As of Saturday, November 2, 2024, I have officially embraced Hugo as my go-to static website generator. My journey with Hugo all started after catching one of Cyan Nyan’s streams, where they introduced this powerful tool in such a way that I knew I had to try it myself.

Previously, I built my websites by hand, using vanilla HTML and CSS. It was a rewarding process, but it often became tedious when trying to add new content or make updates consistently. Hugo simplifies this with a streamlined setup that includes templating, modular design, and built-in site management tools, making it an ideal choice for a faster, more scalable website-building process.

One of the game-changers for me was discovering the CaiJimmy Hugo Theme Starter. This theme provides a well-structured, customizable foundation that not only speeds up the setup process but also allows me to personalize the site with SCSS and shortcodes. Shortcodes are especially useful—they allow you to embed interactive content like YouTube videos effortlessly (like the one above), as well as easily create more complex layouts within Markdown files. This feature alone takes a lot of the heavy lifting off the development side, making Hugo an enjoyable tool to work with.

Why Hugo?

After working with HTML/CSS directly, transitioning to Hugo felt like a leap forward in productivity. Here’s what stood out about Hugo that made it a perfect fit for my needs:

1. Speed: Hugo is known for being incredibly fast at generating static sites. Its speed is particularly helpful for managing multiple pages without the lag you’d experience with other generators.
2. Flexibility: The support for SCSS and custom themes means I can tweak every detail to fit my style and functional needs. The CaiJimmy starter theme, in particular, includes various customization options, so I can still enjoy designing without reinventing the wheel.
3. Content Management: Hugo organizes content through a structured file system, making it easier to add, update, and organize posts and pages. Unlike raw HTML/CSS, Hugo’s templating system and front matter allow me to focus on content creation without duplicating the structure of every new page.
4. Shortcodes and Markdown Integration: Writing in Markdown allows for faster content production, while Hugo’s shortcodes let me add rich media, like videos and images, with a single line of code. It’s the best of both worlds: simplicity for content creation and versatility for interactivity.

Moving Forward with Hugo

Using Hugo has not only simplified my workflow but also introduced me to new design possibilities. The Hugo community is vibrant and full of resources, making it easy to find additional themes, tips, and tricks. I’m excited to see how this tool can continue to support and evolve my projects. Plus, now that I have this foundation, scaling the site will be simpler, whether I want to add new sections, experiment with layouts, or incorporate more interactive elements.

For anyone on the fence about static site generators, especially if you’re used to coding each element by hand, I can’t recommend Hugo enough. It gives you all the customization of a hand-coded site without the repetitive work. With the power of themes like CaiJimmy’s Hugo Theme Starter, building and maintaining a website becomes less of a chore and more of an enjoyable, creative process.