Bashblog vs Dotclear
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bashblog | Dotclear |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 62 · Good |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,931 | ★ 46 |
| First released | 2012 | 2003 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Bashblog and Dotclear?
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
Dotclear
Dotclear is a long-standing open-source blogging engine designed to be easy to install and use. It offers themes, plugins, and full control over publishing without proprietary lock-in.
- Easy installation
- Theme and plugin support
- Multi-blog management
- Built-in media handling
Bashblog vs Dotclear: key differences
Bashblog is written in Shell, while Dotclear is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Bashblog versus GPL-2.0 for Dotclear. Bashblog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Dotclear. Dotclear is the more established project (first released 2003), while Bashblog arrived in 2012. Bashblog has the considerably larger community, at 1,931 GitHub stars versus 46. Dotclear lists first-class Docker deployment; Bashblog does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Bashblog if…
- Incredibly minimal
- No runtime to maintain
Watch out for
- Very bare-bones
- No admin interface
Choose Dotclear if…
- Simple to set up
- Mature and stable
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Less known outside France
Frequently asked questions
Is Bashblog or Dotclear better?
Neither is universally better. Bashblog has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Bashblog and Dotclear free and open-source?
Yes. Bashblog is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Dotclear under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bashblog and Dotclear with Docker?
Bashblog: check the project docs for container support. Dotclear: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bashblog or Dotclear?
Bashblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Dotclear. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.