Which Git Tool Is Right For You

In the modern web development ecosystem, especially when managing a digital marketing blog hosted on GitHub Pages with Jekyll, efficient repository management is key. There are two primary approaches to interacting with Git repositories: using a graphical interface like GitHub Desktop, or diving into the command line with Git CLI. The decision to choose one over the other isn't just a matter of preference; it's about who you are and what you're trying to achieve. This article will explore who benefits most from each tool, helping you determine the best path for your workflow.

Often, the debate between Git GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) and CLIs (Command Line Interfaces) boils down to a balance between ease of use and advanced control. GitHub Desktop offers a smooth, visual path to performing basic Git tasks, while the Git CLI provides unparalleled power and customization capabilities. Understanding the characteristics of each will help you identify the tool that best fits your specific needs as a digital marketer, a developer, or even both.

Who Should Use GitHub Desktop

For Beginner Content Creators and Bloggers

If your primary role is generating content, such as blog articles for your digital marketing site on GitHub Pages, and you don't have a strong technical development background, GitHub Desktop is a lifesaver. This tool is designed to minimize the Git learning curve, letting you focus on writing and editing, rather than on complex commands.

Imagine you've just finished writing a new SEO article. With GitHub Desktop, you simply need to:

• Open the application.
• See the automatically detected file changes (new articles or edits to old ones).
• Write a clear commit message in the provided field.
• Click the "Commit to main" (or whatever branch you're using) button.
• Click "Push origin" to send changes to GitHub.

This process is far more intuitive than having to remember and type a series of commands in a terminal. For a content creator, this means less time spent on technical hurdles and more time dedicated to content strategy.

For Visual Learners and Those Who Prefer Ease

Many people are visual learners. If you find it easier to understand things when you can see them, GitHub Desktop will feel much more comfortable.

• Visualizing Changes: You can easily see line-by-line differences in your files (diffs) before committing. This is incredibly useful for ensuring you only commit the desired changes.
• Commit History: A clear history view allows you to browse past commits, see who made changes, and when. It's like having a visual timeline of all your blog's revisions.
• Branch Management: Creating and switching between branches (e.g., to work on a draft article without affecting the live site) is presented visually, reducing the confusion that might arise in the CLI.

This visual ease significantly helps in reducing errors and boosting confidence for users who might feel intimidated by the black-and-white terminal interface.

For Simple Projects and Small Team Collaboration

If your repository is relatively simple, like a personal blog or a portfolio website, or if you're working in a small team where not all members are experienced developers, GitHub Desktop is an efficient choice.

For day-to-day tasks such as:

• Adding new posts.
• Updating page information.
• Fixing typos.
• Synchronizing with the online repository.

GitHub Desktop provides all the necessary functionality with a user-friendly interface. It can also facilitate basic collaboration, allowing team members to easily pull changes, make commits, and push them back without needing to delve into complex Git commands. This makes the content review process or collaborative article writing much smoother.

Who Should Learn Git CLI

For Web Developers and Technical SEOs

If you're a web developer who routinely interacts with code, builds custom Jekyll themes, or if you're a technical SEO specialist who needs to perform in-depth optimization on your site's structure, the Git CLI is a must-have skill. The CLI offers full control over every aspect of your Git repository.

Some scenarios where the CLI is indispensable include:

• Interactive Rebase: Cleaning up your commit history by combining several small commits into one more meaningful one, or reordering commits. This is crucial for maintaining a clean and understandable history.
• Cherry-picking: Taking a specific commit from one branch and applying it to another.
• Complex Conflict Resolution: When a complicated merge conflict arises that cannot be resolved automatically by a GUI, the CLI allows you to manually and precisely resolve each conflict.
• Advanced Operations: Managing tags, submodules, or performing deeper history manipulation not exposed by GitHub Desktop.

For a developer, the ability to manipulate the repository at this level is key to keeping large and complex projects organized and stable.

For Automation and Scripting

One of the greatest strengths of the Git CLI is its ability to be integrated into scripts and automated workflows. If you want to automate your Jekyll blog's deployment process, for example, or integrate Git with other CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) tools, the CLI is the only viable option.

Examples of use in digital marketing:

• Creating scripts that automatically pull new content from external sources, add it to your Jekyll repository, and then build and deploy your site.
• Setting up custom Git hooks that run automated SEO checks or Markdown validation every time there's a new commit.
• Automating the release process for new versions of your blog.

The ability to automate these tasks can save significant time and reduce the risk of human error, which is invaluable for scalable digital marketing strategies.

For Building a Deep Understanding of Git

If your goal is to truly understand how Git works under the hood, the CLI is the inevitable path. Using direct commands forces you to interact with core Git concepts like the working directory, the staging area (index), and the repository.

This deep understanding is invaluable for troubleshooting. When you encounter unusual Git issues, knowledge of how Git operates at a fundamental level will enable you to diagnose and fix them effectively, without relying on a graphical interface that might hide important details. For anyone aspiring to become proficient in version management, mastering the CLI is a crucial step.

For Environmental Flexibility

The Git CLI is universal. You can use it on any major operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux) and in any terminal environment, including remote servers via SSH. This provides tremendous flexibility. GitHub Desktop, on the other hand, is limited to desktop environments with a GUI. If you need to manage repositories on a server or in a headless environment, the CLI is your only option.

Combining Both Strengths: The Hybrid Approach

The question "GitHub Desktop or Git CLI?" doesn't actually have to be an exclusive choice. Many professionals find that the most effective approach is to use a combination of both. This hybrid strategy allows you to leverage the ease and speed of GitHub Desktop for routine tasks, while retaining the power and flexibility of the Git CLI for more complex or specialized operations.

Here's what a typical hybrid workflow might look like for managing your Jekyll-powered digital marketing blog on GitHub Pages:

• Use GitHub Desktop for: Adding new blog articles, editing existing posts, visually reviewing file changes, making basic commits with clear messages, and pushing changes to GitHub Pages. This is your daily 'routine'.
• Switch to Git CLI for: Resolving complex merge conflicts that might arise during collaboration, performing an interactive rebase to clean up commit history before a final merge, writing automation scripts for deployment or content validation, or when you need to perform deep Git debugging.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: efficiency and ease for common tasks, and power and precision for advanced scenarios. For a digital marketing blog owner who also wants to possess strong technical understanding, mastering both tools will significantly boost your productivity and capability in managing your digital assets.

Conclusion

Choosing between GitHub Desktop and Git CLI for managing your repository, especially for a Jekyll-powered digital marketing blog on GitHub Pages, ultimately depends on your comfort level, specific needs, and the complexity of your workflow.

GitHub Desktop shines for its user-friendliness, visual feedback, and simplified approach to common Git operations. It's an excellent entry point for beginners and highly effective for content creators, digital marketers, or anyone who prioritizes a streamlined, low-friction experience for routine updates and basic collaboration. Its tight integration with GitHub and visual representation of changes make it a compelling choice for managing your blog content with ease.

