Bridgetown
Bridgetown is a free site generator for creating static sites, full-stack applications or projects that combine both.
What Bridgetown is
Bridgetown is a free site generator for creating static sites, full-stack applications or projects that combine both. It compiles Markdown, layouts and components into HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Static publishing tools include permalinks, Git-based content deployment, atomic builds, data pipelines and pagination. Collections, taxonomies and content relationships help organize material, which can be generated at build time or in real time and connected to a headless CMS or other web APIs. For full-stack projects, its Roda backend supports dynamic routes, server APIs and database connections such as PostgreSQL. Templates can use ERB, Serbea, Streamlined or Liquid, while components support modular views, web components and Markdown inclusion. The frontend build system includes esbuild and PostCSS, and Ruby plugins can extend projects. Static output can be deployed wherever HTML, CSS and JavaScript files are served. Installation requires GCC and Make, Ruby 3.3 or newer, and Node 22.21 or newer. The source code is MIT-licensed.
Good
- Builds static sites and full-stack applications.
- Connects content to headless CMSs and web APIs.
- Includes Roda routes, APIs and database support.
- Static output can be deployed wherever web files are served.
Watch out
- Installation requires GCC and Make.
- Requires Ruby 3.3 or newer.
- Requires Node 22.21 or newer.
Who it suits
Bridgetown suits developers building Ruby-based static sites or full-stack applications with JavaScript frontend assets. It may fit projects that need CMS connections, database-backed routes or extensible Ruby plugins.
Verdict
Bridgetown combines static publishing tools with a backend for dynamic routes and database-connected applications. Check its runtime and build-tool requirements against your development environment.
The facts
Each one read from Bridgetown's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- CMS API Integration
- Content can connect to a Headless CMS and other web APIs.checked 28 Sep 2001
- CMS integration
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Community Support
- The project provides community chat and Discord chat options.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Componentized Views
- Components support modular site design, frontend web components, and Markdown inclusion.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Content engine
- It supports content collections, taxonomies, relationships between content, and connections to headless CMSs and web APIs.checked 30 Sep 2001
- Content Engine
- It supports collections, taxonomies, content relationships, and build-time or real-time content generation.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Content sources
- markdownchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Core Technology
- Bridgetown is built on Ruby, Roda, and esbuild.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Current version
- The website identifies the current version as v2.2.2, codename “Verdant River City”.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Database Support
- The page specifically mentions connecting to PostgreSQL databases.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Deployment
- Static output can be deployed to any server that supports HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; the site recommends Render for full-stack production setups.checked 30 Sep 2001
- Deployment Options
- Static sites can deploy anywhere that supports HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Frontend build
- The frontend build system includes zero-configuration esbuild and PostCSS.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Frontend Build System
- Bridgetown includes zero-config esbuild and PostCSS, with CSS and JavaScript library support.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Frontend tools
- Its frontend build system includes esbuild and PostCSS for JavaScript and CSS assets.checked 30 Sep 2001
- Full stack
- Bridgetown includes Roda-based server routes and supports server-side rendering and API routes.checked 30 Sep 2001
- Fullstack Backend
- Roda is included for dynamic routes, server APIs, and database-connected applications.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Full-stack features
- It includes Roda for server-rendered routes and APIs and can connect to databases such as PostgreSQL.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Incremental builds
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Integrations
- The official plugin directory lists integrations and extensions for Directus, Cloudinary, Notion, Plausible Analytics, Sequel, and Lit SSR plus hydration.checked 28 Sep 2001
- Latest Version
- Version 2.2.2, codename “Verdant River City,” was released July 6, 2026.checked 28 Sep 2001
The company
- Founded
- 2020checked 28 Sep 2001
- Headquarters
- Portland, Oregon, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2001
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
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