Bashblog vs PluXml
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Bashblog | PluXml |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 76 · Good |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,931 | ★ 235 |
| First released | 2012 | 2007 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Bashblog and PluXml?
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
PluXml
PluXml is an open-source blog and content management system that stores all content in XML files, requiring no database. It is lightweight and aimed at simple personal sites and blogs.
- XML flat-file storage
- No database required
- Theme and plugin support
- Lightweight
Bashblog vs PluXml: key differences
Bashblog is written in Shell, while PluXml is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Bashblog versus GPL-2.0 for PluXml. Bashblog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for PluXml. PluXml is the more established project (first released 2007), while Bashblog arrived in 2012. Bashblog has the considerably larger community, at 1,931 GitHub stars versus 235. PluXml 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 PluXml if…
- No database needed
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Limited modern themes
Frequently asked questions
Is Bashblog or PluXml 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 PluXml free and open-source?
Yes. Bashblog is licensed under GPL-3.0 and PluXml under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bashblog and PluXml with Docker?
Bashblog: check the project docs for container support. PluXml: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bashblog or PluXml?
Bashblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for PluXml. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.