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