104 lines
6.0 KiB
Markdown
104 lines
6.0 KiB
Markdown
+++
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title = 'Why should I use Silicate?'
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slug = 'why-silicate'
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weight = 1
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Silicate is a [Hugo](https://gohugo.io/) theme dedicated to creating a comic website!
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You can work on your website directly on your computer then publish it on any web host you want!
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This website also provides a [handy guide]({{% relref "tutorials/" %}}) to get started!
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> Can't I already host my webcomic on websites like Webtoon, Tapas, DeviantArt, HiveWorks, etc.?
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You could, but they are *for profit* companies, they will not have your best interest
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at heart.
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What if they bring you into [predatory contracts](https://www.comicsbeat.com/webtoon-originals-contract-draws-criticism-from-creators/)?
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Or [fully buy into AI slop](https://news.artnet.com/art-world/deviantart-dreamup-ai-generator-creators-rights-ip-controversy-2210607)?
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Or even [pull the plug](https://www.comicsbeat.com/hiveworks-comics-sunsets-publishing-program/) on some features?
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Long story short: you will never truly be in control of your website on these platforms.
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And you most likely will be seen as resource.
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Putting your webcomic online *yourself* provides some security and agency, and for very little cost!
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> Is Silicate / Hugo like WordPress?
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No, they are very different.
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WordPress is a web server : it needs an actual server running non-stop. When a person asks for a page, WordPress creates the page
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on the fly. WordPress provides *dynamic* websites.
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Hugo, on the other hand, is a program that pre-creates all the pages that your
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website will need, once, on your own computer.
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You can then put them on your server and they will be given to the user directly. Hugo provides *static* websites.
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> Why not use WordPress? Lots of people use WordPress!
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WordPress is everywhere, yes. Most web hosting platforms will even pre-install it for you.
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But it has its drawbacks.
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WordPress alone isn't enough to host a webcomic properly. You'll need a theme and maybe a plugin.
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But sometime plugins gets abandoned, like [ComicPress](https://github.com/Frumph/comicpress) which hasn't
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been updated in 3 years. Then you need to change themes or plugins, and it's a *mess*.
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Also, WordPress is an actual web server - it can have [vulnerabilities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPress#Vulnerabilities) and be hacked.
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So you need to keep it up to date.
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But updates can break your plugins.
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Losing hours fixing up your WordPress because it broke down aren't fun.
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And WordPress is its very own [can of worms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP_Engine#WordPress_dispute_and_lawsuit).
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With Hugo and Silicate, you generate a static website. Since there is no web server, there are far fewer security risks!
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And there is no problem keeping the same version of Hugo and this theme forever. Even if Hugo disapears -- but why would it?
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It's been around for 10 years -- and this theme is no longer updated, you'll still be able to use them forever.
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----------
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> Come on, you're just trying to sell me Silicate. Since WordPress is still around it must have advantages!
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You are correct! Twice!
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Wordpress *does* have some advantages, especially using the Toocheke [theme](#) and [plugin](#), so here's a small comparison :
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| | Silicate / Hugo | WordPress |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| Setup | Medium | **Often pre-installed by web hosts** |
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| Can try without web host | **Easy** | Fairly technical |
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| Complexity | **Low** | Medium |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| Managing content | **Very easy using text files** | Easy if using plugins only |
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| GUI to manage content | Your own PC | **Dedicated GUI in web browser** |
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| Multilingual support | **Built-in and easy** | Poor - need plugins |
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| RSS Feed | **Built-it and automatic** | Automatic using plugins |
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| Private pages for Patreons | No | **Using plugins** |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| Can customize styling with CSS | Easy | Easy |
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| Can configure pages layout | Yes | **Yes, with visual editor** |
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| Can fully customize any layout | **Yes, but technical** | No, some parts can't change |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| Publication method | Via file transfer (SFTP, etc.) | **Through web GUI** |
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| Can publish page at set date | No (requires manual operation) | **Yes** |
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| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
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| Security | **Secure by design** | Often vulnerable |
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| Updates can break your site | **Low risk** | High risk |
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| Updates are mandatory | **No** | Yes |
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| Can preview update effects | **Yes** | No |
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| Backups | **Locally and/or web host** | Through web host |
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To sum it up:
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- Hugo / Silicate is lighter -- but simpler -- than WordPress
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- You can **try it on your own computer without a web host**
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- It is way more secure and requires less maintenance than Wordpress
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- You can customise **everything** if you don't mind getting you hands dirty
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- But you **can't have dynamic pages** like patreon-only and password-protected pages
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