Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Nanoc

nanoc.denisdefreyne.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux

What it is

Nanoc is a free static-site generator that turns content such as Markdown or AsciiDoc into HTML. It is a command-line application for local site development and generating finished sites for deployment, not a CMS; content is usually managed on the filesystem. Its scope ranges from personal blogs to corporate websites. Free-form metadata lets pages take different roles, and markup options include Markdown, AsciiDoc and Textile, with eRuby, Haml and Mustache among its template languages. Users can write custom filters and helpers or bring in data from databases and web APIs. Nanoc supports incremental builds, multilingual sites and a local preview server. Deployment integrations include Git, rsync, GitHub Pages, Bitbucket, GitLab Pages and Netlify, and the tool can run checks before deployment. Ruby 3.1 or later is required, with CRuby needed for guaranteed support. macOS and Linux are officially supported; Windows has limitations and is not officially supported. Nanoc is MIT-licensed.

Spec sheet

What it does
Nanoc is a flexible static-site generator that transforms content such as Markdown or AsciiDoc into HTML.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Deployment
Nanoc integrates with various deployment mechanisms and provides a nanoc deploy command, with examples for Git, rsync, GitHub Pages, Bitbucket, GitLab Pages and Netlify.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Security
The site says static sites do not contain dynamic content and are therefore immune to most common attacks.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
License
Nanoc is licensed under the MIT license.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Founded
2007Read 28 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
CMS integration
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Content model
Nanoc is not a CMS; it processes content that is usually managed on the filesystem.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Content sources
databaseRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Current release
The latest release is Nanoc 4.14.8, released on August 30th, 2026.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Deployment checks
Nanoc can run pre-deployment checks.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Extensibility
Nanoc lets users write custom filters and helpers.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
External data
Nanoc can pull data from databases and web APIs.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Incremental builds
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Installation
Nanoc is installed using RubyGems with the command gem install nanoc.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Local preview server
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Markup and templates
Nanoc supports markup languages including Markdown, AsciiDoc and Textile, and templating languages including eRuby, Haml and Mustache.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Metadata
Nanoc supports free-form metadata, allowing pages to be processed as articles, chapters, reviews, recipes, and other types.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Multilingual support
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Runtime
Nanoc requires Ruby 3.1 or higher and the CRuby implementation for guaranteed support.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Site scale
Nanoc is fit for building anything from a small personal blog to a large corporate website.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Support channels
The project links to a GitHub repository, issue tracker, GitHub discussions and a Google group.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Supported languages
RubyRead 20 Sep 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Supported systems
Nanoc officially supports macOS and Linux; Windows is not officially supported and has some limitations.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com
Workflow
Nanoc is a command-line application where sites are developed locally and generated sites are deployed when finished.Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com

Plans and prices

Nanoc Free passion project · provided free of charge Read 1 Oct 2026 · nanoc.denisdefreyne.com

Every Nanoc plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports incremental builds and multilingual sites.
  • Includes a local preview server.
  • Can run checks before deployment.
  • MIT-licensed and free.

Limits

  • It is not a CMS.
  • Windows is not officially supported and has limitations.
  • Requires Ruby 3.1 or later.

Who it suits

Nanoc suits people comfortable with a command-line workflow who want to generate static sites from filesystem-managed content. Its metadata and extension options support projects ranging from personal blogs to corporate websites.

Verdict

Nanoc offers a flexible content-to-HTML workflow with local preview, extensibility and multiple deployment routes. Check its Ruby requirement and official platform support before adopting it.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to NanocAll alternatives →