Bashblog vs Nibbleblog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bashblog | Nibbleblog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 7 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,931 | ★ 227 |
| First released | 2012 | 2009 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Bashblog and Nibbleblog?
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
Nibbleblog
Nibbleblog is a simple, lightweight blog engine written in PHP that stores its data in XML files rather than a database. It is designed for quick setup of a personal blog.
- No database required
- XML-based storage
- Plugin support
- Quick installation
Bashblog vs Nibbleblog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Nibbleblog's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Bashblog is actively maintained. Bashblog is written in Shell, while Nibbleblog is built with PHP. Bashblog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Nibbleblog. Nibbleblog is the more established project (first released 2009), while Bashblog arrived in 2012. Bashblog has the considerably larger community, at 1,931 GitHub stars versus 227.
Why pick each one
Choose Bashblog if…
- Incredibly minimal
- No runtime to maintain
Watch out for
- Very bare-bones
- No admin interface
Choose Nibbleblog if…
- Very easy to install
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Development is inactive
- Limited features
Frequently asked questions
Is Bashblog or Nibbleblog 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 Nibbleblog free and open-source?
Yes. Bashblog is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Nibbleblog under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bashblog and Nibbleblog with Docker?
Bashblog: check the project docs for container support. Nibbleblog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bashblog or Nibbleblog?
Bashblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Nibbleblog. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.