The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →After 10 years on WordPress.com’s free plan, I moved my blog into the codebase of my existing website. Ads, plan limits, and restricted customization had become frustrating; writing individual MDX files gave me a workflow and level of control that suited the site I already maintained. It was a personal tradeoff, not a claim that code is the right publishing system for every blogger.
Why I left WordPress.com
My blog had been on WordPress.com for 10 years, and it had built a community. But the free plan’s advertising, limitations, and customization constraints increasingly got in the way of how I wanted the site to look and work. I wanted direct access to the site’s code and a writing process that fit the website I was already building.
That experience is specific to my use of WordPress.com’s free service; it is not a verdict on every WordPress setup. WordPress.com also provides XML export for site content and separate media export on Free, Personal, and Premium plans, so leaving does not mean your writing is inherently trapped. Its managed hosting service handles technical work such as backups, security, and updates. WordPress.com’s export documentation explains the available routes.
What publishing in code looks like
One post, one MDX file
In my setup, each post lives in a folder under public/blog/<slug>/, with an index.mdx file for the post and images stored alongside it. YAML frontmatter holds details such as the title, date, excerpt, and tags. The site parses the content at build time and produces a static export.
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A lightweight writing loop
For a change, I edit the .mdx file, save it, and refresh a browser tab to see the result. There is no blog database, admin login, or PHP in this publishing path. That simplicity works for me because I am comfortable editing code and already maintain the surrounding site; it is not automatically easier for someone who wants a visual editor or a hosted dashboard.
Static output also does not mean there are no security considerations. The site still needs a deployment process and appropriate protection for any services connected to it. The architecture changes what needs to be maintained; it does not remove responsibility.
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Why I did not put WordPress on a Raspberry Pi
I considered self-hosting WordPress on Raspberry Pi hardware, but that would have put a public-facing CMS on a home server that also supported other workloads. My decision was about the consequences of a compromise in that particular setup, not a claim that WordPress is inherently unsafe or impossible to secure.
“Not because it’s hard to secure, but because the asymmetry is wrong: worst case for a hacked blog is embarrassing, worst case for a hacked home server is real data and potentially money.”
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That is my risk judgment as the person responsible for that home server. Another blogger might isolate a server, use managed hosting, or decide that the convenience of WordPress outweighs the maintenance. I instead kept the blog in the existing code-managed site rather than adding a public CMS to the home-server environment.
The subscriber list stayed separate
Moving the posts into code did not make email subscriptions static. I moved the subscriber list to Firestore, with double opt-in and a self-service unsubscribe flow. GitHub Actions sends notifications directly by email. I have said that the list is not regularly dumped into the repository, which leaves an important operational question: how will the data be recovered if it is lost or the service needs to be changed?
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Firestore’s costs and recovery options depend on usage and current terms. Firebase documents no-cost quotas for specified usage, while reads, writes, deletes, storage, and bandwidth are billable categories; backup, restore, and point-in-time recovery do not include free usage. Its export process copies documents to Cloud Storage, but Firebase cautions that an export is not an exact snapshot of the database at the moment the export began. See the Firestore pricing details and export and import documentation before designing a recovery plan. I have not established a regular backup routine for my list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changes when you choose code over WordPress?
The right choice depends less on which platform is universally better than on which responsibilities and conveniences fit your blog.
Best Value
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| Consideration | Code-managed static site | WordPress.com or self-hosted WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and editing | Edit MDX and frontmatter directly; a browser refresh shows the result in my workflow. | A hosted dashboard offers a visual publishing interface; the exact experience depends on the service and plan. |
| Customization | Direct access to the existing site’s code, if you can work with that codebase. | Customization options vary by plan and setup. My free-plan limits were a reason for leaving. |
| Deployment and maintenance | Posts are parsed at build time and published as static output; you maintain the code and deployment path. | WordPress.com manages technical functions including backups, security, and updates. Self-hosted WordPress puts more hosting and maintenance choices in your hands. |
| Portability | Posts and related assets are files in the site codebase, but moving them may require adapting the site’s build and content format. | WordPress.com documents XML export for site content and separate media export on Free, Personal, and Premium plans. |
| Security responsibility | A static blog avoids a database, admin login, and PHP in my publishing path, but connected services and deployment still need appropriate care. | Managed hosting handles some technical work; self-hosting requires decisions about the server, updates, and exposure. Neither option guarantees security. |
| Dynamic features | Features such as subscriptions need a separate service; my subscriber list is in Firestore. | WordPress can support dynamic publishing features, with capabilities depending on the platform and configuration. |
| Cost and limits | Hosting and connected-service costs depend on the chosen provider and usage. Firebase Hosting describes static asset delivery through a global CDN; its no-cost storage and transfer allowances are subject to quotas and limits. | WordPress.com plan features and limits vary. Self-hosted plans and costs vary by provider; I mentioned Hostinger as an example, not as a service I used or recommend. |
For Firebase Hosting specifically, check its usage quotas and pricing before relying on an allowance or estimating cost. Firebase Hosting is not the hosting service I have identified for my blog; it is one example of how static hosting may work.
Quick Recap
Who might benefit from this kind of move?
- Consider code-managed publishing if you already maintain a website, are comfortable editing files, and value control over a familiar visual editor.
- Consider managed WordPress.com if you want a dashboard and prefer the host to handle technical work such as updates, security, and backups.
- Think carefully before self-hosting WordPress on a home server if the same hardware supports other important services. Consider how you would isolate the blog and what a compromise could affect.
- Plan for dynamic features separately if your blog needs subscriptions, forms, or other services that static files do not provide by themselves.
- Decide how you will export and recover data before moving subscriber records or other essential information into a separate service.
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