Jekyll and Gatsby are both popular static site generators, but they have some key differences. Jekyll is a simple and straightforward tool for generating static websites, while Gatsby is a more modern and powerful framework for building websites and web applications.
One of the main differences between Jekyll and Gatsby is the language they are written in. Jekyll is written in Ruby, while Gatsby is written in JavaScript. This means that Jekyll is typically easier to set up and use on a Mac or Linux machine, while Gatsby may be a better choice if you're comfortable with JavaScript and the React framework.
Another important difference is the way that each tool generates a website. Jekyll takes plain text files, such as Markdown or HTML, and converts them into a static website. In contrast, Gatsby uses a powerful data-fetching layer called GraphQL to pull data from a variety of sources, including headless CMSs, APIs, and local files. This makes it easy to build dynamic and interactive websites with Gatsby.
One advantage of Jekyll is that it has a large and active community, with many plugins and themes available. This means that it's easier to find support and resources for Jekyll than for Gatsby. In contrast, Gatsby has a more modern and flexible architecture, and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for building modern web applications.
In general, both Jekyll and Gatsby are excellent choices for creating static websites. The best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you want a simple and straightforward tool for generating static websites, Jekyll may be the better choice. But if you want a more powerful and flexible framework for building modern web applications, Gatsby may be a better fit.