If you've been writing online for a while, you've probably seen the same debate come up again and again: should you run your blog on a dynamic CMS like WordPress, or use a static setup that builds your pages ahead of time?
Both have their place. Dynamic platforms power a huge part of the web, while static sites have made a strong comeback among developers, writers, and small teams who want speed, control, and reliability. Let's look at what each approach offers and why static sites are becoming the long-term choice for many creators.
What Makes a Site Dynamic?
A dynamic site generates each page when someone visits it. The server runs scripts, fetches data from a database, and then assembles the final HTML.
Platforms like WordPress, Ghost, and Drupal fall into this category. They're great when you need frequent updates from multiple users, or when you're managing large, content-heavy websites. Plugins, themes, and editors make it easy to add features and publish quickly.
But the same flexibility often comes with trade-offs. Every page view involves database queries, plugin checks, and theme rendering. Over time, this can slow down load times, increase security risks, and make backups and updates more complicated.
What Makes a Site Static?
A static site, on the other hand, is built ahead of time. When you update a post, the site generator converts your Markdown or content files into ready-to-serve HTML. Once published, your site doesn't need a database or runtime scripts. Visitors simply receive a fast, prebuilt page from a CDN.
This makes static sites fast, lightweight, and secure. There's nothing to execute on the server, so the risk of code exploits or database leaks is almost zero.
Static sites also scale beautifully. Whether you get 10 visitors or 10,000, your server doesn't need to do any extra work because the pages are already built.
The Real Difference Over Time
At first glance, the main difference between static and dynamic sites might seem to be speed. But over the long term, the difference is really about maintenance.
Dynamic sites age like software. They need updates, database cleaning, plugin replacements, and theme patches. A single plugin conflict can take a site offline, and migrations between hosts can be painful.
Static sites age like files. As long as you keep your content and build pipeline, your site will always work. There's no runtime to break. You can host it almost anywhere. That's why many long-running blogs eventually move from a CMS to a static setup-they want stability without the constant upkeep.
Why Static Sites Work So Well with Markdown
Markdown fits perfectly into the static model. It's portable, readable, and doesn't lock you into any system. Your posts stay as plain text files that you can version, edit anywhere, and rebuild anytime.
This approach keeps your writing future-proof. Even if your site generator changes, your content remains usable. Static tools like hosted.md are built around this idea: Markdown first, static generation by default, and easy publishing without needing Git or a local setup.
When a Dynamic CMS Still Makes Sense
There are still good reasons to choose a dynamic CMS. If you're running a membership site, a large e-commerce store, or need user-generated content, dynamic tools offer features that static setups can't match without significant workarounds.
But if your focus is writing, publishing, and growing a long-term archive of content, static wins in the long run. You'll spend more time creating and less time managing servers or chasing plugin updates.
Final Thoughts
Static and dynamic systems aren't enemies-they're different tools for different goals. Dynamic platforms shine when you need complex, interactive websites. Static platforms thrive when you want durability, performance, and peace of mind.
For writers and creators building something meant to last, a static Markdown-based approach like hosted.md keeps your words fast, portable, and future-proof.