Sometimes the best solutions are the ones that just get out of your way. That's what I discovered when I chose Ghost for my blog and newsletter platform. In a world of overly complex content management systems, Ghost stands out by doing exactly what it needs to – nothing more, nothing less.

Finding the Right Fit

I was drawn to Ghost for three simple reasons. It's open source, which matters to me. It's refreshingly simple, without the bloat that plagues so many platforms. And it comes with newsletter features built right in, which was exactly what I needed for connecting with readers.

Building a Reliable Setup

The technical setup came together like pieces of a well-designed puzzle. After exploring different hosting options, I landed on PikaPods. It hits that sweet spot between managed and flexible – enough control to do what I need, but without the headache of managing every detail, and most of all it supports auto updates. Of note, PikaPods supports many other OSS apps.

Security was a natural concern, so I put Cloudflare in front as my Web Application Firewall (WAF). It's like having a smart security system that handles threats without me having to think about it. Additionally I setup access rules to require github SSO for the admin section, but had to add a bypass for the API.

Making It All Flow

I wanted a setup that would feel effortless in daily use, so I connected everything to GitHub Actions. Now, theme changes are as simple as committing changes – the deployment just happens. I also picked up a premium theme (Vozzy) because building a theme from scratch was not on my radar.

The End Result

What I've ended up with is exactly what I was looking for: a publishing platform that doesn't get in its own way. I hope to use the newsletter features to force myself into some consistent timing with publishing.

There's something satisfying about running a blog on a platform that embodies simplicity. Ghost does what it promises, does it well, and then steps aside to let you focus on what matters – sharing your ideas with the world.