Blogofile vs Textpattern
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted blogging platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Blogofile | Textpattern |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 11 · At risk | 78 · Good |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 347 | ★ 881 |
| First released | 2009 | 2004 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Blogofile and Textpattern?
Blogofile
Blogofile is a static website compiler that lets you write a blog or site using flat files and templates, producing pure HTML output. It includes built-in blog features such as archives, categories, and feeds.
- Static blog generation
- Categories and archives
- Atom and RSS feeds
- Mako templating
Textpattern
Textpattern is a long-established open-source CMS and blogging platform known for clean markup and a flexible tag-based templating system. It appeals to designers who want precise control.
- Tag-based templating
- Clean semantic markup
- Lightweight core
- Plugin support
Blogofile vs Textpattern: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Blogofile's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Textpattern is actively maintained. Blogofile is written in Python, while Textpattern is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Blogofile versus GPL-2.0 for Textpattern. Blogofile is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Textpattern. Textpattern is the more established project (first released 2004), while Blogofile arrived in 2009. Textpattern has the considerably larger community, at 881 GitHub stars versus 347. Textpattern lists first-class Docker deployment; Blogofile does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Blogofile if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Textpattern if…
- Precise control over output
- Stable and lightweight
Watch out for
- Tag syntax has a learning curve
- Smaller plugin ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Blogofile or Textpattern better?
Neither is universally better. Textpattern has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Blogofile and Textpattern free and open-source?
Yes. Blogofile is licensed under MIT and Textpattern under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Blogofile and Textpattern with Docker?
Blogofile: check the project docs for container support. Textpattern: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Blogofile or Textpattern?
Blogofile has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Textpattern. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.