SHSelfHostIndex

Daux.io vs Doctave

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted wikis & documentation options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
DA Daux.io Flat-file documentation generator rendered from Markdown VS DO Doctave Markdown documentation site generator with search
FeatureDaux.ioDoctave
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
Health score81 · Excellent12 · At risk
CategoryWikis & DocumentationWikis & Documentation
LicenseMITMIT
LanguagePHPRust
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM128 MB128 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, docker, sourcebinary, source
GitHub stars★ 829★ 670
First released20142021
ReplacesGitBook, ConfluenceConfluence, GitBook

What are Daux.io and Doctave?

Daux.io

Daux.io is an open-source documentation generator that turns a folder of Markdown files into a navigable documentation website. It needs no database and supports both dynamic serving and static export.

  • Markdown folder to docs site
  • No database required
  • Built-in themes
  • Static export option

Doctave

Doctave is an opinionated documentation site generator that builds fast static documentation sites from Markdown files. It includes built-in search, Mermaid diagram support, and live preview without requiring complex configuration.

  • Markdown documentation
  • Built-in search
  • Mermaid diagrams
  • Live preview server

Daux.io vs Doctave: key differences

Daux.io is written in PHP, while Doctave is built with Rust. Daux.io is the more established project (first released 2014), while Doctave arrived in 2021. Daux.io lists first-class Docker deployment; Doctave does not.

Why pick each one

Choose Daux.io if…

  • Very easy to set up
  • Content stays in plain files

Watch out for

  • Documentation-only focus
  • No web-based editing
Daux.io details

Choose Doctave if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Written in Rust
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM

Watch out for

  • Static output only
  • Limited theming
Doctave details

Frequently asked questions

Is Daux.io or Doctave better?

Neither is universally better. Daux.io has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Daux.io and Doctave free and open-source?

Yes. Daux.io is licensed under MIT and Doctave under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Daux.io and Doctave with Docker?

Daux.io: yes. Doctave: check the project docs for container support.

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