However, the Git CLI offers unparalleled control, flexibility, and a deeper understanding of Git's inner workings. It is indispensable for experienced developers, for handling complex repository scenarios, for advanced troubleshooting, and for automating workflows through scripting. If you seek to master Git, integrate it into CI/CD pipelines, or manage intricate branching strategies, the CLI is the definitive tool.

Ultimately, the most optimal solution for many is a combination of both. Don't hesitate to start with GitHub Desktop to build confidence, and gradually learn Git CLI commands as your needs and project complexity grow. By doing so, you'll be well-equipped to manage your repositories efficiently, no matter what challenges may arise.

implement versioned documentation with dynamic sidebars in Jekyll

Why versioned documentation is essential for growing projects

As your product or API evolves, documentation needs to reflect the current and past states accurately. Users running an older version shouldn't be confused by instructions or options that don't apply to them. A versioned documentation system allows each major release to have its own isolated content and sidebar structure.

This ensures consistency, reduces support overhead, and gives users confidence that they're reading the right instructions for their setup.

Step 1: Set up version-specific collections

The cleanest way to implement versioned docs in Jekyll is to use separate collections per version:

_config.yml

collections:
  v1:
    output: true
    permalink: /v1/:path/
  v2:
    output: true
    permalink: /v2/:path/

Then in your repo:

_v1/
  getting-started.md
  auth.md

_v2/
  getting-started.md
  auth.md
  webhooks.md

Each version gets its own directory, navigation, and Markdown files.

Step 2: Add version and order metadata in front matter

---
title: "Authentication"
version: "v2"
order: 2
---

This helps in sorting sidebars and maintaining clean routing.

Step 3: Create YAML files for sidebar structure per version

In _data/ folder, define sidebars per version:

_data/sidebars/
  v1.yml
  v2.yml

# _data/sidebars/v2.yml
- title: "Getting Started"
  url: "/v2/getting-started/"
- title: "Authentication"
  url: "/v2/auth/"
- title: "Webhooks"
  url: "/v2/webhooks/"

Step 4: Create a layout include that renders the dynamic sidebar

{% raw %}
{% assign current_version = page.version %}
{% assign nav = site.data.sidebars[current_version] %}

<nav class="sidebar">
  <ul>
    {% for item in nav %}
      <li>
        <a href="{{ item.url }}" class="{% if page.url == item.url %}active{% endif %}">{{ item.title }}</a>
      </li>
    {% endfor %}
  </ul>
</nav>
{% endraw %}

This logic dynamically loads the correct sidebar YAML based on the current page’s version.

Step 5: Link between versions (version switcher)

Allow users to switch documentation versions using a dropdown or links.

{% raw %}
<div class="version-switcher">
  <label for="version">Version:</label>
  <select onchange="location = this.value;">
    <option value="/v1{{ page.url | remove_first: '/v2' }}">v1</option>
    <option value="/v2{{ page.url | remove_first: '/v1' }}" selected>v2</option>
  </select>
</div>
{% endraw %}

You can refine this logic with JavaScript or Jekyll filters to better match path patterns.

Step 6: Handle shared assets between versions

To avoid duplication, create a shared folder like _includes/versioned/ or use default layouts with {% include_relative %} logic.

Step 7: Create a landing page for each version

At /v1/index.md and /v2/index.md, add intro content or changelog highlights for that release.

---
layout: default
title: "Version 2.0 Documentation"
permalink: /v2/
---

Bonus: Auto-highlight latest version on homepage

{% raw %}
{% assign latest_version = "v2" %}
<p>You're reading version: {{ latest_version }}. <a href="/{{ latest_version }}/">Read latest docs →</a></p>
{% endraw %}

You can even store the latest version name in _data/site.yml for maintainability.

Best practices for versioned docs in Jekyll

• Use Git branches or collections—not folders inside _posts
• Use Liquid and YAML to keep structure DRY
• Link clearly between versions, and show update logs
• Encourage contributors to follow version structure in PRs

Conclusion: Scalable versioning keeps your docs future-ready

Static sites like Jekyll can absolutely support advanced use cases like versioned documentation—as long as you design the structure early. By isolating each version into collections and driving navigation with YAML, you get maximum flexibility with minimum repetition.

Combined with dynamic sidebars and Liquid logic, you offer a seamless experience to users—whether they're reading version 1.0 from two years ago or testing bleeding-edge beta features in 3.0.

How Do You Modularize a Jekyll Theme After Cloning It?

Cloned Your Jekyll Theme? Now It’s Time to Make It Modular

Most Jekyll themes — especially free or starter ones — come with tightly coupled layout files. They're meant to work fast, not scale. Once you've cloned the theme and detached from upstream, it’s the perfect time to restructure everything into reusable modules.

This guide shows you how to break apart your cloned Jekyll theme into flexible, maintainable components.

Why Modularization Matters

• Improves reusability across different layout types (pages, posts, docs)
• Makes maintenance easier: update a header once, apply it everywhere
• Supports multilingual structure and conditional logic
• Prepares the site for dynamic plugin-powered layouts

Step 1: Audit Your Layout Structure

Open the _layouts/ directory. You’ll likely find a small number of files like:

• default.html
• post.html
• page.html

Inside each, you'll often see big blocks of raw HTML — headers, footers, menus, footnotes, etc. These should be moved to includes.

Step 2: Create Modular Includes

Common Includes to Extract

• _includes/head.html — meta tags, SEO, favicon
• _includes/header.html — logo, nav menu, site title
• _includes/footer.html — copyright, scripts, closing tags
• _includes/sidebar.html — optional for blog/doc layouts
• _includes/post-card.html — reusable snippet for listing posts

How to Use Them

Edit your layout file (e.g. default.html):

{% raw %}
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    {% include head.html %}
  </head>
  <body>
    {% include header.html %}

    <main>
      {{ content }}
    </main>

    {% include footer.html %}
  </body>
</html>
{% endraw %}

Step 3: Break Large Sections into Slots

Jekyll supports nested includes and even parameter passing. You can split components into “slots” — reusable templates with flexible content.

Example: Section Include with Parameters

{% raw %}
{% include section.html 
  title="Why Modular Jekyll Wins" 
  body="Reusable includes save you hours of duplication." %}
{% endraw %}

And in _includes/section.html:

{% raw %}
<section class="info-block">
  <h2>{{ include.title }}</h2>
  <p>{{ include.body }}</p>
</section>
{% endraw %}

This makes your templates highly composable — a major upgrade from hardcoded blocks.

Step 4: Restructure Posts, Pages, and Data

Use Custom Collections

Instead of cramming everything into _posts, create logical groups using _collections:

collections:
  tutorials:
    output: true
  docs:
    output: true

Use YAML Data Files

Move global config, menus, team bios, or testimonials into _data files:

_data/team.yml
_data/navigation.yml

Then use them with:

{% raw %}
{% for person in site.data.team %}
  <p>{{ person.name }} — {{ person.role }}</p>
{% endfor %}
{% endraw %}

Step 5: Add Conditional Logic for Flexibility

Customize how includes behave based on page types or front matter flags:

{% raw %}
{% if page.sidebar %}
  {% include sidebar.html %}
{% endif %}
{% endraw %}

This enables layout reuse across blogs, landing pages, and documentation.

