Getting Started with GitHub Pages

What is GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages is a free hosting service provided by GitHub that allows you to host static websites directly from your GitHub repository. It's perfect for personal portfolios, project documentation, and blogs.

Why Use GitHub Pages?

• Free Hosting: GitHub Pages is completely free for public repositories
• Easy Deployment: Just push your code and your site is live
• Version Control: All your website code is version controlled with Git
• Custom Domains: You can use your own domain name
• HTTPS Support: Free SSL certificates for secure connections

Getting Started

To create your first GitHub Pages site, follow these simple steps:

1. Create a Repository

Create a new repository on GitHub. For a personal site, name it username.github.io where username is your GitHub username.

2. Add Your HTML Files

Create an index.html file in the root of your repository. This will be your homepage.

3. Enable GitHub Pages

Go to your repository settings, scroll down to the "GitHub Pages" section, and select the branch you want to use (usually main or master).

4. Visit Your Site

Your site will be available at https://username.github.io (or your custom domain if configured).

Basic Site Structure

A simple GitHub Pages site typically includes:

• index.html - Your homepage
• styles.css - Your stylesheet
• Additional HTML pages for different sections
• An assets or images folder for media files

Using Jekyll (Optional)

GitHub Pages has built-in support for Jekyll, a static site generator. With Jekyll, you can:

• Use templates and layouts
• Write content in Markdown
• Use variables and includes
• Leverage themes for quick styling

To use Jekyll, add a _config.yml file to your repository with your site configuration.

Best Practices

• Keep it Simple: Static sites load fast and are easy to maintain
• Mobile Responsive: Use responsive design to ensure your site works on all devices
• Optimize Images: Compress images to improve load times
• Use Semantic HTML: Write clean, accessible HTML
• Test Locally: Test your changes locally before pushing to GitHub

Conclusion

GitHub Pages is an excellent platform for hosting static websites. Whether you're creating a personal portfolio, a project landing page, or a blog, GitHub Pages provides a simple, free, and reliable solution.

Start building your site today and share your work with the world!