Understanding GitHub Pages and Jekyll

GitHub Pages and Jekyll are a powerful combination for anyone looking to host a static website efficiently and free of charge. But what exactly are they, and why are they so frequently paired together? Let's break down the fundamentals to build a solid understanding before diving into the deployment process.

GitHub Pages is a free service provided by GitHub that allows you to host websites directly from a GitHub repository. These websites can be simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, or they can be generated from a static site generator like Jekyll. The beauty of GitHub Pages lies in its simplicity and integration with Git. You push your code to a repository, and GitHub automatically publishes your site.

Jekyll, on the other hand, is a static site generator. In simpler terms, it's a tool that takes plain text files written in Markdown (or other markup languages) and liquid templates, processes them, and outputs a complete, static website ready for deployment. Unlike dynamic content management systems (CMS) like WordPress that generate pages on the fly with a database, Jekyll pre-builds all your pages. This results in incredibly fast, secure, and resource-efficient websites. Popular uses for Jekyll include blogs, portfolios, documentation sites, and simple company websites.

The synergy between GitHub Pages and Jekyll is undeniable. GitHub Pages has built-in support for Jekyll, meaning you can push your Jekyll source files to a repository, and GitHub will automatically build and publish your site without requiring any special build steps on your end. This integration streamlines the deployment process significantly, making it an attractive option for developers and non-developers alike who want a low-maintenance website.

The benefits of using this combination are numerous. You gain version control for your entire website through Git, making it easy to track changes, revert to previous versions, and collaborate with others. Hosting is free, eliminating the need for paid web hosting services. Static sites are inherently more secure as there are no databases or server-side scripts to exploit. Furthermore, the performance of static sites is exceptional due to their lightweight nature and the absence of server-side processing.

Prerequisites for Deployment

Before you embark on the journey of deploying your Jekyll site to GitHub Pages, there are a few essential prerequisites you'll need to have in place. Ensuring these are covered will make the deployment process much smoother and prevent common roadblocks.

GitHub Account

The first and most fundamental requirement is a GitHub account. If you don't already have one, you'll need to create it. GitHub is where your website's code will reside, and GitHub Pages is a service provided by GitHub, so an account is non-negotiable. Head over to github.com and sign up for a free account. Make sure to choose a memorable username, as it can sometimes be part of your GitHub Pages URL.

Basic Git Knowledge

While you don't need to be a Git expert, a basic understanding of Git commands is crucial. You'll be using Git to interact with your GitHub repository. This includes commands like git init to initialize a new repository, git add to stage changes, git commit to save changes, and git push to upload your local changes to GitHub. If you're new to Git, consider spending some time with online tutorials or interactive courses to grasp the fundamentals. Tools like GitHub Desktop can simplify the process if you prefer a graphical interface, but understanding the command line will give you more control.

Jekyll Installation

Of course, to have a Jekyll site to deploy, you need Jekyll installed on your local machine. Jekyll is a Ruby gem, so you'll need a working Ruby environment. The Jekyll documentation provides comprehensive instructions for installing Jekyll on various operating systems, including macOS, Windows, and Linux. It typically involves installing Ruby and then using the RubyGems package manager to install Jekyll. Ensure you have a stable and up-to-date Jekyll installation to avoid compatibility issues during the build process.

Your Jekyll Site Ready

This might seem obvious, but you need a Jekyll site that's ready for deployment. This means your content is in place, your templates are configured, and you've tested it locally using bundle exec jekyll serve to ensure everything looks and functions as expected. It's always a good practice to thoroughly test your site locally before pushing it to a public platform. Address any broken links, missing images, or styling issues at this stage to avoid surprises after deployment.

Creating Your GitHub Repository

With the prerequisites in place, the next step is to create a new repository on GitHub. This repository will serve as the home for your Jekyll site's source code and, subsequently, the source for GitHub Pages to build and publish your website.

Choosing the Right Repository Name

The name of your repository is critical for GitHub Pages. There are two primary types of GitHub Pages sites, and the repository name dictates which type you'll be deploying:

• User or Organization Site: If you want to create a website for your GitHub user profile or an organization, the repository name must be in the format username.github.io or organizationname.github.io. This special naming convention tells GitHub to automatically serve the content of this repository as a website accessible at that URL. For example, if your GitHub username is octocat, your repository would be named octocat.github.io, and your site would be accessible at https://octocat.github.io.
• Project Site: For any other project, you can name your repository anything you like. For example, if you have a project named my-awesome-project, your repository would be named my-awesome-project. In this case, your site will be accessible at https://username.github.io/my-awesome-project (or https://organizationname.github.io/my-awesome-project).

