In an era of homogeneous abundance, I still can't clearly identify the various types of software that are worth entrusting. For me, giving up is a difficult problem.
Starting from blog posts, I started building websites in 2017,
wordpress→typecho→hexo→gridea→inis→notion next→flowus→halo→WordPress→gridea web
The blog frameworks I have used include all mainstream blog frameworks on the market, each with its own strengths, but none have lasted for a long time. But it seems that I have forgotten the essence of recording.
Apart from basic functions such as writing articles and adding pages
Let's make a comparison.
1. Xlog#
This is a writing platform on the blockchain, which is as secure as it can be. It uses its own wallet for login and exists in the form of NFT, which can only be controlled by you who hold the private key. But it is traceable! It can trace the history, which is too transparent, but isn't this a good thing compared to something else? Overall, it is already a highly integrated platform.
Advantages:
- Relatively complete and rich customization
- Integrated "shuoshuo" (a feature similar to microblogging)
- Perfect export solution using Crossbell.io, articles and images can be exported in a non-link format
- Uploaded images can be automatically converted to webp (this is great)
- Supports LaTeX!!!
- Has a relatively good community
Disadvantages:
- Ethereum wallet is required to operate, making it difficult to edit and publish on different devices.
- On-chain operations are transparent and irreversible, which means users cannot truly delete an article. The modification history of an article can be seen through the blockchain, which is too transparent.
- Can export data through Crossbell.io, but seems to not support importing data from Crossbell.io
- In China, the xlog.app domain sometimes has issues, the dashboard cannot be accessed, and publishing articles occasionally requires circumvention. The speed of accessing the homepage with a custom domain is not fast enough, but it is already quite good.
- Not enough themes, the built-in themes are indeed nice, but I prefer something more pure.
- There is a mobile and tablet version, but it seems not very mature and needs improvement.
Author introduction: The first open-source blockchain blog system xLog - DIYgod
2. WordPress#
This platform is well-known to everyone, I will only mention my opinions on its pros and cons:
Advantages:
- Rich theme community, plugin marketplace
- Can have the official jet pack of WordPress
- Supports LaTeX, just install a plugin
- Some themes support "shuoshuo" (microblogging), such as iemo, pix, etc.
Disadvantages:
- The overall framework is too bloated
- Not very friendly towards Markdown support
- Too much unnecessary decoration
- Super slow backend
3. Gridea#
This is a writing framework created by Haidaoxinhey. It uses Vercel's edge network and Supabase's data storage. The interface is super simple, and I quite like it.
Advantages:
- Simple, very simple
- Acceptable price of 79¥, 10$
- Same problem as Xlog, occasionally unable to access the dashboard
Disadvantages:
- Does not support LaTeX (this is the only reason I gave up on it)
- Not fast enough in terms of access speed, slow image loading
- Can post "shuoshuo" (microblogging), but the layout is difficult to accept, adding an image to "shuoshuo" is extremely large, can't stand it
4. Notion#
This platform has extremely powerful extension capabilities, its API is simply invincible. Currently, I have used Notion Next to build, Notion's database is a very good dashboard, simple and clear, without too many fancy things.
Advantages:
- Supports styles beyond Markdown
- Notion Next comes with a rich set of themes
- Can insert music, videos, and LaTeX, all are perfectly compatible
Disadvantages:
- Cloud-based, and the function to export data relies on the subscription plan
- Notion's speed in China is getting worse and worse, it takes tens of seconds just to open, sigh
Halo#
This is a Java-based writing platform, full of novelty and smooth performance. Compared to other PHP platforms, it is quite convenient, but it also has its shortcomings.
Advantages:
- Very convenient backup, import, and export are done very well. Unlike WP and Typecho, there is no need to back up the database, which makes it easy to move.
- The backend is clean and very good
- Supports LaTeX, but rendering requires a second refresh, which I don't like
Disadvantages:
- There are still too few themes, not many free ones
Let's summarize the writing process:
Diary: Tianyue Diary (cross-platform synchronization) → WordPress publishing → Xlog backup
Image hosting: Xiaobai Image Hosting, upic, picgo