Step 6: Modularize CSS and Assets

Move your styles into SCSS partials under _sass/. Then use:

@import "base";
@import "layout";
@import "components/buttons";

This also lets you inject custom styles per layout or section.

Step 7: Maintain a Style Guide or Component Preview Page

It helps to maintain a hidden page with previews of all your components:

_pages/styleguide.html

Use it to test includes like cards, sections, buttons, banners, etc. It’s like having your own mini design system.

Conclusion: Fork, Clone, Then Modularize

Forking is the fast start. Cloning gives you freedom. Modularization is the next step in making your Jekyll site truly scalable.

Whether you’re building a blog, documentation hub, or full marketing site — modular Jekyll themes reduce repetition, improve maintainability, and make it easier for teams to contribute.

Once you've modularized your cloned theme, you're no longer just customizing — you're architecting.

Can You Automate Repository Naming for SEO and Branding Consistency?

Why Automate Repository Naming?

As your GitHub presence grows—especially in an organization or multi-repo project—manually naming repositories becomes error-prone and inconsistent. Automating naming conventions can reduce oversight, improve SEO, and ensure uniform branding across all repositories, particularly when new contributors or CI workflows are involved.

What Problems Arise from Manual Naming?

Without automation or standards, teams often face issues like:

• Duplicate logic: Repos named project-v1, project-final, project2
• Branding drift: Inconsistent use of brand terms or style
• Broken conventions: Uppercase, underscores, or unclear slugs
• Onboarding delays: New members unclear on expected patterns

These issues compound over time, especially when repositories are tied to GitHub Pages and visible to users.

How Can You Enforce Naming Patterns Automatically?

You can implement checks and automation through:

• GitHub Actions — Run validations on repo creation or PR
• Pre-push Git hooks — Validate repo metadata before publish
• Custom CLI scripts — For local scaffolding or mass renaming
• GitHub API + workflows — For admin-level enforcement

Example: Validating Naming Conventions with GitHub Actions

Here’s a simple `name-check.yml` that runs when a new repo is created or pushed with GitHub CLI tools:

name: Validate Repo Name

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  check-name:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Check Repository Name
        run: |
          REPO_NAME=$(basename $GITHUB_REPOSITORY)
          if [[ ! "$REPO_NAME" =~ ^[a-z0-9]+(-[a-z0-9]+)+$ ]]; then
            echo "::error ::Repository name '$REPO_NAME' does not follow kebab-case pattern with hyphens."
            exit 1
          fi

This ensures that repos follow kebab-case formatting, critical for SEO-friendly URLs and clean branding.

How to Use GitHub CLI to Scaffold Repos with Predefined Names

If your team creates many similar repos, use gh repo create with a naming pattern:

gh repo create orgname/blog-template-minimal --private --description "Minimal blog template for Jekyll Pages"

Combine this with a naming script:

#!/bin/bash
PREFIX="template"
TOPIC=$1
STYLE=$2
NAME="${PREFIX}-${TOPIC}-${STYLE}"

gh repo create orgname/$NAME --private --description "$TOPIC template in $STYLE style"

Usage: ./create-repo.sh blog minimal → creates template-blog-minimal

Can You Enforce Naming via GitHub Organization Rules?

While GitHub doesn’t (yet) natively enforce repo naming at the org level, you can:

• Run post-creation audits via API to flag incorrect names
• Use GitHub Apps or bots to comment/warn on policy violations
• Tag invalid repos with topics like needs-rename

With Pro or Enterprise tiers, you can also automate audits and reporting.

How to Rename Repositories in Bulk with the GitHub API?

For cleanup or migration efforts, use the GitHub REST API to rename repos in bulk:

PATCH /repos/orgname/old-repo-name
{
  "name": "new-seo-optimized-name"
}

Or script it with Python + PyGitHub:

from github import Github

g = Github("your-access-token")
org = g.get_organization("orgname")

for repo in org.get_repos():
    if "v2" in repo.name:
        new_name = repo.name.replace("v2", "pro")
        repo.edit(name=new_name)

Always test on dummy repos first to avoid accidental 404s or loss of linking integrity.

What Are the Naming Patterns That Scale Well?

For automation, you need consistency. Here’s a naming framework that works:

[category]-[topic]-[modifier]

• template-blog-minimal
• guide-seo-freelancers
• docs-api-authentication
• landing-ai-copywriter

Every part is meaningful and machine-friendly.

Can You Generate Name Suggestions Dynamically?

Yes. With a script or internal tool, you can build naming generators based on:

• Target keyword (e.g., newsletter)
• Target audience (e.g., freelancers)
• Tone/style (e.g., pro, starter, minimal)

These can output:

• newsletter-starter-kit
• newsletter-builder-pro
• newsletter-funnel-freelancers

Great for repo scaffolding or mass project setup.

Conclusion: Automate the Boring, Standardize the Strategic

Automating repository naming brings clarity, consistency, and control—especially when you're scaling a project, collaborating in a team, or working with public-facing GitHub Pages. Rather than leave naming to chance, build processes that support SEO, branding, and governance from the very start.

Your repo name is more than a label—it's a digital asset. Treat it with the precision it deserves, and automation will help you scale with confidence.

How Do You Convert a Forked Jekyll Repository into a Fully Independent Clone?

Forked Your Jekyll Theme but Now Want Full Control?

Forking a Jekyll theme from GitHub is a great way to start quickly. But over time, many developers realize that being tied to an upstream repository limits their ability to customize, scale, or move platforms.

Thankfully, it’s possible to safely convert your forked repo into a clean, standalone clone — without losing any code, posts, or history.

Why Convert a Forked Repo Into a Clone?

Here are some common reasons:

• You want to use unsupported plugins, layouts, or build tools
• You plan to migrate to Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or self-hosting
• You're tired of upstream merge conflicts when the theme updates
• You want to build a private or commercial product from the base theme

Step-by-Step: Detach and Convert Fork to Clone

Step 1: Clone Your Forked Repository Locally

Start by cloning your forked project to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-forked-repo.git
cd your-forked-repo

This gives you a working directory with the full commit history.

Step 2: Remove GitHub's Fork Relationship

GitHub doesn’t let you remove a fork status manually. So you’ll need to push your local code into a brand-new, non-forked repository.

1. Create a new repo on GitHub (don’t fork — click "New Repository")
2. Note the remote URL (e.g. https://github.com/yourusername/my-independent-site.git)

Step 3: Remove the Existing Remote and Add the New One

git remote remove origin
git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/my-independent-site.git

This detaches your project from the forked repo and prepares it for the new target.

Step 4: Push Everything to the New Repo

git push -u origin main

Or if your default branch is master:

git push -u origin master

Now your entire history, branches, and commits live in a clean repo — no longer tied to the upstream theme.

