I'm about to launch my first website, which is quite straightforward. It features a collection of around 50 companies from a specific niche. The main page displays 50 boxes, each with a company logo, a brief description, and a "Learn more" button that leads to a specific company page, all following the same template.
I'm torn between two options: 1) create a fully static main page with all information in an HTML file, plus 50 individual HTML files for each company, or 2) build the main page to fetch information from a database and dynamically create the boxes for each company with richer details. I'm comfortable coding, so implementing either method isn't an issue. However, I don't know much about hosting. Would adding a database significantly raise hosting costs, increase complexity, or impact site performance? Since the content won't change often and doesn't have user interaction, I'm leaning toward the static approach. Are there hidden pros and cons to either method that I should consider?
5 Answers
I recommend using a JSON file to store your company data instead of a database—it simplifies things. You can fetch that JSON at startup and use it to generate your HTML on the fly. You can always switch to a database later if needed, but for now, this would be efficient and keep your hosting simple!
You're on the right track! Once you start adding features, you'll want to avoid the complexity of maintaining a database initially.
If your data isn't changing often, I recommend generating pages from a static layout. You can build a local script that generates static HTML from your data, keeping hosting costs down when deployed on platforms like AWS S3.
Great point! If I understand it correctly, generating HTML from JSON would keep everything optimized for static hosting, right? Thanks!
Exactly! It’s all about keeping things simple while still being ready for any updates.
Going the JSON route is the best move. Just load your data and render the company details dynamically; it's straightforward and efficient!
A database is overkill for what you’re doing unless your data is changing frequently. For this project, since it’s mostly static, generating everything ahead of time will save you hassle later.
Right! Start simple, and you can always adapt if your needs change in the future.
Thanks! That's a relief to hear. I'm definitely leaning toward the static generation.
For optimal SEO and load speed, sticking with static pages is a solid choice. A static site generator can help you create those HTML files efficiently and you can keep your data in JSON or YAML files. Tools like Hugo or Next.js are great for this—they'll let you easily update your content just by changing the data file without needing to dive into backend development.
That sounds exactly like what I need! This method seems to give me speed and simplicity. Thanks for the recommendation!
Absolutely! This way keeps your website’s performance high without worrying about backend complexities.
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely consider using JSON since I have all the data ready. Coming from a beginner standpoint, this seems like a great way to separate my data from the HTML.