You may have heard about Jekyll, but if you are not a developer, you may be wondering what Jekyll is, how it works, and why it is useful. In this article, we will explain Jekyll in simple terms, without any technical jargon, and show you how it can benefit you as a non-developer.
What is Jekyll?
Jekyll is an open-source static site generator that was created by Tom Preston-Werner in 2008. It is built with Ruby (a programming language) and it converts plain text files into a static website. Unlike a dynamic website, a static website consists of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files saved on a server. This means that Jekyll doesn’t require a server-side language or a database to work.
How Jekyll Work
Jekyll works by taking a set of plain text files that are written in a markup language called Markdown, and turning them into a website. Markdown is a simple syntax that allows you to format text without having to learn HTML. Jekyll takes these Markdown files and converts them into HTML files. The design and layout of your website is controlled by templates or a theme.
Let’s say that you want to create a blog post. You would start by creating a new Markdown file with the title of your post, followed by the date, and the content of your post. You would then run Jekyll, and it would generate full website that contains all your posts as HTML files. If you check the HTML files, they have all the content with the appropriate HTML tags and layout.
Here is a simplified process of how Jekyll works:
- You write content in Markdown
- Jekyll processes the Markdown and turns it into HTML
- Jekyll combines the HTML code of each page and combines it with your templates and generates HTML
- Jekyll also generates CSS, fonts, Javascript and images files that in total form the static website
- You can publish the static website to a web server or any appropriate hosting service
Why Should You Use Jekyll?
Jekyll is an excellent tool for bloggers, content writers, and anyone who wants to create a simple, fast, and secure website. Here are some reasons why you should consider using Jekyll:
1. Easy to Use
Jekyll is straightforward to use, and you don’t need to have any programming skills to get started. You can create a new Jekyll project in minutes by using a template or following a tutorial.
2. Fast and Secure
Since Jekyll generates a static website, it is faster and more secure than a dynamic website that relies on a server-side language and a database. Static websites load quickly and don’t require any server-side processing, which means that they are less vulnerable to attacks.
3. Customizable
Jekyll is highly customizable, and you can create your own templates or modify existing ones to match your brand or style. You can also use Jekyll plugins to extend its functionality and add new features. You will need some knowledge of HTML and CSS to customize templates.
4. Cost-effective
Jekyll is free and open-source, which means that you don’t need to pay any license fees or subscription fees to use it. You can host your static website on a free hosting service like GitHub Pages.
Conclusion
Jekyll is an excellent tool for non-developers who want to create a simple, fast, and secure website without having to learn complex programming languages or database systems. With Jekyll, you can write content in Markdown and generate a static website in minutes. Then, you can publish on a free hosting service like GitHub Pages. Whether you are a blogger, content writer, or a small business owner, Jekyll can help you create a professional-looking website that is easy to maintain and update.
