2 posts tagged with "Comparison"

Astro is one of the most popular static site generators in 2026. It's fast, flexible, and has a huge ecosystem.

Pycora Pro takes a different approach: pure Python, zero client JS, zero build step.

Here's how they compare.

The Core Difference​

Build Speed​

Pycora is 4x faster on the same content.

Client JavaScript​

Astro ships ~15 KB of client JS by default (for hydration, view transitions, etc.).

Pycora Pro ships 0 KB. All interactivity is pure HTML/CSS or opt-in vanilla JS.

For sites that don't need client-side interactivity, this is a huge win for performance.

Dependencies​

Astro​

npm install
# ~500 packages in node_modules

Pycora Pro​

pip install jinja2 markdown pyyaml watchdog
# 4 packages

Astro has a build step. Pycora doesn't.

Templating​

Astro​

---
const posts = await getCollection('posts');
---
<html>
  <body>
    {posts.map(post => (
      <article>
        <h2>{post.data.title}</h2>
      </article>
    ))}
  </body>
</html>

Pycora Pro​

{% for post in collections.posts %}
<article>
  <h2>{{ post.title }}</h2>
</article>
{% endfor %}

Both are clean. Jinja2 is more familiar to Python developers.

Content Format​

Astro — Content Collections​

src/content/posts/
├── post-01.md
└── post-02.md

Pycora Pro​

content/posts/
├── post-01.md
└── post-02.md

Same idea. Both use Markdown + frontmatter.

Deployment​

Both deploy anywhere. Both are static.

Pycora advantage: no Node.js on the build server. Python is already there.

When to Use Astro​

• You need React/Vue/Svelte components
• You want view transitions
• You need a rich ecosystem of integrations
• Your team knows JavaScript

When to Use Pycora Pro​

• You prefer Python
• You want zero client JS
• You want faster builds
• You want zero npm dependencies
• You want a built-in CMS

Can You Use Both?​

Yes. Astro has a Python integration via @astrojs/python. But you're still running Node.

Pycora Pro is Python all the way.

The Verdict​

Get Pycora Pro​

Pycora Pro is $145, one payment, own forever.

Get Pycora Pro on Gumroad →

Jekyll has been the default static site generator for over a decade. But its Ruby dependency has become a pain point for developers who've moved on to Python.

Pycora Pro is a Python-native alternative. Same Markdown + YAML workflow, same layout inheritance, but zero Ruby.

Here's how they compare.

The Core Difference​

Dependencies​

Jekyll​

Jekyll requires Ruby, then gems, then Bundler. On a fresh machine:

# Install Ruby (varies by OS)
brew install ruby

# Install Jekyll
gem install jekyll bundler

# Install project gems
bundle install

Every time Ruby updates, gems break. Every time a gem updates, Bundler complains. This is dependency hell.

Pycora Pro​

pip install jinja2 markdown pyyaml watchdog

Four packages. That's it. Python 3.8+ is already on most machines.

Build Speed​

We built a test site with 40 Markdown files, 10 layouts, and 5 partials.

Pycora Pro is 4–5x faster on the same content.

Templating​

Jekyll — Liquid​

{% for post in site.posts limit:3 %}
  <a href="{{ post.url }}">{{ post.title }}</a>
{% endfor %}

Pycora Pro — Jinja2 + PAX​

{% for post in posts | limit(3) %}
  <a href="{{ post.url }}">{{ post.title }}</a>
{% endfor %}

PAX auto-converts old Liquid-style slices:

{{ posts[:3] }}      →  {{ posts | limit(3) }}

So if you're migrating from Jekyll, most Liquid templates work with minor tweaks.

Content Format​

Both use Markdown + YAML frontmatter.

Jekyll​

---
layout: post
title: "My Post"
date: 2024-01-20
tags: [python, ssg]
---

Pycora Pro​

---
layout: layouts/post
title: "My Post"
date: 2024-01-20
tags: [python, ssg]
---

Almost identical. The only difference: Pycora uses layouts/post instead of post.

Deployment​

Both output static HTML. Both deploy anywhere.

Pycora Pro advantage: no Ruby version manager needed on the build server. Python is already there.

Developer Experience​

Jekyll​

• Plugin ecosystem is mature
• Liquid is limited for complex logic
• Ruby debugging required for theme development
• Slow feedback loop on large sites

Pycora Pro​

• Python native — use any Python library
• Jinja2 is more powerful than Liquid
• Built-in Decap CMS admin
• Live reload via python dev.py

When to Use Jekyll​

• You already know Ruby
• You need a specific Jekyll plugin
• You're maintaining an existing Jekyll site

When to Use Pycora Pro​

• You prefer Python
• You want faster builds
• You want zero Ruby dependencies
• You want a built-in CMS
• You want a premium bento design out of the box

Migrating from Jekyll​

Migration is straightforward:

1. Rename _posts/ → content/posts/
2. Convert Liquid templates to Jinja2 (PAX handles most of it)
3. Move _config.yml → _data/site.yaml
4. Run python ssg.py

See our Jekyll migration guide for details.

Get Pycora Pro​

Pycora Pro is $145, one payment, own forever.

• Unlimited projects
• No license key
• No renewal
• White-label resale allowed

Get Pycora Pro on Gumroad →