For a first-time deployment of a personal or primary blog, the user/organization site option (e.g., username.github.io) is often the most straightforward and recommended approach.

Steps to Create a New Repository

Follow these steps to create your new GitHub repository:

1. Log in to GitHub: Go to github.com and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to "Your Repositories": In the top right corner, click on your profile picture, then select "Your repositories." Alternatively, you can click the "New" button directly on your GitHub homepage.
3. Click "New" or "+": On the "Your repositories" page, click the green "New" button (or the "+" icon in the top right and select "New repository").
4. Enter Repository Name: In the "Repository name" field, enter the appropriate name. Remember the special naming convention for user/organization sites (e.g., yourusername.github.io).
5. Add a Description (Optional but Recommended): Provide a brief, clear description of your Jekyll site. This helps others understand what your repository contains.
6. Choose Visibility: Decide whether your repository should be "Public" or "Private." For GitHub Pages, your repository must be public for the site to be accessible to everyone. If you choose "Private," your site will not be published by GitHub Pages.
7. Initialize with a README (Optional): You can choose to initialize the repository with a README file. This is often a good practice but not strictly necessary for Jekyll deployment.
8. Choose a License (Optional): Select a license if you want to specify how others can use your code.
9. Click "Create repository": Once you've filled in the details, click the "Create repository" button.

After creating the repository, you'll be redirected to its page, which will provide you with instructions on how to push an existing local repository or create a new one from the command line. Keep this page open as you'll need some of the commands there shortly.

Pushing Your Jekyll Site to GitHub

Now that your GitHub repository is ready, it's time to connect your local Jekyll project to it and push your code. This is where your basic Git knowledge comes into play.

Initializing a Git Repository Locally

If your Jekyll project folder isn't already a Git repository, you need to initialize it. Navigate to your Jekyll project's root directory in your terminal or command prompt.

cd path/to/your/jekyll-site
git init

This command creates a new, empty Git repository in your project directory.

Adding Your Files to the Staging Area

Next, you need to tell Git which files you want to track and include in your first commit. For a Jekyll site, you generally want to track all the source files.

git add .

The . tells Git to add all the files and folders in the current directory (and its subdirectories) to the staging area. If there are specific files or folders you want to exclude (e.g., a large media file that isn't essential for the site's source, though often Jekyll's _site directory is automatically ignored by GitHub Pages), you would list them in a .gitignore file.

Committing Your Changes

Once your files are staged, you commit them. A commit is like taking a snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. Each commit should have a descriptive message.

git commit -m "Initial commit of Jekyll site"

Replace "Initial commit of Jekyll site" with a message that accurately describes the state of your project. This commit now lives only on your local machine.

Connecting to Your Remote GitHub Repository

Now, you need to tell your local Git repository where its remote counterpart lives on GitHub. You'll get this URL from your newly created GitHub repository page.

git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/yourrepositoryname.git

Replace yourusername and yourrepositoryname with your actual GitHub username and the name of the repository you created (e.g., yourusername.github.io). origin is a conventional alias for your primary remote repository.

Pushing Your Code to GitHub

Finally, it's time to push your committed code from your local machine to your GitHub repository.

git push -u origin master

Or, more commonly in modern Git setups, the default branch might be main:

git push -u origin main

This command pushes your local master (or main) branch to the origin remote. The -u flag (or --set-upstream) sets the upstream branch, so in subsequent pushes, you can simply use git push. Git might prompt you for your GitHub username and password or a personal access token (PAT) for authentication. If you're using a PAT, ensure you've configured it correctly.

After the push is complete, refresh your GitHub repository page. You should see all your Jekyll site's files now present in the repository. This is a crucial step; once your files are on GitHub, GitHub Pages can begin its work.

Configuring GitHub Pages

Once your Jekyll site's files are on GitHub, the next crucial step is to configure GitHub Pages to actually build and serve your website. For user/organization pages (repositories named username.github.io), this process is often automatic. For project pages, a small configuration step is usually required.

Accessing GitHub Pages Settings

To configure GitHub Pages, navigate to your repository on GitHub. Then, click on the "Settings" tab in the top navigation bar of your repository. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click on "Pages" under the "Code and automation" section.

Source Branch Configuration

In the "Pages" settings, you'll see a section titled "Build and deployment."