Step 5: Optional — Delete the Old Fork

If you want to avoid confusion or accidental edits, go to your forked GitHub repository and delete it (or archive it).

Bonus: Clean Up Upstream References

Check if You Still Have the Upstream Remote:

git remote -v

If Needed, Remove It:

git remote remove upstream

Now What? Own and Rebuild with Freedom

You’re now free to:

• Add any plugins — including custom or unofficial ones
• Refactor layouts without worrying about theme updates breaking your work
• Integrate GitHub Actions or Netlify build pipelines
• Convert into a modular Jekyll structure with collections and reusable includes
• Prepare for custom domains, SEO tools, multilingual architecture, and more

Advanced: Rename Git History (If Needed)

If you want to scrub all evidence of the original fork in your history (e.g., for white-labeling), consider using:

• git rebase -i to edit commits manually
• git filter-repo (for advanced full-history rewrite)

This step is optional and often unnecessary unless you're reselling the theme.

Final Tips for Going Fully Independent

• Set up a Gemfile and manage plugins with Bundler
• Break out your layout into components under _includes
• Use _config.dev.yml and _config.prod.yml for multiple environments
• Document your new architecture in a README.md for future collaborators

Conclusion: Don’t Let the Fork Define You

Starting with a fork was a great shortcut. But now, it’s time to take full ownership of your Jekyll site. Converting to a standalone clone gives you the flexibility to grow, innovate, and deploy however you want — no upstream strings attached.

It’s not just about changing Git remotes. It’s about changing your mindset: from inheriting code to owning your platform.

What’s the Easiest Way to Start a Blog Using GitHub and Jekyll Without Coding Skills

Can You Really Start a Blog with GitHub If You're Not a Developer?

Yes, you absolutely can. While GitHub and Jekyll are often associated with software engineers and programmers, non-coders can also use them to create and run beautiful, fast, and free blogs. The key is knowing which steps matter, which can be skipped, and how to approach everything without getting overwhelmed.

Why Even Use GitHub Pages Instead of WordPress or Blogger?

If you're wondering why you should use GitHub at all, here are a few compelling reasons:

• Zero cost: GitHub Pages is completely free, including custom domain support.
• No ads: Your site will never show unwanted ads or banners.
• Fast and secure: Static sites load incredibly fast and don’t need plugins or databases.
• Professional look: Themes like Mediumish give your blog a polished feel with minimal setup.

What Do You Actually Need to Get Started?

As a beginner, you'll only need these four things to launch your first blog:

1. A GitHub account
2. A pre-built Jekyll theme like Mediumish
3. Basic internet access
4. Patience and curiosity

Step 1: Create Your Free GitHub Account

This is your first and most important step.

How to Create an Account Without Technical Jargon

1. Go to github.com.
2. Click Sign Up at the top right.
3. Fill in your email, username, and password.
4. Choose the free plan when asked about your goals or preferences.
5. Confirm your email address through the message GitHub sends to you.

This is just like signing up for Gmail or Instagram—don’t worry about the coding stuff GitHub shows you on the homepage.

Step 2: Understand the Concept of a Repository

A repository (or repo) is a container for all your website files. Think of it as your blog's folder in the cloud.

What Kind of Repository Should You Create?

• If you want your blog URL to be yourname.github.io, name your repository exactly like that.
• If you want it to be something like yourname.github.io/blog, name it blog or anything you prefer.

You’ll use this repository to store the Jekyll theme and your content.

Step 3: Get the Mediumish Theme Without Writing Code

The easiest way is to find a GitHub repository where Mediumish is already set up, then duplicate it into your account using a feature called Fork.

Here’s How You Can Fork a Ready-to-Use Jekyll Theme

1. Visit a ready-made Jekyll Mediumish theme repository (search “Jekyll Mediumish GitHub” in Google).
2. Click the Fork button at the top right.
3. The theme is now copied into your own GitHub account.

This step alone sets you up with a working blog structure without downloading or coding anything.

Step 4: Rename Your Repository If Needed

If the repository you forked isn’t named yourusername.github.io, you can rename it by going to:

1. Your repository on GitHub
2. Click Settings
3. Edit the repository name at the top

Step 5: Turn On GitHub Pages for Your Blog

This step makes your blog go live on the internet:

1. Go to the repository’s Settings
2. Scroll to Pages section (left sidebar)
3. Choose the source branch (usually main)
4. Click Save

After a few seconds, GitHub gives you a public URL for your blog, like https://yourusername.github.io.

Step 6: Customize Your Blog Content

You’ll see files like _config.yml, _posts/, and index.html. Don’t panic—you can edit these files directly in GitHub’s web interface without installing any software.

What Should You Edit First?

• _config.yml: Add your site title, description, and author name.
• _posts/: Edit one of the existing blog posts to write your first article.
• index.html: This is your homepage layout. You can keep it default for now.

What If You Don’t Understand YAML or Markdown?

You don’t have to. Just treat them like simple text files with a few symbols. For example, a blog post looks like this:

---
title: "My First Blog Post"
date: 2025-07-03
---

Hello world! This is my first post.

The --- lines tell Jekyll where the metadata starts and ends. You don’t need to change anything else.

What to Do If Something Breaks?

Don’t worry—GitHub doesn’t delete anything. If you mess up a file, you can always revert to an older version. That’s the beauty of version control.

Can You Use a Custom Domain Later?

Yes. Once you're confident, you can point your own domain (like myawesomeblog.com) to GitHub Pages. GitHub has a simple guide for this, and there’s no extra cost.

Conclusion

You don’t need to be a developer to start a blog on GitHub Pages using the Mediumish theme. By forking a theme repository and editing text files directly in your browser, you can launch a professional-looking blog in less than an hour.

Final Tips for Beginners

• Bookmark your repository and GitHub Pages settings so you can return easily.
• Keep practicing by editing one file at a time.
• Read other people’s Jekyll sites to learn how they structure their blogs.
• Join online communities or forums if you get stuck—there are many friendly people willing to help.

What's Next?

In the next part, we’ll walk through editing the _config.yml file to personalize your blog and change how it looks—still without writing code.

Structure Jekyll repos for multilingual content

Unlike dynamic CMS platforms that have built-in translation management, Jekyll doesn't come with native support for multilingual content. This means site maintainers must create a clean structure manually for each language, manage navigation separately, and ensure translated content remains consistent across locales.

Without a scalable structure, adding new languages becomes a tangled mess—mixing content, duplicating layouts, and breaking navigation. A well-planned multilingual structure prevents these issues from the beginning.

What are the common strategies for multilingual site organization?

There are two major approaches to structuring multilingual Jekyll sites:

• Folder-based structure: Each language has its own directory (e.g., /en/, /id/, /fr/).
• Data-driven translation: Layouts and includes pull language strings from YAML files in _data/.

Both can be used together—folders for page structure, and data files for UI/localization. This allows page content and interface labels to scale independently.

