How to use the command 'hugo' (with examples)
Hugo is a template-based static site generator that is used to create static websites. It is designed to be fast and flexible, allowing users to create websites with ease. This article will provide examples of different use cases of the hugo command and explain the purpose and functionality of each argument.
Use case 1: Create a new Hugo site
Code:
hugo new site path/to/site
Motivation: Creating a new Hugo site is the first step in building a static website. This command creates a new Hugo site in the specified directory.
Explanation:
hugo new site: This is the command to create a new Hugo site.path/to/site: This is the path where the new Hugo site will be created.
Example output: A new Hugo site will be created in the specified directory, including the necessary folders and files for the site structure.
Use case 2: Create a new Hugo theme
Code:
hugo new theme theme_name
Motivation: Creating a new Hugo theme allows users to customize the appearance and functionality of their Hugo site. This command creates a new Hugo theme in the themes directory.
Explanation:
hugo new theme: This is the command to create a new Hugo theme.theme_name: This is the name of the new theme that will be created.
Example output: A new Hugo theme will be created in the themes directory with the specified name.
Use case 3: Create a new page
Code:
hugo new section_name/page_name
Motivation: Creating a new page in a Hugo site is necessary for adding content to the website. This command creates a new page in the specified section of the site.
Explanation:
hugo new: This is the command to create a new page in a Hugo site.section_name: This is the name of the section where the new page will be created.page_name: This is the name of the new page that will be created.
Example output: A new page will be created in the specified section of the Hugo site.
Use case 4: Build a site to the ./public/ directory
Code:
hugo
Motivation:
Building a Hugo site is necessary to generate the static files that make up the website. This command builds the site and outputs the static files to the ./public/ directory.
Explanation:
hugo: This is the command to build a Hugo site.- The absence of additional arguments indicates that the default configuration will be used.
Example output:
The site will be built and the static files will be generated in the ./public/ directory.
Use case 5: Build a site including pages marked as a “draft”
Code:
hugo --buildDrafts
Motivation: Including draft pages in the site build allows users to preview and test content before publishing it. This command builds the site, including pages marked as drafts.
Explanation:
--buildDrafts: This flag tells Hugo to include draft pages in the site build.
Example output: The site, including draft pages, will be built and the static files will be generated in the default output directory.
Use case 6: Build a site on your local IP
Code:
hugo server --bind local-ip --baseURL http://local-ip
Motivation: Building and serving a site on the local IP allows users to view and test the site on their local network. This command starts a web server and serves the Hugo site on the specified local IP address.
Explanation:
hugo server: This is the command to start a Hugo server.--bind local-ip: This flag tells Hugo to bind to the specified local IP address.--baseURL http://local-ip: This flag sets the base URL of the site to the specified local IP address.
Example output: The Hugo server will start and serve the site on the specified local IP address. Users can access the site by opening their web browser and entering the local IP address.
Use case 7: Build a site to a given directory
Code:
hugo --destination path/to/destination
Motivation: Building a Hugo site to a custom directory allows users to specify where the generated static files should be outputted. This command builds the site and outputs the static files to the specified directory.
Explanation:
hugo: This is the command to build a Hugo site.--destination path/to/destination: This flag specifies the directory where the static files will be outputted.
Example output: The site will be built and the static files will be generated in the specified directory.
Use case 8: Build a site, start a webserver, and automatically reload when pages are edited
Code:
hugo server
Motivation: Building and serving a site with automatic page reload makes it easier for users to see the changes they make in real-time. This command starts a web server, serves the Hugo site, and automatically reloads the page when changes are made.
Explanation:
hugo server: This is the command to start a Hugo server.
Example output: The Hugo server will start, serve the site, and automatically reload the page when changes are made to any files in the site directory.
Conclusion:
The hugo command provides a wide range of functionality for creating and building static sites. By understanding and utilizing the different use cases, users can effectively build and customize their Hugo websites.