Under "Source," you'll need to select the branch from which GitHub Pages should build your site. In most cases, this will be your main branch, either master or main. Select this branch from the dropdown menu.

Once you've selected your branch, click the "Save" button. GitHub Pages will then automatically begin the build process. You should see a message indicating that your site is being built, and after a short period, it will confirm that your site is published.

If you're deploying a user or organization page (e.g., username.github.io), this configuration is typically pre-set, and GitHub Pages will start building your site as soon as you push content to the designated branch.

Monitoring the Build Process

GitHub provides a way to monitor the build process. After saving your settings, you'll often see a small green checkmark or an orange circle next to the commit hash on your repository's main page. Clicking on this will take you to the "Actions" tab. Here, you can see the workflow run for your GitHub Pages deployment. If the build fails, the logs in the "Actions" tab will provide valuable information about what went wrong, helping you troubleshoot.

Common reasons for build failures include:

• Missing Gemfile or Gemfile.lock: Ensure these files are committed to your repository.
• Incorrect Jekyll version: While GitHub Pages often uses a specific Jekyll version, sometimes local and remote versions can conflict.
• Dependency issues: If your Jekyll site relies on specific plugins or gems, ensure they are compatible with GitHub Pages.
• YAML front matter errors: Malformed YAML in your posts or pages can cause build failures.
• Liquid template errors: Errors in your Liquid templates can also halt the build process.

Always consult the build logs in the "Actions" tab for detailed error messages. A successful build will result in your site being published at the URL provided in the "Pages" settings.

Accessing Your Live Site

Congratulations! After successfully configuring GitHub Pages and a successful build, your Jekyll site is now live on the internet. But how do you access it?

Default GitHub Pages URL

The URL for your live site depends on the type of repository you created:

• User or Organization Site: If your repository is named username.github.io (or organizationname.github.io), your site will be accessible directly at https://username.github.io (or https://organizationname.github.io).
• Project Site: If your repository has any other name (e.g., my-awesome-project), your site will be accessible at https://username.github.io/my-awesome-project (or https://organizationname.github.io/my-awesome-project).

You can find the exact URL for your site in your repository's "Settings" tab, under the "Pages" section. Once the site is published, GitHub will display the live URL prominently.

Initial Loading Time

It's important to note that after your first push and configuration, there might be a short delay (a few minutes) before your site becomes visible at the given URL. This is because GitHub Pages needs to build your Jekyll site from the source files and then deploy it to their servers. Be patient; refresh your browser after a few minutes if you don't see it immediately. Subsequent pushes often result in faster deployment times.

Verifying Your Site

Once you've accessed your site, take a moment to verify everything is working as expected:

• Content Check: Does all your content appear correctly? Are all pages and posts visible?
• Styling: Is your CSS applied correctly? Does your site look as it did locally?
• Links: Are all internal and external links functioning? Check for any broken links.
• Images: Are all images loading properly? Ensure paths are correct.
• JavaScript: If you have any JavaScript, is it executing without errors?

Thorough verification ensures that your public-facing site is in optimal condition. If you notice any discrepancies, revisit your local Jekyll project, make the necessary corrections, commit your changes, and push them to GitHub. GitHub Pages will then trigger a new build and update your live site.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While deploying a Jekyll site to GitHub Pages is generally straightforward, you might encounter a few common issues. Knowing how to troubleshoot these problems can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Site Not Building or Showing Errors

Problem: Your site isn't appearing, or the GitHub Pages settings indicate a build failure.

Solution:

• Check the Actions Tab: This is your primary diagnostic tool. Go to your repository on GitHub, click on the "Actions" tab, and look for the workflow run for "pages build and deployment." Click on the failed run to view the detailed logs. The logs will often pinpoint the exact error, such as a missing gem, a YAML parsing error, or a Liquid syntax error.
• Local Build Check: Can your site build successfully locally? Run bundle exec jekyll serve in your project directory. If it fails locally, fix the issues there first. A common local error that might not be obvious until deployment is a missing Gemfile.lock or incorrect gem versions.
• Gemfile and Gemfile.lock: Ensure both your Gemfile and Gemfile.lock files are committed to your repository. GitHub Pages uses these to install the correct Jekyll and plugin versions.
• Jekyll Version Compatibility: GitHub Pages often uses a specific version of Jekyll. While usually backward compatible, very old or very new Jekyll features might cause issues. You can specify a Jekyll version in your Gemfile.
• YAML Front Matter: Malformed YAML front matter (e.g., missing hyphens, incorrect indentation) is a frequent cause of build failures. Use an online YAML validator if you suspect this is the problem.
• Liquid Syntax: Errors in your Liquid templates (e.g., unclosed tags, incorrect filters) will also break the build.
• Plugin Compatibility: GitHub Pages only supports a specific set of Jekyll plugins. If you're using a custom plugin, it might not work. You might need to pre-build your site locally and push the _site directory (though this changes your workflow).