What does a scalable multilingual Jekyll repo structure look like?

/
├── _config.yml
├── _data/
│   ├── translations/
│   │   ├── en.yml
│   │   ├── id.yml
│   │   └── fr.yml
├── _includes/
├── _layouts/
├── assets/
├── pages/
│   ├── en/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   └── about.md
│   ├── id/
│   │   ├── index.md
│   │   └── about.md
│   └── fr/
│       ├── index.md
│       └── about.md
├── _posts/
│   ├── en/
│   ├── id/
│   └── fr/
└── README.md

This structure cleanly separates each language’s content. Folders under pages/ and _posts/ represent locale-specific content, while UI translations are centralized in _data/translations/.

How do you switch language versions in layout or navigation?

Use a language key in the front matter of each page to indicate the content’s language:

---
lang: en
title: "About Us"
layout: page
permalink: /en/about/
---

You can then create a language switcher in _includes/language-switcher.html using the lang variable to offer links to other versions.

How do you organize global UI strings like buttons and menus?

Store all UI strings in language-specific files under _data/translations/. Example: en.yml

nav:
  home: "Home"
  about: "About"
button:
  read_more: "Read more"

Load translations dynamically in layouts or includes:

{% raw %}
{{ site.data.translations[page.lang].nav.home }}
{% endraw %}

This allows you to keep the same layout while dynamically rendering text in the appropriate language.

Should you use collections for multilingual content?

Yes. Collections help separate content types like _news/, _testimonials/, or _projects/ and can be duplicated per language.

collections:
  en_projects:
    output: true
  id_projects:
    output: true

Then create directories: _en_projects/ and _id_projects/. This keeps content localized while maintaining consistent logic across the site.

How do you handle routing and permalinks?

Set the permalink explicitly in each page’s front matter to control URL structure:

permalink: /id/tentang/

Alternatively, use a base URL variable in your config and front matter to avoid repetition:

baseurl: ""
languages: ["en", "id", "fr"]

Then:

permalink: /{{ page.lang }}/{{ page.slug }}/

How do you manage navigation per language?

Build navigation structures inside your language YAML files under _data/:

menu:
  - title: "Home"
    url: "/en/"
  - title: "About"
    url: "/en/about/"

In your layout:

{% raw %}
{% for item in site.data.translations[page.lang].menu %}
  <a href="{{ item.url }}">{{ item.title }}</a>
{% endfor %}
{% endraw %}

This allows full control of menu order, labels, and destinations per language.

How do you prevent duplicated effort when adding new languages?

Use base templates and includes that are language-agnostic. Centralize everything that repeats—like headers, footers, and CTAs—into includes that pull translations from the YAML data. Then only the actual content pages need to be localized.

You can also maintain a content checklist (e.g., in a CSV or data file) that tracks which pages are available and translated in each language.

How does structure help future growth and team onboarding?

When structure is consistent:

• New contributors can easily find language-specific folders.
• Automation scripts (e.g., for syncing translated content) can assume paths.
• Navigation and UI logic are centralized and reusable.
• Adding a new language becomes a matter of duplicating folders and editing YAML.

Conclusion: What’s the best way to scale multilingual Jekyll repos?

Organize by language folder, localize content in YAML, and structure layouts to be language-neutral. Separate UI strings from content, use consistent folder patterns, and standardize metadata. A multilingual site doesn’t have to be complicated if your structure is designed to scale.

Once your repo supports one language cleanly, duplicating that structure for more languages becomes simple. Build once, scale cleanly.

What Happens When You Build a Jekyll Blog Step by Step

What Does It Mean to "Build" a Jekyll Blog?

For complete beginners, the term "building a blog with Jekyll" can sound technical and intimidating. But the concept is actually quite simple when you think of it like putting together pages in a notebook. Jekyll is just a tool that turns a folder full of plain text into a real, working website. Let’s explore what that really means, step by step, without code or jargon.

Imagine You’re Assembling a Book

Think of your blog as a printed book. You write your chapters (blog posts), design the cover (homepage layout), and organize the table of contents (navigation). Once you’ve written everything, you hand the pieces to a printing machine (Jekyll), which turns it all into a finished book (your blog website).

In this analogy:

• Your Markdown files are the raw text of your blog posts.

• Layouts and templates are the design instructions for how each page should look.

• The build process is like printing and binding everything together.

Where Does GitHub Pages Come In?

GitHub Pages is like the online library that hosts your book for free. When you “publish” your site using GitHub Pages, you’re basically putting your finished website on a public shelf for the world to read. And the best part? You don’t have to know how to run a server, or manage a database. GitHub does the hosting. Jekyll does the building.

The Relationship Explained Simply

Here’s how it all connects in basic terms:

• You write content → using Markdown files.

• Jekyll builds the site → using templates and settings.

• GitHub Pages hosts the final site → and makes it visible to everyone.

So What’s Inside a Jekyll Blog Project?

When you first download or fork a Jekyll theme like Mediumish, you get a folder full of files. It might look confusing, but think of these files like parts of a puzzle that Jekyll puts together.

The important parts for beginners:

• _posts/: This is where your blog articles go. You write them in Markdown (.md files).

• _layouts/: These are the page designs—like deciding where the title goes or what the sidebar looks like.

• _config.yml: This is the control panel. You set your blog name, author name, and some options here.

• index.html: This is your homepage. It usually uses a layout and pulls your latest posts.

It’s All Based on Rules

Jekyll follows predictable rules. Every post must be in the _posts/ folder and must be named with the date first. Layouts should be inside _layouts/. And settings go into _config.yml. If you stick to the rules, your site will work every time.

What Does “Building” the Site Mean?

“Building” in Jekyll means: it reads all your text files and templates, and then generates actual HTML files. These HTML files are the final product that web browsers can understand. So your readers never see the raw Markdown—you do. They only see the clean, styled blog thanks to Jekyll.

You Don’t Build It Manually

Jekyll builds everything automatically. On GitHub Pages, you don’t even need to run Jekyll on your computer. When you push your changes, GitHub builds your site in the background. This makes it perfect for beginners.

What If Something Goes Wrong?

When your blog doesn’t show updates, or shows a blank page, don’t panic. Here are the most common beginner mistakes:

1. Wrong File Naming

All blog post files must follow this format: YYYY-MM-DD-your-title.md. If the date or format is off, Jekyll will ignore it.

2. Invalid Front Matter

Each file must start with a section called “front matter” using three dashes (---). If that’s missing or has mistakes, the build will fail.

3. Forgot to Push Changes

Jekyll only builds the version of the site you pushed to GitHub. If it’s still showing old content, make sure your changes were committed and pushed.

How Can You Make Small Customizations Without Breaking It?

One of the best parts about Jekyll is that you can customize almost anything. But for beginners, it’s safer to change only certain files:

• Change text inside your posts in _posts/.

• Update site name or description in _config.yml.

• Edit index.html if you want to change your homepage intro.

