I’ve used Typepad for my blog for more than 20 years now. It was the hot new thing when I started! But they are no longer accepting new users (they urge inquirers to try Bluehost’s WordPress service). Their days of even offering the service to long-time users may be numbered, so I figured I should consider alternatives. And times have changed since I started with Typepad; there are now plenty of open-source static site generators I can choose from.
I ended up with Hexo with the Cactus theme. It seems to do the job. In the course of converting from Typepad, I also converted my posts to Markdown, and will use Markdown from here on out, so that will enable me to fairly easily move them to another SSG if I want to.
Rather than find a way to convert all my posts from a period of 20 years, I’m only keeping the few I like the most and that the most people arrive at from elsewhere via links or searches. It’s pretty much a clean slate. Why not? I’m 68 but I’d rather look forward than back. I’m working on hopefully interesting things I’ll be posting about here.
One thing that’s sad to lose is the old comments. Like when I posted that Apple should focus on a subscription service for music rather than selling tracks. Steve Jobs himself replied, arguing that it’s better to own than subscribe. A couple years later, Apple had converted to a subscription model. When you’re right, you’re right. :)
Oh, and why the cactus logo? Well, I have recently moved to Sedona, AZ and there are cacti in our garden. And the template I am using for this site happens to have that image. (Though I may change it in the future. Because, I mean, why a cactus?)