Styles or Images Not Loading

Problem: Your site is live, but the CSS is not applied, or images are broken.

Solution:

• Base URL: This is the most common cause for project sites. When deploying a project site (e.g., username.github.io/my-project), your assets (CSS, images, JavaScript) need to reference the base path correctly. In your _config.yml file, you need to set the baseurl variable to your repository name (e.g., baseurl: "/my-project"). Then, in your templates and markdown, use the relative_url filter or site.baseurl to construct paths:

  <link rel="stylesheet" href="{{ "/assets/css/style.css" | relative_url }}">
  <img src="{{ "/assets/images/my-image.jpg" | relative_url }}">
  

  For user/organization sites (username.github.io), baseurl should generally be an empty string (baseurl: ""), as the site is served from the root.
• Case Sensitivity: GitHub Pages servers are case-sensitive. Ensure that the capitalization of your file paths (e.g., assets/images/MyImage.jpg) exactly matches the capitalization in your code. Local development environments on Windows or macOS might be case-insensitive, masking these errors.
• Correct Paths: Double-check that your paths to CSS, JavaScript, and images are correct relative to your Jekyll project's root.

Pages Not Updating After Push

Problem: You've pushed changes to GitHub, but your live site isn't updating.

Solution:

• Check GitHub Actions: Again, go to the "Actions" tab. Has a new build been triggered for your latest commit? Did it succeed? If not, investigate the build logs.
• Browser Cache: Your browser might be caching an older version of your site. Try a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R) or clear your browser's cache.
• GitHub Pages Cache: Sometimes, GitHub Pages itself might have a slight cache. Give it a few more minutes.
• Correct Branch: Ensure you are pushing to the same branch that you've configured GitHub Pages to build from (e.g., main or master).

404 Page Not Found Errors

Problem: Certain pages or posts on your site are returning a 404 error.

Solution:

• File Names and Permalinks: Ensure your post and page filenames are correct and that their permalinks (if customized) are valid. Jekyll generates URLs based on these.
• Drafts: Are the pages you're missing drafts? Jekyll will not build files with published: false in their front matter or files in the _drafts folder unless you explicitly tell it to (which GitHub Pages does not do by default).
• Collection Configuration: If you're using custom collections, ensure they are correctly defined in your _config.yml and that the files within them have proper YAML front matter.

By systematically checking these common issues and utilizing the GitHub Actions logs, you can resolve most Jekyll on GitHub Pages deployment problems efficiently.

Customizing Your Domain (Optional)

While the default GitHub Pages URL (e.g., username.github.io) is perfectly functional, many users prefer to use a custom domain (e.g., [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus] or https://www.google.com/search?q=blog.yourdomain.com) for a more professional and branded online presence. Setting up a custom domain involves configuring both your GitHub repository and your domain registrar.

Steps to Configure a Custom Domain

1. Purchase a Domain Name: If you don't already own one, purchase a domain name from a domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
2. Add a CNAME File to Your Repository:

   In the root of your Jekyll project directory (the same level as your _config.yml file), create a new file named CNAME (all caps, no file extension). Inside this file, put only your custom domain name. For example:

   [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus]
   

   Or if you prefer a naked domain:

   [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus]
   

   Save this file, then commit and push it to your GitHub repository.

   git add CNAME
   git commit -m "Add CNAME file for custom domain"
   git push origin main
   

   This CNAME file tells GitHub Pages what domain it should expect to serve your site from.

3. Configure DNS Records at Your Domain Registrar:

   This is the most critical part and can vary slightly depending on your domain registrar. You'll need to modify your domain's DNS (Domain Name System) records to point to GitHub Pages. There are two main approaches:

   For a naked domain (e.g., [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus]): You need to create or modify A records. You'll typically add four A records pointing to GitHub's IP addresses. As of my last update, these IPs are:

   185.199.108.153
   185.199.109.153
   185.199.110.153
   185.199.111.153
   

   The exact interface for adding A records will differ by registrar. Look for a "DNS Management" or "Advanced DNS" section.