Don’t Touch Layouts Too Soon

Until you're comfortable, it’s better to avoid modifying files in _layouts or _includes. These control design and structure. Changing them without understanding could break your site’s appearance.

How Do You Know Jekyll Is Right for You?

If you:

• Prefer writing in Markdown over using a CMS dashboard

• Want free hosting on GitHub

• Like learning how things work under the hood

Then yes—Jekyll is a great choice. But if you prefer visual editors and drag-and-drop design, you might be happier with something like WordPress or Wix.

What Should You Do Next After Setting Up?

Here’s a recommended path for beginners:

1. Write your first post in _posts/ using a simple Markdown format.

2. Push the site to GitHub and see how it looks.

3. Customize your homepage text.

4. Change your blog title and description in _config.yml.

Final Advice for New Jekyll Users

Start slow. Don’t worry about layouts or plugins yet. Focus on writing posts and understanding how your changes affect the site. As you gain confidence, you’ll find it easier to explore deeper customization. And remember: because everything is version-controlled with Git, you can always undo a mistake.

Why This Stack Is Empowering for Beginners

Jekyll may seem unusual at first, but it teaches you a lot about how websites actually work—file structures, templates, hosting, and more. Once you get past the initial learning curve, you’ll appreciate the speed, control, and simplicity it offers.

Can You Fetch External API Data in Jekyll Using Ruby at Build Time

Is It Possible to Pull Live Data from an API into Jekyll?

Yes — you can fetch data from external APIs using Ruby during the Jekyll build process. By writing a Ruby plugin that runs before render, you can:

• Fetch JSON from a REST API
• Save it into _data/ folder
• Loop through it in your Liquid templates

The result is fully static HTML with data synced from live APIs at build time.

Use Cases for Fetching External API Data in Jekyll

• Display latest GitHub issues or commits
• Show latest blog posts from another site
• Render pricing, reviews, or ratings from a third-party API
• Pull in CMS data from Notion, Airtable, etc.

Step-by-Step: Fetch External Data via Ruby and Save to _data

1. Create a Plugin File

_plugins/fetch_data.rb

2. Use Ruby to Fetch and Save API JSON

require "net/http"
require "json"
require "fileutils"

Jekyll::Hooks.register :site, :after_init do |site|
  uri = URI("https://api.github.com/repos/jekyll/jekyll/issues?per_page=5")
  response = Net::HTTP.get(uri)
  data = JSON.parse(response)

  FileUtils.mkdir_p("_data")
  File.write("_data/github_issues.json", JSON.pretty_generate(data))
end

3. Loop Through the Data in a Template

<ul class="gh-issues">
{% for issue in site.data.github_issues %}
  <li>
    <a href="{{ issue.html_url }}">#{{ issue.number }}: {{ issue.title }}</a>
  </li>
{% endfor %}
</ul>

This will render the latest 5 open issues from the Jekyll GitHub repository on every build.

When Does This Run?

The hook :after_init runs before content is rendered. It’s the perfect time to fetch and write data to _data/ folder.

Can You Fetch Multiple APIs at Once?

Yes. You can call multiple APIs, or loop over multiple endpoints dynamically. Example:

repos = ["jekyll", "jekyll-seo-tag", "minima"]

repos.each do |repo|
  uri = URI("https://api.github.com/repos/jekyll/#{repo}")
  response = Net::HTTP.get(uri)
  data = JSON.parse(response)
  File.write("_data/#{repo}.json", JSON.pretty_generate(data))
end

This creates a separate JSON file in _data/ for each repository.

Advanced: Cache Responses for Faster Builds

API calls slow down your build. To prevent repeated calls, cache the response:

cache_path = "_cache/issues.json"
if File.exist?(cache_path)
  json = File.read(cache_path)
else
  json = Net::HTTP.get(uri)
  FileUtils.mkdir_p("_cache")
  File.write(cache_path, json)
end

data = JSON.parse(json)
File.write("_data/github_issues.json", JSON.pretty_generate(data))

Important Notes and Limits

• GitHub Pages doesn't allow custom Ruby plugins. Use Netlify, GitHub Actions, or a self-hosted Jekyll build.
• Rate limits apply. GitHub’s API is limited to 60 calls/hour for unauthenticated users.
• OAuth tokens can be used via environment variables for private APIs or higher rate limits.

Tips for Production Builds

• Use ENV['API_KEY'] for secret keys
• Cache API responses to avoid flakiness
• Run Jekyll via CI tools that support custom Ruby (e.g., Netlify CI or GitHub Actions)

Conclusion

With a bit of Ruby, Jekyll becomes more than a static generator — it can act as a **static frontend for dynamic data**. You pull the content at build time, and ship pure HTML. No client-side JS, no runtime dependencies.

• Safe — content is pre-rendered and secure
• Fast — no runtime queries or API calls
• Powerful — integrates with any external source

Next Steps

• Try fetching GitHub issues or RSS feed
• Render API content with Liquid and data includes
• Use caching to optimize repeat builds

In the next article, we’ll combine this with **pagination, sorting, and search** — showing how to build a dynamic-like index page from external data in a fully static Jekyll site.

How to Move from WordPress to Jekyll Using Mediumish Theme

Why Consider Moving from WordPress to Jekyll with Mediumish?

If you've used WordPress for years and are tired of constant updates, plugin vulnerabilities, and slow performance, you're not alone. Many developers and content creators are shifting to static site generators like Jekyll. But why the Mediumish theme specifically? And why host it on GitHub Pages?

In this case study, we’ll break down every part of the process and stack. You’ll learn the "why" and the "how" behind moving a live blog from WordPress to Jekyll using the popular Mediumish theme, hosted completely free on GitHub Pages.

What Is the Jekyll + Mediumish + GitHub Pages Stack?

Overview of the Technology Stack

• Jekyll: A static site generator built in Ruby, perfect for blogs and documentation.
• Mediumish Theme: A clean, minimalist theme inspired by Medium.com, optimized for readability and SEO.
• GitHub Pages: Free web hosting directly from your GitHub repository, with native support for Jekyll.

This combination eliminates traditional CMS issues, reduces maintenance, and offers a version-controlled content workflow—all at no cost.

Benefits of This Setup

• No more plugin conflicts or security updates.
• Lightning-fast page loading via CDN-powered static delivery.
• Free and automatic hosting via GitHub Pages.
• Markdown-based writing for simple and distraction-free publishing.

How to Prepare for the Migration

1. Audit Your Existing WordPress Content

Start by listing all your posts, pages, categories, and media. This audit will help you understand the scope of what needs to be migrated. Tools like WP All Export or simple CSV exports are useful here.

2. Export WordPress Content

Use the built-in WordPress Export Tool to generate an XML file. For greater control, consider plugins like "Jekyll Exporter" which converts your posts and metadata directly into Jekyll-ready format.

3. Convert to Markdown

Jekyll uses Markdown for content. You’ll need to convert the exported posts into Markdown files (`.md`) with YAML front matter. Tools like pandoc or wpxml2jekyll can automate this task.

