

With a custom coded static site, developers have complete control over the codebase and can tailor the site to the specific needs of the project. This allows for more creativity, better performance optimization, and tighter security practices. Developers can also easily integrate with any API or service, unconstrained by plugin marketplaces or platform limitations.

Conclusion

In summary, the advantages of custom coded static sites over Wordpress, Wix, and other website builders are clear:

1. Faster load times and better performance
2. Improved security with a reduced attack surface
3. Greater developer flexibility and control

While platforms like Wordpress and Wix can be a good fit for some use cases, for businesses and organizations that value speed, security, and customization, a custom coded static site is the superior choice.