Introduction
This document describes several static image gallery generators, their advantages and disadvantages. All of them are FOSS and have been tested under a Unix like operating system. If you have any kind of update, do not hesitate to contact me. I am using a downscaled sample directory (basis) for testing.
I'm not referencing the navigation, but only "Next Image", because this is probably the most often used navigation part.
Terms
A small definition of the terms:
Term | Description |
---|---|
Next image | What to click to reach the next image |
Output | Tools either output in the source directory or in a different one |
Original image reference | How to reach the full size image |
Original image location | During creation, how are original images handled |
Image scaling | Does the tool support scaling the images? |
Exif | Can the tool display exif information? |
Default Design | Hints on the default design chosen by the tool |
Configuration | Configuration possibilities |
Subdirectory index | Does a run include the subdirectories? |
Subdirectory removal | Can the tool handle removal of a subdirectory? |
Other | Stuff not categorised / special about this tool |
cataract (1.0.0)
- Next image: Click on image
- Output: Different directory
- Original image reference: links to original image (full size)
- Original image location: Originals are copied
- Image scaling: supported
- Exif: Supported
- Default design: Good usable
- Configuration: XML files
- Subdirectory index: No
- Other: Scrolling (middle mouse button) does not work
Sample usage:
cp -r basis cgg-input
cd cgg-input
# create directory listing
cgg-dirgen > index.xml
cd ..
# cgg automatically creates the destination directory
cgg -s cgg-input -o cgg-output/
fgallery (1.8.2)
- Next image: Link next to the image
- Output: Different directory
- Original image reference: Copy (optional)
- Original image location: Originals are copied
- Image scaling: Supported
- Exif: Supported
- Default design: Good usable
- Configuration: Command line
- Subdirectory index: No
- Other: Sets background colour fitting to image
Sample usage:
cp -r basis fgallery-input
fgallery -j 4 fgallery-input fgallery-out
gthumb (2.10.12)
- Next image: Various
- Output: Different directory
- Original image reference: Link from scaled image
- Original image location: Copy (optional)
- Image scaling: Supported
- Exif: Supported
- Default design: Good usable
- Configuration: GUI
- Subdirectory index: No
- Other: Different designs available
Sample usage:
cp -r basis gthumb-input
gthumb gthumb-input
igal2 (2.0)
- Next image: Link below and above image
- Output: Same directory
- Original image reference: Link from scaled image
- Original image location: .
- Image scaling: unsupported
- Exif: unsupported
- Default design: Very basic
- Configuration: Command line
- Subdirectory index: No
- Other: Automatic link to parent directory
Sample usage:
cp -r basis igal2-input
cd igal2-input
igal2 --www
lazygal (0.5)
- Next image: Image preview next to the image
- Output: Different directory
- Original image reference: Text below image
- Original image location: Copy (optional)
- Image scaling: supported
- Exif: supported
- Default design: Basic
- Configuration: Command line and configuration file
- Subdirectory index: Yes
- Subdirectory removal: Yes / Warning
- Other: Automatic link to parent directory, RSS feed, HTML5 videos for video files
Sample usage:
cp -r basis lazygal-input
mkdir lazygal-output
lazygal -o lazygal-output lazygal-input
# Including copy of original images:
lazygal -O -o lazygal-output lazygal-input
llgal (0.13.15)
- Next image: Link below and above image
- Output: Same directory
- Original image reference: Link from scaled image
- Original image location: .
- Image scaling: supported
- Exif: supported
- Default design: Usable
- Configuration: Command line
- Subdirectory index: Yes
- Subdirectory removal: Yes
- Other: Support for different languages, optional link to parent site
Sample usage:
cp -r basis llgal-input
cd llgal-input
llgal
# limit size:
llgal --sx 1000 --sy 700
# Track subdirectories
llgal --sx 1000 --sy 700 -R
# Create real world site
llgal --sx 1000 --sy 700 -R --exif --fe -L --li --title "Nico Schottelius' Photos" --www --lang en_US
swiggle 0.4
Generates html file without any links.
Sample usage:
mkdir swiggle-input
cp -r basis swiggle-input
swiggle swiggle-input