How to Set Up the Mediumish Theme on GitHub Pages

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Fork the Mediumish theme: Start with a clean copy from GitHub. Make sure it supports GitHub Pages out of the box.
2. Clone to your machine: Use Git to clone the repository locally.
3. Customize site details: Edit _config.yml to include your site’s title, author name, and URL settings.
4. Add your content: Place your converted Markdown posts inside the _posts folder.
5. Push to GitHub: Commit your changes and push them back to your GitHub repository.
6. Activate GitHub Pages: Go to the repository settings and enable GitHub Pages from the main branch or the `/docs` folder, depending on your setup.

How to Handle SEO and Metadata During Migration

Preserve SEO Rankings

WordPress sites typically have structured permalinks, metadata, and internal linking strategies. You need to replicate this in Jekyll.

Set Up Permalinks

In _config.yml, define permalink formats to match your WordPress URLs as closely as possible. Example:

permalink: /:categories/:title/

Maintain Meta Descriptions and Tags

Each post’s front matter should include metadata such as title, description, tags, and categories. This is crucial for preserving your SEO value.

How to Add Features Without Plugins

Replacing Common WordPress Plugins

• SEO: Use Liquid templates to insert meta tags dynamically.
• Analytics: Embed Google Analytics tracking code in _includes/head.html.
• Comments: Integrate Disqus or use GitHub Issues as a comment system.
• Contact Forms: Use Formspree or Netlify Forms with custom HTML.

Optimizing for Performance

With no backend, performance mostly depends on static assets. Compress images, use minimal CSS and JavaScript, and enable caching headers using GitHub’s default CDN.

How to Manage Content After Migration

Writing New Posts

Write new content in Markdown, save it inside the _posts folder, and follow the correct naming convention: YYYY-MM-DD-title.md.

Version Control with Git

Every change to your site is now tracked via Git. This means you can revert errors, experiment with branches, and collaborate more efficiently than you ever could in WordPress.

Using GitHub Desktop

If you're not comfortable with the terminal, GitHub Desktop provides a user-friendly way to manage your repo, write commits, and push changes to GitHub.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Liquid Errors

Most errors in Jekyll come from improperly formatted Liquid code. Validate all your include tags, variable names, and conditions.

Theme Compatibility

Ensure the version of the Mediumish theme you are using is updated and maintained. Forking an outdated version might result in missing features or GitHub Pages compatibility issues.

Broken Internal Links

When moving from WordPress to Jekyll, check all internal links. Use site-wide search tools or link checkers to identify and fix broken links.

Is the Move Worth It in the Long Run?

For most tech-savvy users, absolutely. The performance gains, cost savings, and security improvements alone are worth the switch. But it comes with a learning curve. If you're comfortable editing text files and using Git, Jekyll offers a leaner, faster, and more reliable way to manage your content.

Key Takeaways

• Migrating from WordPress to Jekyll offers speed, security, and cost benefits.
• The Mediumish theme is a great starting point for clean and readable design.
• GitHub Pages provides free, reliable hosting with native Jekyll support.
• Migration involves content export, conversion, theming, and SEO preservation.
• Once migrated, your blog becomes easier to maintain and more scalable in the long term.

What's Next After Migrating?

After migration, you can further enhance your site with search integration, newsletters, or even headless CMS if needed. Keep your content updated by managing it through Git, and continue growing your site with confidence, knowing you’re no longer tied to a bloated CMS or expensive hosting.

Why Should You Use Jekyll with GitHub Pages for Personal Blogging

What Makes Jekyll and GitHub Pages an Ideal Pair for Personal Bloggers

If you’re looking for a reliable, cost-effective, and technically sound solution to start a personal blog, you’ve likely come across the combination of Jekyll and GitHub Pages. But why are so many developers, writers, and marketers choosing this setup over traditional CMS platforms like WordPress?

This guide explores the core benefits of using Jekyll and GitHub Pages together for personal blogging — from hosting advantages to SEO, performance, and long-term maintainability.

How Does Jekyll Work with GitHub Pages

Jekyll is a static site generator that turns Markdown files into static HTML pages. GitHub Pages is a free hosting service for static websites. When combined, GitHub Pages can automatically build and serve your Jekyll site every time you push content to your repository.

Simple Workflow

Your content resides in Markdown files. Jekyll processes them into clean, fast-loading HTML. No databases or PHP. Just commit your changes, and GitHub does the rest.

Zero Hosting Fees

With GitHub Pages, you can host your Jekyll blog for free — including support for custom domains and HTTPS encryption — without paying monthly server fees or dealing with server configuration.

Why Should You Choose Jekyll for Your Personal Blog

Jekyll is not just for developers. It’s surprisingly easy to use for content creators who want full control without the clutter or maintenance burden of dynamic platforms.

Speed and Performance

Because Jekyll generates static HTML pages, load times are incredibly fast. There's no waiting on server-side processing. Every page is served as-is, directly from a CDN-like experience.

Secure by Design

Without a database or dynamic processing layer, there's a smaller attack surface. You don't need to worry about patching plugins, SQL injection, or brute-force login attempts.

Minimal Maintenance

There are no updates to install, no servers to maintain. Once your blog is set up, you can focus purely on writing.

Version Control Built-In

Every change to your content is tracked via Git. Want to revert a post? You can do that. Want to collaborate? Just create a pull request.

Is GitHub Pages Reliable Enough for Long-Term Blogging

Absolutely. GitHub Pages has been around since 2008 and is backed by one of the largest code hosting platforms in the world. Sites hosted here are fast, resilient, and have near-zero downtime.

Free and Global CDN

GitHub Pages sites are served via Fastly, a powerful content delivery network. That means your blog is available instantly from anywhere in the world.

Custom Domain and SSL Support

You can use your own domain with GitHub Pages and configure HTTPS at no cost — an essential factor for SEO and credibility.

How Does Jekyll Help with SEO for Personal Blogs

Even without plugins, Jekyll is highly SEO-friendly out of the box. You have complete control over metadata, URLs, and page structure.

Clean URL Structure

Jekyll supports custom permalinks and canonical tags, letting you structure your site exactly how Google likes it.

Metadata and Open Graph

You can manually define metadata for SEO and social sharing using YAML front matter in each Markdown file.

Fast Loading Times

Site speed is a ranking factor, and Jekyll delivers exceptional performance due to its static nature and CDN delivery via GitHub Pages.

No Bloat, Clean HTML

Static HTML is lightweight and renders instantly. Search engine bots crawl your site more efficiently compared to JavaScript-heavy SPA frameworks.

What Are the Downsides of Using Jekyll with GitHub Pages

No platform is perfect. Before committing, it's important to understand the potential limitations of this stack.

Steeper Learning Curve

If you’re not familiar with Git or the command line, the setup might be daunting at first. However, plenty of tutorials exist to help beginners get started.

No Built-In Admin Panel

You don’t get a visual editor like WordPress. Content creation is done in Markdown, which may not suit everyone, although tools like Forestry or CloudCannon can fill the gap.

