Migration from Wordpress blog to Hugo

Why I Switched from WordPress to Hugo: An IT guy’s perspective #

As someone deeply immersed in IT and operations, I’ve always appreciated tools that are lightweight, fast, and easy to manage. For years, I used WordPress for my blog (although I did not post a lot). It’s a powerhouse platform with an extensive ecosystem, but over time, I started feeling its weight—literally and figuratively.

Recently, I made the switch to Hugo, a static site generator, and it has completely transformed my blogging experience. Here’s why.

Performance: Fast Websites #

WordPress is a dynamic CMS, meaning every time someone visits your site, the server processes PHP code and queries a database to serve content. This can lead to slower load times, especially if your hosting environment isn’t optimized.

Hugo, on the other hand, generates static HTML files during the build process. This means the server doesn’t need to “think” when serving pages — it just delivers prebuilt files. The result?

• Near-instantaneous load times.
• No need for caching plugins or server-side optimizations.

Security: Reduced Attack Surface #

WordPress’s popularity is a double-edged sword. While its plugins and themes make it versatile, they also make it a frequent target for hackers. Regular updates are essential to patch vulnerabilities, and even then, a poorly maintained plugin can compromise your site.

Hugo eliminates this concern. Since it produces static files and doesn’t require a database or backend, there’s no attack surface for malicious actors to exploit. Your site is as secure as the server hosting it.

Developer-Friendly Workflow #

As someone familiar with IT operations, I thrive on simplicity and efficiency. Hugo integrates seamlessly into a developer’s workflow.

• Version Control: Your entire site can be version-controlled using Git, making collaboration and rollbacks effortless.
• Markdown: Content is written in Markdown, which is lightweight, intuitive, and easy to edit in any text editor.
• Extensible Tools: Hugo’s flexibility lets you define custom short-codes, layouts, and even preprocess assets like CSS and JavaScript using tools like PostCSS or Tailwind.

Contrast this with WordPress, where content editing relies on a web interface, and customizations often involve wrestling with PHP, themes, or plugins.

Cost Efficiency #

WordPress requires hosting that supports PHP and a database like MySQL. While shared hosting is affordable, scaling can get expensive, especially if you need VPS or managed WordPress hosting.

With Hugo, your site is just static files. It can be hosted for free (or at minimal cost) on platforms like Github Pages or just on a AWS Amplify

These platforms also offer features like automatic HTTPS and continuous deployment.

No Bloat, Just Essentials #

WordPress’s plugin ecosystem is both its strength and its Achilles’ heel. While plugins add functionality, they often introduce bloat, compatibility issues, or even security risks.

Hugo keeps things lean. Need a feature? Build it yourself or find an open-source theme/extension. There’s no excess baggage—just your content and your design.

Learning Opportunity #

Switching to Hugo allowed me to dive deeper into modern web development practices. From setting up CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments to experimenting with Go templates, the learning curve was rewarding.

For IT professionals like me, Hugo offers an opportunity to refine skills that go beyond just maintaining a CMS — it’s about mastering the full stack of modern web technologies.

Final Thoughts #

WordPress is a fantastic platform, but for users like me who value speed, simplicity, and security, Hugo is a game-changer. It’s a perfect example of how less can be more.

If you’re considering making the switch, ask yourself:

• Do you value speed and performance over dynamic features?
• Are you comfortable working in a developer-centric environment?
• Do you want to minimize costs and maintenance?

If the answer is “yes” to these questions, Hugo might just be the perfect solution for your next project.

Have you made a similar switch or are considering it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!