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+++ date = '2025-09-25T13:30:13+02:00' draft = true title = 'Why I Chose Hugo and Markdown for Long-Term Thinking' categories = ['programming'] tags = ['hugo', 'markdown', 'static-sites', 'longevity'] +++
Why I Chose Hugo and Markdown for Long-Term Thinking
After 15 years of building web applications for clients - from Fortune 500 companies to startup SaaS platforms - I've learned one hard truth: complexity kills longevity. When I decided to start this blog, I had one non-negotiable requirement: it needed to outlast the frameworks I'm currently excited about.
This requirement shaped every technical decision I made, drawing from painful lessons learned maintaining legacy systems.
The Technology Stack
- Hugo: Static site generator written in Go
- Markdown: Plain text files for all content
- Git: Version control for the entire site
- Simple themes: Minimal dependencies, maximum longevity
Why This Stack Will Survive
1. Markdown is Forever
Markdown files are just plain text. In 50 years, when today's frameworks are ancient history, any text editor will still be able to open and read these files.
2. Static Files Are Resilient
No database to corrupt. No server-side dependencies to break. Just HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that any web server can serve.
3. Git Never Forgets
Every change, every version of every post, preserved in version control history.
The Alternative I Rejected
I could have used WordPress, Ghost, or a modern React-based solution. But these all require:
- Database maintenance
- Security updates
- Plugin compatibility
- Server-side processing
In 20 years, will the plugins still work? Will the database schema still be compatible? Will the hosting requirements still be reasonable?
I doubt it.
Building for the Future
This blog is an investment in digital longevity. The posts I write today should be readable by my grandchildren, using whatever technology exists in their time.
That's worth a little extra work upfront.
What are your thoughts on building for longevity in tech? How do you balance modern convenience with long-term sustainability?