---
title: "Smashing Magazine: Static Website Generators Reviewed: Jekyll, Middleman, Roots, Hugo | Netlify"
description: "Realize the speed, agility and performance of a scalable, composable web architecture with Netlify. Explore the composable web platform now!"
source: "https://www.netlify.com/blog/2015/11/16/smashing-magazine-static-website-generators-reviewed-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo/"
last_updated: "2026-08-30T02:01:00.000Z"
---
 [![screenshot](/v3/img/blog/static-gen-review.png) Read Full Article on Smashing](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/11/static-website-generators-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo-review/)

Our CEO Matt Biilmann compares 5 modern site generators; Hugo, Jekyll, Middleman & Roots.

### Share

-   [X (fka Twitter)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Smashing Magazine: Static Website Generators Reviewed: Jekyll, Middleman, Roots, Hugo&url=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2015/11/16/smashing-magazine-static-website-generators-reviewed-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo//)
-   [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netlify.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F11%2F16%2Fsmashing-magazine-static-website-generators-reviewed-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo%2F%2F)
-   [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.netlify.com/blog/2015/11/16/smashing-magazine-static-website-generators-reviewed-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo//)
-   [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Smashing Magazine: Static Website Generators Reviewed: Jekyll, Middleman, Roots, Hugo+https://www.netlify.com/blog/2015/11/16/smashing-magazine-static-website-generators-reviewed-jekyll-middleman-roots-hugo//)

* * *

### Tags

-   [smashing magazine](/blog/tags/smashing-magazine/)
-   [Static](/blog/tags/static/)
-   [Jekyll](/blog/tags/jekyll/)
-   [Middleman](/blog/tags/middleman/)
-   [Roots](/blog/tags/roots/)
-   [Hugo](/blog/tags/hugo/)
-   [Generators](/blog/tags/generators/)

## Keep reading

![](/_astro/db3c7ccc097c1c2396170c400408fdb298a74e0e-1800x1013_eSbAd.webp)

Tools & Services July 28, 2026

[

### MCP goes stateless and extensible

](/blog/mcp-goes-stateless-and-extensible)

-   ![Profile picture of Sean Roberts](/_astro/bbf2243f8171dbddd80ab2103622106cef84d125-512x512_Z1d2LKE.webp)
    
    Sean Roberts
    

![](/_astro/b581d6706ebcbd74591b67109365564968dbe81b-1800x1013_ZNneAB.webp)

Tools & Services July 27, 2026

[

### The 13-year story of Netlify Drop

](/blog/thirteen-years-of-netlify-drop)

-   ![Profile picture of Wade Wegner](/_astro/0302ff22eb844e648b11d7cff3cedbbc3c9de876-2667x4000_Z5j6wM.webp)
    
    Wade Wegner
    

## Recent posts

News & Announcements August 25, 2026

[

### Compete in OpenAI’s WebMCP Challenge with Netlify

](/blog/compete-openai-webmcp-challenge)

-   ![Profile picture of Karthik Puvvada](/_astro/e5524d3c315ad5114e1d5300d8991bfe902916fe-192x192_Z1w18MB.webp)
    
    Karthik Puvvada
    

News & Announcements August 19, 2026

[

### New clarifying questions in Agent Runners

](/blog/new-clarifying-questions-in-agent-runners)

-   ![Profile picture of Taylor Barnett-Torabi](/_astro/cf4624da8c1286738397b6fecb53bad504df140b-400x400_ZsvK0s.webp)
    
    Taylor Barnett-Torabi
    

Opinions & Insights August 14, 2026

[

### The full power of Git, without the friction: A conversation with Netlify CTO Dana Lawson

](/blog/netlify-source-with-netlify-cto-dana-lawson)

-   ![Profile picture of Dana Lawson](/_astro/856bf146d0c05c9dc25d45b59f7eac955fbbd644-512x512_1n84rs.webp)
    
    Dana Lawson
    

![](/_astro/3f255b372fa958df35802666ee33b4609b2d71bd-1200x1586_1VtE2D.webp)

### How do the best dev and marketing teams work together?

[Access the report](https://www.netlify.com/reports/2024-leadership-trend-report/access/)