As a software developer, I’m always looking for ways to create software solutions for myself. However, when it came to setting up my personal blog, I realized that building a blog from scratch might not be the best use of my time. So, I decided to use an existing blogging platform that met my requirements.
In this post, I’ll share my journey of choosing the best blogging platform for my personal blog, and the factors I considered before making my final decision.
Defining My Requirements
As someone who is just starting out in the world of blogging, I knew that I needed a platform that was:
- Free: I didn’t want to spend any money upfront.
- Basic: I only needed basic functionality and didn’t require advanced plugins.
- Markdown support: I wanted to be able to write my posts using Markdown.
- Ability to publish from a local Markdown file: I wanted to be able to write my posts in my favorite text editor and then publish them to my blog.
Exploring My Options
After researching different blogging platforms, I narrowed down my options to three: Github Pages, WordPress.com, and Blogger.com.
Github Pages
Github Pages is a free website hosting service offered by GitHub. It’s a popular option for developers who want to host a static website or blog using Jekyll/HUGO, a static site generator.
Pros:
- Free hosting with unlimited bandwidth.
- Integration with GitHub, a platform that I was already familiar with.
- Ability to use custom domains.
- Supports Markdown natively.
Cons:
- Requires knowledge of Jekyll/HUGO, which could take some time to learn.
- Limited customization options unless you have knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Other Limit
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a popular blogging platform that offers both free and paid plans. It’s a great option for bloggers who want to start their own website without needing any technical knowledge.
Pros:
- Free hosting with a basic plan.
- Easy to use interface.
- A wide range of customization options and themes.
- Supports Markdown through the use of a plugin.
Cons:
- Limited storage space, with only 1 GB available on the free plan.
- Limited functionality without upgrading to a paid plan.
Blogger.com
Blogger.com is a free blogging platform offered by Google. It’s a popular option for bloggers who want to start their own blog quickly and easily.
Pros:
- Free hosting with unlimited storage space.
- Easy to use interface.
- Supports Markdown through the use of third-party plugins, such as EasyBlogger.
Cons:
- Limited customization options compared to other platforms.
- No native support for Markdown.
Making My Final Decision
After weighing the pros and cons of each platform, I ultimately chose Blogger.com for my personal blog. The platform met all of my requirements, and I was able to set up my blog within minutes.
But the decision wasn’t final until I discovered EasyBlogger, a third-party plugin that allows me to create posts using Markdown and publish them directly from a local file. This made the process of writing and publishing blog posts even easier.
Conclusion
Choosing the right blogging platform for your personal blog can be overwhelming, especially when there are so many options available. By defining your requirements and exploring different platforms, you can make an informed decision that meets your needs. For me, Blogger.com was the best option, thanks to its ease of use and compatibility with Markdown through third-party software like EasyBlogger.