Techie September 2024
Introduction
Jekyll, a static site generator, has gained popularity among developers and content creators for its simplicity and efficiency in building websites. At the core of a Jekyll project lies its folder structure, which plays a pivotal role in organizing content, templates, and assets. In this section, we will delve into the intricacies of the Jekyll folder structure, providing a comprehensive explanation of each directory’s purpose and how they collectively contribute to the creation of a functional and aesthetically appealing website.
Introduction to Jekyll
Jekyll is a static site generator that transforms plain text files into fully functional websites. It eliminates the need for complex databases and server-side processing, making websites faster and more secure. To understand how Jekyll works, one must familiarize themselves with its folder structure, as it forms the backbone of a Jekyll project.
Jekyll Folder Structure
_layouts
The _layouts directory houses template files that define the structure of different pages on your site. Layouts are essential for maintaining consistency across multiple pages. The default.html layout, for instance, might contain the header, footer, and navigation common to every page. To create a new layout, add an HTML file in this directory and include placeholders for content that will vary between pages.
<!-- _layouts/default.html -->
<html>
<head>
<!-- meta tags, CSS links, etc. -->
</head>
<body>
% include header.html %
{ content }
% include footer.html %
</body>
</html>_includes
Reusable components, such as navigation menus, headers, and footers, can be stored in the _includes folder. These components can then be easily included within layout files using Liquid tags.
<!-- _layouts/default.html -->
<body>
% include header.html %
{ content }
% include footer.html %
</body>_posts
The _posts directory contains markdown or HTML files representing individual posts. These files follow a specific naming convention: YYYY-MM-DD-title.md. Jekyll automatically converts these files into HTML pages and sorts them based on their date.
_data
The _data folder lets you store YAML or JSON files that can be accessed using Liquid tags. This is useful for separating data from your layout and content files, promoting a cleaner and more organized structure.
_sass and assets
The _sass directory stores Sass (Syntactically Awesome Style Sheets) files, which allow for more efficient and maintainable CSS. Jekyll will automatically convert Sass files into CSS when the site is built. The assets directory, on the other hand, contains static files like images, JavaScript, and CSS that will be copied over to the generated site.
_config.yml
This YAML configuration file contains various settings for your Jekyll site, including site title, description, and plugins. It’s the central hub for customizing how your site is generated.
index.html and Other Pages
Pages like index.html, about.html, and more, reside in the root directory. These pages utilize layouts and include content from _posts, _includes, and _data as necessary.
Building a Jekyll Site Step-by-Step
Installation and Setup
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Install Jekyll using the command: gem install jekyll.
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Create a new Jekyll site: jekyll new mysite.
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Navigate to the project folder: cd mysite.
Creating Layouts
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Inside _layouts, create a new HTML file for your layout (e.g., default.html).
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Define the basic structure of your layout, including placeholders for header, footer, and content.
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Save the file.
Writing Posts
- Add markdown or HTML files to _posts, following the naming convention: YYYY-MM-DD-title.md.
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Write your post using markdown or HTML syntax.
- Include front matter at the beginning of each post to define metadata like title and date.
Styling with Sass
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Utilize the _sass directory to create modular Sass files.
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Import your Sass files into a main styles.scss file.
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Jekyll will compile Sass into CSS during site generation.
Conclusion
Understanding the Jekyll folder structure is essential for harnessing the full potential of this static site generator. By organizing your content, layouts, and assets in a systematic manner, you can create efficient, visually appealing, and easily maintainable websites. Remember, Jekyll’s simplicity lies not only in its functionality but also in its structured approach to web development.
Thanks for reading, see you in the next one!
