Bashblog vs BlogEngine.NET
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bashblog | BlogEngine.NET |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 13 · At risk |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MS-PL |
| Language | Shell | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,931 | ★ 985 |
| First released | 2012 | 2007 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Bashblog and BlogEngine.NET?
Bashblog
Bashblog is an extremely minimal blog engine implemented as a single Bash script. It generates static HTML pages from posts written in a terminal, ideal for hackers who want the simplest possible blog.
- Single Bash script
- Static HTML output
- Terminal-based authoring
- Zero dependencies beyond Bash
BlogEngine.NET
BlogEngine.NET is an open-source blogging platform built on ASP.NET that is easy to set up and customize. It works without a database using XML storage, or with SQL databases for larger blogs.
- XML or SQL storage
- Widget and theme system
- Multi-author support
- Built-in comment handling
Bashblog vs BlogEngine.NET: key differences
Bashblog is written in Shell, while BlogEngine.NET is built with C#. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Bashblog versus MS-PL for BlogEngine.NET. Bashblog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for BlogEngine.NET. BlogEngine.NET is the more established project (first released 2007), while Bashblog arrived in 2012.
Why pick each one
Choose Bashblog if…
- Incredibly minimal
- No runtime to maintain
Watch out for
- Very bare-bones
- No admin interface
Choose BlogEngine.NET if…
- Good fit for the .NET stack
- No database required option
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- Smaller ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Bashblog or BlogEngine.NET better?
Bashblog is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider BlogEngine.NET if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Bashblog and BlogEngine.NET free and open-source?
Yes. Bashblog is licensed under GPL-3.0 and BlogEngine.NET under MS-PL. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bashblog and BlogEngine.NET with Docker?
Bashblog: check the project docs for container support. BlogEngine.NET: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bashblog or BlogEngine.NET?
Bashblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for BlogEngine.NET. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.