lightweight EcmaScript module
templating handled with standard JavaScript template literals ${ expression }
!{ expression } values are converted to ${ expression } at build time. Templates can be partially-built where possible and used in Express.js or other frameworks with jsTACS
automatic markdown conversion with block and inline code syntax highlighting
automatic creation of page navigation, in-page heading contents, paginated posts, and paginated tag lists
renders HTML or any other text-based file types
pass-through file copying
add virtual content and templates
custom string replacement
automatic minification options
hooks for custom processing functions
watch mode
works on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux

Quick start

If necessary, create a new Node.js project directory:

mkdir mysite
cd mysite
npm init

Add "type": "module", to package.json to use EcmaScript modules by default.

Install Publican:

npm i publican

Create markdown or other content files in the src/content/ sub-directory. For example, src/content/#index.md:

---
title: My Publican site
---

This is my new static site!

*Under construction!*

Create HTML template files in the src/template/ sub-directory. For example, src/template/default.html:

<!doctype html>
<html>
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>${ data.title }</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    ${ include('_partials/header.html') }
    <main>
      <h1>${ data.title }</h1>
      ${ data.content }
    </main>
  </body>
</html>

The template above includes a partial at src/template/_partials/header.html:

<header>
  <nav><a href="${ tacs.root }">HOME</a></nav>
</header>

Create a configuration file in the project root, e.g. publican.config.js (use a .mjs extension if "type": "module", is not set in package.json):

import { Publican } from 'publican';
const publican = new Publican();

// clear build directory (optional)
await publican.clean();

// build site
await publican.build();

Build the site to the ./build/ directory:

node publican.config.js

For more information, refer to the full documentation at Publican.dev.

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Package last updated on 26 Jun 2026

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