Cobalt
Cobalt is a free static-site generator that turns Markdown content into HTML pages.
What Cobalt is
Cobalt is a free static-site generator that turns Markdown content into HTML pages. Written in Rust, it supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. The `cobalt init` command creates a starter site with sample pages, posts, and layouts; `cobalt new` adds a page or post, and `cobalt serve` builds the site, watches for edits, and serves a local preview. When a post is ready, `cobalt publish` removes its draft status and sets its publication date to today. `cobalt build` generates HTML for documents that are not drafts.
Layouts and shared includes use Liquid templates. Site settings and page defaults are managed in `_cobalt.yml`, with options for source and output directories, posts and drafts, RSS and JSON Feed, Sass assets, and syntax highlighting. Highlighting can be enabled or disabled and assigned a theme. Documentation describes deployment to GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, or a self-hosted server. Installation guidance covers OS packages and pre-built binaries. Emacs users can manage generation and posts through Cobalt.el.
Good
- Free to use.
- Creates a local preview with `cobalt serve`.
- Uses Liquid templates for layouts and shared includes.
- Supports RSS, JSON Feed, and syntax highlighting settings.
- Installation guidance covers Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Watch out
- Build output excludes documents still marked as drafts.
- The content source listed is Markdown.
Who it suits
Cobalt suits people who want a Markdown-based site workflow with local previews and configurable templates. It may also fit Emacs users and people deploying to GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, or their own server.
Verdict
Cobalt provides a command-based workflow for creating, previewing, publishing, and building static sites. Its configuration covers common site options, while its output is HTML for non-draft documents.
The facts
Each one read from Cobalt's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build output
- `cobalt build` generates HTML files for documents that are not in draft state.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Community
- The site says Cobalt is made by contributors and welcomes contributions.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Configuration
- Cobalt uses `_cobalt.yml` for site-wide options and page defaults, including source and output directories.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Content configuration
- The `_cobalt.yml` configuration supports settings including source and destination directories, drafts, posts, RSS, JSON Feed, and syntax highlighting.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Content features
- The configuration supports draft posts, syntax highlighting, Sass asset settings, RSS, and JSON Feed paths.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Content sources
- markdownchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Content workflow
- Cobalt provides commands to create pages or posts, publish posts, and build the site into HTML files.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Contributions
- The maker welcomes contributions and directs users to the project repository to report documentation issues or submit changes.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Deployment
- The documentation describes deploying generated sites to GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, or a self-hosted server.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Draft publishing
- Posts can be published with `cobalt publish`, which removes draft status and sets the publication date to today.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Editor integration
- Cobalt.el provides an Emacs interface for site generation and post management.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Installation
- The maker's installation guide says Cobalt supports Windows, Linux, and Mac, and documents OS packages and pre-built binaries.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Language
- Cobalt is written in Rust.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Local preview
- The `cobalt serve` command builds the site, watches for changes, and serves it locally.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Local preview server
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
- Pages and posts
- The `cobalt new` command creates a page or post, with the output location determined by its options or directory.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Product
- Cobalt is a static-site generator.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Site creation
- The `cobalt init` command creates a site with example pages, posts, and layouts.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Support
- The maker identifies Gitter as its main chat space and says users can also join through a Matrix room synced with Gitter.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Supported languages
- Rustchecked 20 Sep 2001
- Syntax highlighting
- Syntax highlighting can be enabled or disabled site-wide and configured with a theme.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Templates
- The home page says Cobalt uses a familiar template language.checked 8 Oct 2001
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2001
The company
- Maker details
- The pages reviewed identify the makers as Cobalt contributors but do not state an organization name, headquarters, or founding date.checked 8 Oct 2001
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