How to Create a GitHub Account and Set Up a New Repository

Why Do You Need a GitHub Repository for a Jekyll Site?

GitHub is not only a version control system but also a free hosting platform for static websites using GitHub Pages. If you're building a Jekyll site, especially using the Mediumish theme, your journey begins with creating a GitHub repository. It becomes your workspace and deployment point. Without it, your Jekyll site won’t be online.

Understanding the Relationship Between GitHub and Jekyll

GitHub Pages is deeply integrated with Jekyll, allowing you to run Jekyll-based blogs or documentation sites directly from a GitHub repository. It processes the Jekyll files and renders them as a website. This integration simplifies publishing and eliminates the need for external web hosting or FTP uploads.

How to Create a GitHub Account

If you're new to GitHub, the first step is to sign up for an account. Here’s how to do it quickly and securely:

Step-by-Step Guide to Register on GitHub

• Go to https://github.com
• Click “Sign up” in the upper-right corner
• Enter a unique username, email, and password
• Verify your email address via the email GitHub sends
• Choose your plan — start with the free plan
• Complete the setup by answering a few onboarding questions or skip them

Security Tips for Your GitHub Account

Since your repository will be public or contain important files, follow these security practices:

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
• Do not share your GitHub token or credentials with others
• Keep your email and password private

How to Set Up a New Repository for Your Jekyll Site

Once your GitHub account is ready, the next essential step is to create a repository. This is where all your Jekyll files — layout, content, theme, configuration — will live. Let’s walk through the process.

Creating a New GitHub Repository

• Click on your profile picture (top-right) and go to Your repositories
• Click “New” to start creating a new repo
• Repository name: Use a clear, lowercase name like my-mediumish-site
• Description: (Optional) something like “My personal blog using Jekyll Mediumish theme”
• Choose Public or Private: For GitHub Pages, public is preferred
• Initialize repository with a README — check this box
• Click Create repository

Naming Rules for GitHub Pages

If you want the repository to serve as your personal website, name it like this: username.github.io. If you plan to host it as a project site, you can name it whatever you want, like jekyll-mediumish-blog.

Example:

If your GitHub username is alexdoe, and you name the repo alexdoe.github.io, GitHub will automatically treat it as a personal site. Otherwise, the site will be accessible via https://alexdoe.github.io/repo-name/.

What Should You Add to Your Repository?

Before your site can be live, you need to add the Jekyll files. If you’re using the Mediumish theme, you can:

• Fork an existing Mediumish Jekyll template
• Clone it locally and push it to your repository
• Or manually upload files via GitHub’s interface

Recommended Folder Structure

Your repository should include these standard Jekyll components:

• _config.yml — configuration settings
• _posts/ — your blog articles
• _layouts/ — HTML layout templates
• _includes/ — reusable HTML snippets
• assets/ — CSS, JS, images
• index.html — homepage content

How to Connect Your Repository to GitHub Pages

After your repository has the necessary files, you can enable GitHub Pages:

Steps to Enable GitHub Pages

• Go to Settings of your repository
• Scroll down to “Pages” section
• Select the branch (usually main or master)
• Choose the root folder (leave as / or select /docs if you placed files there)
• Click Save

GitHub will display your site’s URL after a few seconds. Visit the link and check if your Mediumish Jekyll site loads properly.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Site Not Loading?

Check if:

• _config.yml exists and has the correct baseurl (for project sites)
• All folders and filenames follow Jekyll’s naming conventions
• You haven’t added unsupported plugins (GitHub Pages has limits)

Theme Not Displaying Properly?

Possible causes:

• You didn’t include the full Mediumish theme assets
• Missing or misconfigured assets/ or _includes/ folders
• Incorrect paths in index.html or layout files

How to Keep Your Repository Updated

Maintaining a Jekyll blog isn’t just about setup. You must regularly commit changes — new posts, config tweaks, or layout improvements. Here’s how:

Updating Directly via GitHub

You can:

• Edit or upload files directly via the web interface
• Use GitHub Desktop to sync local files with the repo
• Use Git from your terminal to push updates

Best Practices for Commits

• Use clear commit messages (e.g., “Add new blog post about SEO basics”)
• Push changes frequently to keep your live site updated
• Don’t edit config files unless necessary — test locally if possible

What’s Next After Setting Up the Repository?

Now that your GitHub repository is live and connected to GitHub Pages, you're ready to dive into customizing the Mediumish Jekyll theme. This includes editing the layout, writing blog posts, updating metadata, and optimizing for SEO — all of which we’ll cover in the next articles of this series.

Next Steps You Should Take

• Customize the theme's colors and branding
• Add content to the _posts folder
• Configure SEO fields in _config.yml
• Test the site responsiveness across devices

Final Thoughts

Setting up a GitHub account and creating your first repository is the gateway to publishing your own static website for free using Jekyll and GitHub Pages. This foundation allows you to build a professional blog or portfolio, and when combined with the Mediumish theme, you get a polished, modern layout with minimal setup. With this solid base, you’re ready to evolve your project into a fully functional, content-rich website.