Alchemy SSG VS Markdown Tables

Alchemy is a modern, extremely simple, and easy to customize markdown-based static site generator.

Create and edit Markdown tables on iPhone

Performance
Alchemy SSG generates static HTML files, which can be served quickly by web servers, enhancing performance and load times.
Security
Static sites generated by Alchemy have fewer vulnerabilities compared to dynamic sites since there is no server-side code execution involved at runtime.
Scalability
Static sites are easily scalable as they can be served from a CDN, handling large spikes in traffic without additional server load.
Cost-effectiveness
Hosting static sites is generally cheaper since they can be hosted on simple web servers or free hosting platforms.
Simplicity
Alchemy SSG allows developers to focus on content and front-end code without worrying about back-end infrastructure or server-side programming.

Limited Interactivity
Static sites lack server-side logic, which limits their ability to handle complex, interactive, or real-time features without additional client-side code or external services.
Maintenance
Content updates require regeneration and redeployment of the site, which may involve more steps compared to dynamic content management systems.
Learning Curve
Users unfamiliar with static site generators or the command-line interface might face a steeper learning curve to effectively use Alchemy SSG.
Dependency on Tools
Building with Alchemy SSG often relies on a stack of tools and dependencies, which could require maintenance and updating over time.

Simplicity
Markdown tables offer a simple and easy-to-read syntax that's more humane and intuitive than HTML tables when writing and editing plain text.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Because they are part of the Markdown language, Markdown tables can be used across various platforms that support Markdown rendering, providing consistent formatting.
Readability
Markdown tables maintain readability in their raw form, meaning they can be read easily without needing to render them.
Integration
They can be integrated smoothly into other Markdown content, allowing for coherent document structures that mix text, tables, and other elements.

Limited Styling Options
Markdown tables have limited styling capabilities compared to HTML in terms of colors, borders, and text alignment, which may not meet all design requirements.
Complexity in Large Tables
For large and complex tables, the Markdown format can quickly become hard to manage, as the syntax can become unwieldy without visual aids.
Lack of Support for Advanced Features
Advanced table features like row and column spanning are not supported by Markdown, which limits complex layouts.
Rendering Differences
There may be slight differences in how Markdown tables are rendered in different applications and tools, which can impact presentation consistency.