[[!meta title="Static image gallery generator comparison (FOSS)"]]

## 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|about]]. 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:

[[!table  data="""
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](http://cgg.bzatek.net/) (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](https://www.thregr.org/~wavexx/software/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](http://live.gnome.org/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](http://igal.trexler.at/) (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](http://sousmonlit.zincube.net/~niol/playa/oss/projects/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](http://home.gna.org/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](http://homepage.univie.ac.at/l.ertl/swiggle/) 0.4

Generates html file without any links.

### Sample usage:

    mkdir swiggle-input
    cp -r basis swiggle-input 
    swiggle swiggle-input 

[[!tag unix]]