   For a subdomain (e.g., [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus] or https://www.google.com/search?q=blog.yourdomain.com): You'll create a CNAME record. This CNAME record should point to your default GitHub Pages URL (e.g., yourusername.github.io).
   

   Type	Host/Name	Value
   CNAME	www (or blog, etc.)	yourusername.github.io

   Important: Only use one method (A records for naked domain or CNAME for subdomain) for the same domain or subdomain. Do not mix them for the same host. If you want both [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus] and [tautan mencurigakan telah dihapus] to work, you generally set up A records for the naked domain and then a CNAME for www pointing to the naked domain, or more simply, configure a redirect from the naked domain to www (or vice versa) at your registrar or through a service like Netlify.

4. Enable HTTPS (Recommended):

   Once your DNS changes have propagated (which can take a few minutes to up to 48 hours), go back to your repository's "Settings" > "Pages" on GitHub. Under the "Custom domain" section, your custom domain should now be listed. There will be a checkbox for "Enforce HTTPS." Enable this. GitHub Pages provides free SSL certificates for custom domains, which is crucial for security and SEO. If you don't see this option or it's greyed out, it means your DNS changes haven't fully propagated yet.

DNS Propagation Time

Be aware that DNS changes can take time to propagate across the internet. This "propagation time" can range from a few minutes to 48 hours, though it's usually on the shorter end for major registrars. During this time, your site might be intermittently accessible via your custom domain as different DNS servers update.

Once propagation is complete and HTTPS is enforced, your Jekyll site will be fully accessible at your custom domain, secured with an SSL certificate, providing a professional and trustworthy experience for your visitors.

Maintaining and Updating Your Site

Deploying your Jekyll site to GitHub Pages is just the first step. To keep your site fresh, secure, and performant, regular maintenance and updates are essential. The beauty of the Jekyll and GitHub Pages workflow is how streamlined these processes become.

Making Content Updates

The process for updating your site's content is remarkably simple:

1. Edit Locally: Make your changes to markdown files, HTML templates, CSS, or JavaScript directly in your local Jekyll project.
2. Test Locally: Always run bundle exec jekyll serve to preview your changes locally in your browser. This ensures everything looks and functions as expected before you push to the live site.
3. Commit Changes: Once you're satisfied with your changes, commit them to your local Git repository with a descriptive commit message.

   git add .
   git commit -m "Added new blog post about X"
   

4. Push to GitHub: Push your committed changes to your GitHub repository.

   git push origin main
   

   GitHub Pages will automatically detect the new push, trigger a new build process, and deploy the updated version of your site. This typically takes only a few moments, depending on the size of your site and the complexity of the changes.

This workflow makes it incredibly efficient to add new blog posts, update existing pages, or make design tweaks without needing to manually upload files via FTP or deal with complex CMS interfaces.

Updating Jekyll and Dependencies

Just like any software, Jekyll and its associated gems receive updates to fix bugs, improve performance, and introduce new features. It's a good practice to keep your Jekyll installation and dependencies up-to-date:

• Bundle Update: Periodically, run bundle update in your Jekyll project directory. This command updates all the gems listed in your Gemfile to their latest compatible versions and updates your Gemfile.lock file.

  bundle update
  

• Commit Gemfile.lock: After running bundle update, always commit the updated Gemfile.lock file to your repository. This ensures that GitHub Pages builds your site with the exact same versions of gems that you're using locally, preventing potential build failures due to version mismatches.

  git add Gemfile.lock
  git commit -m "Update Jekyll dependencies"
  git push origin main
  

• Check for Breaking Changes: Before performing a major Jekyll update, it's wise to check the Jekyll release notes for any breaking changes that might affect your site.

Backups and Version Control

One of the significant advantages of using Git and GitHub for your Jekyll site is inherent version control. Your entire site's history is tracked, allowing you to revert to previous versions if needed. GitHub itself serves as an off-site backup of your entire project.

While Git provides excellent version control, you might also consider additional backup strategies for your local files, especially if you have highly customized content or assets outside the main Jekyll structure that aren't tracked by Git. However, for the core Jekyll site, Git and GitHub are your primary safety nets.

By following these maintenance practices, your Jekyll site on GitHub Pages will remain current, secure, and continue to serve your content reliably for years to come. The evergreen nature of the content combined with a robust, version-controlled publishing workflow ensures longevity and ease of management.