Getting Started with Jekyll and GitHub Pages

jekyll github-pages tutorial blog

Introduction

Welcome to my first blog post! This post demonstrates how the blog system works and gives you a template for creating your own posts.

Why Jekyll?

Jekyll is a static site generator that integrates seamlessly with GitHub Pages. Here are the key benefits:

  • No server required — Everything is static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Version controlled — Your entire site lives in Git
  • Markdown support — Write posts in Markdown for simplicity
  • Automatic builds — GitHub Pages automatically builds Jekyll on every push
  • Free hosting — GitHub Pages is free for public repositories

Writing Blog Posts

To create a new blog post:

  1. Create a new file in _posts/ with the format YYYY-MM-DD-title.md
  2. Add front matter at the top (the metadata between --- markers)
  3. Write your content in Markdown
  4. Push to GitHub — it builds automatically!

Front Matter Example

---
layout: post
title: "Your Post Title"
date: 2026-04-11 10:00:00
categories: [category1, category2]
excerpt: "Optional brief excerpt for the post archive"
---

Markdown Formatting

Lists

Unordered list:

  • Item 1
  • Item 2
  • Item 3

Ordered list:

  1. First
  2. Second
  3. Third

Code Blocks

Here’s a Python example:

def hello_world():
    print("Hello, GitHub Pages!")

hello_world()

Blockquotes

This is a blockquote. Use it for highlighting important quotes or ideas.

— Someone Important

Tips for Blogging

  1. Be consistent — Regular posts help build an audience
  2. Share knowledge — Tutorials and lessons learned are valuable
  3. Include links — Link to relevant resources, your projects, and other posts
  4. Use formatting — Headers, lists, and code blocks make posts readable
  5. Proofread — Take time to review before publishing

Next Steps

  • Customize the site colors and fonts by editing assets/css/style.css
  • Add your own projects to _data/projects.yml
  • Write your first post and push it live!
  • Share your portfolio on social media

Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, feel free to check out my other posts and projects on the Projects page.