Dotclear 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 | Dotclear | Nibbleblog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 62 · Good | 7 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Blogging Platforms | Blogging Platforms |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 46 | ★ 227 |
| First released | 2003 | 2009 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Blogger | WordPress, Blogger |
What are Dotclear and Nibbleblog?
Dotclear
Dotclear is a long-standing open-source blogging engine designed to be easy to install and use. It offers themes, plugins, and full control over publishing without proprietary lock-in.
- Easy installation
- Theme and plugin support
- Multi-blog management
- Built-in media handling
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
Dotclear vs Nibbleblog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Nibbleblog's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Dotclear is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Dotclear versus GPL-3.0 for Nibbleblog. Nibbleblog is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Dotclear. Dotclear is the more established project (first released 2003), while Nibbleblog arrived in 2009. Nibbleblog has the considerably larger community, at 227 GitHub stars versus 46. Dotclear lists first-class Docker deployment; Nibbleblog does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Dotclear if…
- Simple to set up
- Mature and stable
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Less known outside France
Choose Nibbleblog if…
- Very easy to install
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Development is inactive
- Limited features
Frequently asked questions
Is Dotclear or Nibbleblog better?
Neither is universally better. Nibbleblog has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Dotclear and Nibbleblog free and open-source?
Yes. Dotclear is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Nibbleblog under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dotclear and Nibbleblog with Docker?
Dotclear: yes. Nibbleblog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dotclear or Nibbleblog?
Nibbleblog has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Dotclear. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.