Limited Plugin Support

GitHub Pages only supports a whitelisted set of Jekyll plugins. If you need custom functionality, you may need to build or self-host it.

How to Start a Jekyll Blog on GitHub Pages

Getting started is easier than it seems. Here's a high-level step-by-step approach:

Step 1: Create a New GitHub Repository

Name it as yourusername.github.io to enable GitHub Pages support instantly.

Step 2: Clone the Repository

Use Git to clone the repo to your local machine and initialize a new Jekyll project inside it.

Step 3: Add a Jekyll Theme

You can build your own layout or use a ready-made theme like Mediumish, which comes with clean design and SEO optimizations.

Step 4: Write Posts in Markdown

Create blog posts inside the _posts folder using the correct date format and front matter.

Step 5: Push Your Code

Once you’re happy with your post, commit and push it. GitHub Pages will build and deploy your site automatically.

Why Mediumish is a Great Starting Theme for Jekyll Blogs

Mediumish is a clean, minimalist Jekyll theme inspired by Medium. It offers a smooth reading experience and is fully responsive. Here’s why it's worth considering:

Clean Design

No distractions. The layout puts the focus on your content, which is ideal for personal bloggers and writers.

Mobile Optimized

The theme works flawlessly across mobile devices, ensuring your content is always accessible.

Easy Setup

Mediumish requires minimal configuration and works well out of the box with GitHub Pages.

SEO Ready

It includes structured data, optimized meta tags, and accessible navigation — all crucial for SEO success.

Who Should Use Jekyll and GitHub Pages

This stack is perfect for you if you:

• Want to blog without paying for hosting
• Prefer writing in Markdown
• Value speed, security, and simplicity
• Don’t need dynamic features like comments or ecommerce

What Are Some Real-World Use Cases

Many successful personal blogs, technical documentation sites, and portfolios run on this setup. For example:

Developers Sharing Tutorials

Developers often use Jekyll to publish their learnings or code walkthroughs. The static nature ensures the site remains fast and secure.

Writers and Marketers Publishing Evergreen Content

Content creators who focus on quality, long-form content find Jekyll liberating due to its distraction-free writing process and simple publishing model.

Minimalist Portfolios

Designers and freelancers use Jekyll themes like Mediumish to showcase projects and personal brands without bulky CMS tools.

Conclusion: Is This Setup Right for You

If your primary goal is to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world — and you want a blogging platform that’s fast, secure, and free — then using Jekyll with GitHub Pages is a smart choice.

While it may take a bit of initial learning, the long-term benefits in performance, reliability, and simplicity are undeniable. Whether you're a developer, writer, or entrepreneur, this is a future-proof solution to personal blogging that respects your time and resources.

Optimizing Mediumish for Speed and Maintainability

While the Mediumish theme offers a clean and appealing design out of the box, optimizing your blog's performance and structure is essential for long-term success. In static site generation, every millisecond matters—especially when users access your content from different devices and networks.

Minimizing Unused CSS and JS

The Mediumish theme comes with pre-packaged CSS and JavaScript files that may include styles or scripts you're not using. This can lead to unnecessary bloat and slower page load times. Here's how to address it:

Step 1: Audit Existing CSS

Use browser DevTools to inspect which classes and components are unused. Alternatively, use tools like PurgeCSS or UnCSS to automate the process.

Step 2: Create a Custom SCSS Pipeline

Instead of using the bundled main.css, create your own SCSS pipeline in assets/css/custom.scss:

---
---

@import "reset";
@import "typography";
@import "layout";
@import "post";
@import "responsive";

This lets you modularize your styles, remove what’s unused, and only load what your layout needs.

Lazy Loading Images for Faster Rendering

To improve initial render time, especially on mobile devices, lazy load your images by adding the loading="lazy" attribute. Here's how to modify image includes in posts:

<img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/assets/images/post-cover.jpg" alt="SEO Tips" loading="lazy">

Consider also using srcset to serve responsive images based on screen resolution.

Structuring Includes and Partials for Better Code Hygiene

Many Jekyll users eventually struggle with layout sprawl: where everything gets dumped into a few large files. Instead, break down your layouts into reusable components stored in _includes/:

• header.html
• footer.html
• sidebar.html
• post-card.html
• author-box.html

This modularization makes it easier to maintain and refactor your site in the future.

Using Jekyll Defaults to Reduce Redundancy

In a large blog, your front matter can get repetitive. Use the defaults key in your _config.yml to automatically apply common layout or category settings:

defaults:
  - scope:
      path: "_posts"
    values:
      layout: "post"
      author: "admin"

This keeps your front matter clean and reduces chances of human error when publishing new posts.

Implementing Atomic CSS or Utility-First Design

If you're comfortable with frameworks like Tailwind CSS, you can use atomic classes to build fast, responsive components without bloating your CSS with custom styles. Here's a basic Tailwind-compatible snippet:

<div class="bg-white p-6 rounded-lg shadow-lg">
  <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-2">Latest Guide</h3>
  <p class="text-gray-600">Learn how to optimize your Jekyll blog for speed.</p>
</div>

This practice enhances maintainability and cuts down the amount of custom CSS you have to manage over time.

Handling Large Content Sites with Pagination and Archive Indexing

As your blog grows past 100+ posts, you'll need to think about content discoverability and memory optimization during builds. Jekyll supports built-in pagination and can handle content segmentation effectively.

Using Pagination in Your Blog Index

To avoid loading all posts at once on the homepage, use pagination in index.html:

---
layout: default
paginate: 10
---

{% for post in paginator.posts %}
  <h3><a href="{{ post.url }}">{{ post.title }}</a></h3>
{% endfor %}

<div class="pagination">
  {% if paginator.previous_page %}
    <a href="{{ paginator.previous_page_path }}">Previous</a>
  {% endif %}
  {% if paginator.next_page %}
    <a href="{{ paginator.next_page_path }}">Next</a>
  {% endif %}
</div>

Make sure to enable pagination in _config.yml:

paginate: 10
paginate_path: "/page/:num/"

Building an Archive Page

Instead of listing all posts chronologically, group them by year and month:

{% assign posts_by_year = site.posts | group_by_exp:"post", "post.date | date: '%Y'" %}
{% for year in posts_by_year %}
  <h2>{{ year.name }}</h2>
  {% for post in year.items %}
    <p><a href="{{ post.url }}">{{ post.title }}</a> - {{ post.date | date: "%B %d" }}</p>
  {% endfor %}
{% endfor %}

This not only helps users navigate your blog historically but also lightens homepage load times.

Conclusion: Designing for Scale from Day One

Whether you're running a blog with a dozen posts or hundreds, making smart architectural choices early ensures your site stays fast and manageable. Mediumish is a beautiful starting point—but Jekyll's true power lies in how well you modularize, optimize, and think ahead.

These best practices allow you to build a blog that's not just well-designed, but one that performs and evolves gracefully—making it a perfect long-term platform for your digital marketing efforts.