An overview of Plenti based on video: Plenti = Hugo + NetlifyCMS using Whisper AI & ChatGPT

[jamestagal]

Hi all,

I started thinking about working on a short video to explain what Plenti is and thought I would draw some inspiration from one of @jimafisk videos, namely Plenti = Hugo + NetlifyCMS.

So I first extracted audio from that video on Youtube and then used OpenAI's Whisper AI. (Whisper AI is an AI speech recognition system that can transcribe and translate audio). And fed that text to ChatGPT (3.5) and asked for a summary of his presentation.

I think it did a fairly good job at condensing it down to the key message. What do you think?

See below.

[jimafisk]

Wow what a time to be alive, that summary is spot on! It's very cool, thanks for putting this together @jamestagal!

The one small change is I've been calling it an "ejectable core" not "injectable core" - basically there are hidden files that you can "eject" from the core into your project to override.

[jamestagal]

Yes, the tools at our disposal these days are pretty amazing.

BTW. I also should say this summary is very useful because it provides a discernible and clear overview of Plenti - a "cheatsheet" if you like.

As the image isn't the easiest to read, here it is with some formatting and your suggested correction:

Jim Fisk's presentation on Plenti covered several key points:

1. Plenti as a Build Time Render Engine (BTR Framework): Plenti is described as a build time render engine, combining client-side rendering and server-side rendering during the build process. It is positioned as a lightweight alternative to traditional CMS systems.

2. Cost-effectiveness: Plenti is highlighted as a cost-effective solution for building websites due to several factors:

   • No need for a database, making deployment and version control simpler using Git.
   • The use of flat files in JSON format, enabling easy tracking and deployment.
   • Hosting on a Content Delivery Network (CDN), providing cheap and efficient hosting without the need for a backend.

3. Simple Architecture: Plenti is praised for its simple architecture, which facilitates ease of development, maintenance, and deployment of new features. The transparent layer between JSON data sources and Svelte-built templates is emphasized.

4. Data Structure and Content Management:

   • Plenti allows any valid JSON for content sources, simplifying the development process.
   • A discoverable CMS is built in, providing an editing experience based on JSON but allowing customization with custom field widgets.

5. Security: The static nature of Plenti's files enhances security, reducing the risk of SQL injection or backend manipulation. The lightweight and reproducible nature of static files contributes to the security of the system.

6. Client-friendly Updates: Plenti allows for updates to packages or dependencies on the developer's terms, reducing friction with clients and providing value in tandem with requested changes.

7. Ejectable Core: Plenti employs an "ejectable core" for essential files, so basically there are hidden files that you can "eject" from the core into your project to override. This ensures automatic updates without manual intervention. Users have the option to lock down core versions for stability.

8. Git-Backed CMS:

   • Plenti features a Git-backed CMS, enabling developers and clients to collaborate seamlessly.
   • The concept of atomic deploys ensures that the entire site is built and deployed every time, facilitating easy rollbacks and different deployments based on branches.

9. Integration with GitLab: Plenti's Git-backed CMS integrates with GitLab, utilizing CI/CD for automated builds and deployments. Changes made through the web interface are committed back to the Git repository.

10. Resemblance to Other Projects: Plenti is likened to projects like Hugo and Netlify CMS, emphasizing its Go-backed static site generation and Svelte-based CMS front end. The tight coupling of static site generation and CMS functionality is highlighted for a more integrated experience.

Jim Fisk's presentation positions Plenti as a versatile and cost-effective solution for building and maintaining websites, particularly suitable for those who value simplicity, security, and collaboration through Git-based workflows.