Bashblog vs Halo
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bashblog | Halo |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,931 | ★ 39,872 |
| First released | 2012 | 2018 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Medium |
What are Bashblog and Halo?
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
Halo
Halo is a modern open-source blogging and website platform written in Java. It offers a clean admin interface, a plugin and theme marketplace, and an extensible architecture.
- Modern admin interface
- Plugin and theme marketplace
- REST API
- Markdown editor
Bashblog vs Halo: key differences
Bashblog is written in Shell, while Halo is built with Java. Bashblog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Halo. Bashblog is the more established project (first released 2012), while Halo arrived in 2018. Halo has the considerably larger community, at 39,872 GitHub stars versus 1,931. Halo 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 Halo if…
- Polished modern UI
- Active development
Watch out for
- Higher memory needs from Java
- Docs strongest in Chinese
Frequently asked questions
Is Bashblog or Halo better?
Neither is universally better. Halo has the larger community, while Bashblog is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Bashblog and Halo free and open-source?
Yes. Bashblog is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Halo under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bashblog and Halo with Docker?
Bashblog: check the project docs for container support. Halo: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bashblog or Halo?
Bashblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Halo. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.