Jekyll vs OpenCart

Jekyll and OpenCart are two popular platforms with distinct purposes. Jekyll is a static site generator, ideal for creating fast and secure websites, while OpenCart is an e-commerce platform designed for online stores.

General information

Jekyll
OpenCart
Introduction :
Jekyll is a static site generator that was launched in 2008 and is open source. It has gained popularity for its simplicity, speed, and security. Jekyll is widely used by developers and bloggers who prefer a lightweight and flexible platform for creating websites. Its ease of use and compatibility with version control systems like Git make it a popular choice for those looking to build fast and secure websites.
Introduction :
OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform that was launched in 2005. It is popular for its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and active community support. OpenCart is widely used by small to medium-sized businesses looking to set up online stores quickly and efficiently. With a range of themes and extensions available, users can easily tailor their online stores to suit their specific needs and preferences.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and setup for beginners
  • Large community for support and resources
  • Customizable with themes and plugins
  • Fast performance with static site generation
  • Secure with built-in features and updates
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and customize for beginners
  • Wide range of extensions and themes available
  • Strong SEO capabilities for online visibility
  • Multi-store functionality for managing multiple stores
  • Active community for support and updates
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features compared to others
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Less user-friendly interface for non-developers
  • Limited theme options and customization capabilities
  • Smaller community support and resources
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features
  • Requires technical knowledge for customization
  • Not as user-friendly as other platforms
  • Limited support options
  • Less extensive app marketplace
Website users : Over 1 million websites
Jekyll is a popular choice for static websites, with a significant user base due to its simplicity and flexibility.
Website users : Hundreds of thousands
OpenCart is used by hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Jekyll requires basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Markdown. Some technical skills are needed, but resources are available for assistance.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
OpenCart has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical knowledge to set up and customize the platform effectively.
Year launched : 2008
Jekyll was launched in 2008, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Year launched : 2005
OpenCart was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for online businesses.
Official website : https://jekyllrb.com/
Official website : https://www.opencart.com/


Commercial details

Jekyll
OpenCart
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Jekyll is fully open source, written in Ruby. The entire platform is available for modification and customization by the community.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
OpenCart is fully open source, written in PHP. Users have full access to the code for customization and development.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a free option with basic features. Users can host their site for free on platforms like GitHub Pages.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a free, self-hosted option with basic features. Additional functionalities may require paid extensions or themes.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Jekyll offers a paid option for added features and support, providing users with more customization and assistance for their websites.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and customization options beyond the free version.


Platform details

Jekyll
OpenCart
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Jekyll can be hosted on various platforms, including free options like GitHub Pages or paid options through hosting providers.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
OpenCart offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, allowing users to easily set up and manage their online store without the need for self-hosting.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Self-hosting is possible with Jekyll, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
OpenCart offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control over their online store.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support headless functionality but can be extended with plugins to enable headless features via APIs.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support headless architecture but can be integrated with headless features through plugins and APIs.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Jekyll natively supports static content generation, making it efficient for creating and managing static websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

Jekyll
OpenCart
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll requires plugins for advanced content management features, making it less user-friendly compared to platforms with native content management capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart offers content management capabilities through plugins, but it is not its primary focus compared to platforms like WordPress or Shopify.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be enhanced by popular plugins for blogging features, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native blogging capabilities.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support blogging but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for blogging functionality.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Jekyll is not specifically designed for e-commerce functionality. It may require significant customization or integration with third-party plugins for e-commerce capabilities.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart offers good e-commerce capabilities, but may require additional plugins for advanced features compared to some other platforms.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll can be used for a community/forum with the help of plugins like Jekyll Talk, but it requires additional setup compared to platforms with native forum features.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not have native community/forum features but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Jekyll's functionality in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions available in the OpenCart marketplace.


Other features

Jekyll
OpenCart
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular plugins like jekyll-multilingual and jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in Jekyll can be achieved through plugins like jekyll-multiple-languages-plugin, offering flexibility for internationalization needs.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
OpenCart supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage multiple language versions of their online store.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Jekyll does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular plugins like jekyll-sitemap for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.


When choosing between Jekyll and OpenCart, consider your website’s primary function. If you need a simple, secure website with fast loading times, Jekyll is the way to go. On the other hand, if you are looking to set up an online store with robust e-commerce features, OpenCart would be the better choice. Ultimately, the decision should be based on the specific needs of your project.