As a backend developer focused on optimization and long-term value, I want tools that are fast, lean, and reliable. When building my personal blog and portfolio site, I needed a solution that matched the way I think and work — one that’s developer-friendly, low-maintenance, and future-proof.

After evaluating the landscape, I chose Hugo — an open-source static site generator — and haven’t looked back.

Why not a traditional CMS?

Popular platforms like WordPress, Ghost, Medium, or Wix offer convenient interfaces and polished templates. But they come at a cost:

  • Hosting fees and plugin lock-in
  • Security updates and patch cycles
  • Slow loading times without heavy caching
  • Database maintenance and migration risk
  • Dependency on a live admin dashboard

I didn’t want any of that.

What I really wanted

I wanted a blog that is:

  • 🚀 Fast — page loads under 100ms
  • 💸 Cheap to host — static content deployable on free GitHub Pages
  • 🛠 Minimal to maintain — no database, no updates, no runtime environment
  • 📁 Markdown-first — content is portable, editable offline, and version-controlled
  • 🌍 Multilingual — because I write in both English and French
  • 🧩 Customizable — I want full control over structure, theme, and behavior

Hugo ticked all those boxes.

Why Hugo stands out

Unlike other static site generators, Hugo is built with performance and simplicity in mind:

  • ⚡ Blazing fast — Hugo can generate thousands of pages in milliseconds.
  • 🧠 Go-powered — written in the Go language, it’s fast and robust.
  • 🧱 Modular structure — perfect for evolving your site without rebuilding it from scratch.
  • 🌐 Built-in multilingual support — no plugins needed.
  • ✅ Works perfectly with GitHub Pages — and integrates easily with GitHub Actions for CI/CD.

It aligns with how I build

I treat my blog like code:

  • I write in Markdown.
  • I version everything with Git.
  • I preview locally and deploy automatically via GitHub Actions.
  • My content lives in my repo, not in someone else’s database.
  • The site loads fast, even with no JavaScript.

Hugo respects my time — no plugins to babysit, no broken updates, no servers to reboot.

Long-term value

The more I work in tech, the more I value tools that reduce complexity and create leverage. Hugo offers:

  • 🧩 Portability — Markdown and static assets will still work 10 years from now
  • 💰 Cost control — hosting is free or nearly free
  • 🧘 Peace of mind — no attack surface, no updates to break the site
  • 🧪 Developer joy — everything is text, Git, and logic

I’m not interested in buzzwords — I’m interested in value over time. Hugo is a system that rewards you for keeping things simple.

In summary

Hugo is not just a blog engine — it’s a platform for thoughtful publishing. Whether you’re a developer, writer, or entrepreneur, it’s a tool that helps you build fast, low-maintenance websites that scale with your ideas — not your hosting bills.

That’s why I chose Hugo.

👉 Learn more at gohugo.io