How to use the command 'jekyll' (with examples)

Jekyll is a simple, blog-aware, static site generator used extensively for creating websites that require minimal server-side processing. Primarily designed to transform plain text into beautiful static websites and blogs, Jekyll is perfect for projects where content changes infrequently, and where the main priority is delivering content swiftly to users. With Jekyll, users can focus on creating content without worrying about the back-end technologies usually required in dynamic websites. It’s a robust tool integrated into many modern workflows, especially for those utilizing GitHub Pages. Below, we illustrate various use cases of the Jekyll command to demonstrate its powerful functionality and ease of use.

Use case 1: Generate a development server that will run at http://localhost:4000/

Code:

jekyll serve

Motivation:

Running a development server locally allows developers to preview their websites or blogs before deploying them to a live environment. This ensures that any changes or updates made to the content or design are visually assessed, tested, and verified to function as expected prior to committing them to production.

Explanation:

The jekyll serve command starts a local web server at http://localhost:4000/, which serves your Jekyll site. This is particularly useful for developers looking to test their site in a local environment that mimics live deployment. The command helps in detecting any errors or layout issues in a controlled setting.

Example output:

When you run this command, you might see output similar to:

Configuration file: /your-site-directory/_config.yml
   Source: /your-site-directory
   Destination: /your-site-directory/_site
 Incremental build: disabled. Enable with --incremental
     Generating... 
                  done in 1.23 seconds.
 Auto-regeneration: enabled for '/your-site-directory'
    Server address: http://127.0.0.1:4000/
  Server running... press ctrl-c to stop.

Use case 2: Enable incremental regeneration

Code:

jekyll serve --incremental

Motivation:

Incremental regeneration is ideal when making small changes to a project since it enhances efficiency by re-rendering only the modified pages rather than rebuilding the entire site. This is especially beneficial when working on larger sites, as it significantly reduces build times and resource usage.

Explanation:

The --incremental flag tells Jekyll to regenerate only the files that have changed since the last build, instead of rebuilding the entire site every time. This considerably speeds up development by reducing the time taken to preview changes, providing an immediate feedback loop and enhancing productivity.

Example output:

Upon executing this command, you might observe the following:

Configuration file: /your-site-directory/_config.yml
   Source: /your-site-directory
   Destination: /your-site-directory/_site
 Incremental build: enabled
     Generating... 
                  done in 0.87 seconds.
 Auto-regeneration: enabled for '/your-site-directory'
    Server address: http://127.0.0.1:4000/
  Server running... press ctrl-c to stop.

Use case 3: Enable verbose output

Code:

jekyll serve --verbose

Motivation:

Verbose output is useful for debugging and troubleshooting issues during the site generation process. It provides detailed insights into what Jekyll is doing behind the scenes, which can help in identifying errors or behavior anomalies during development.

Explanation:

The --verbose flag requests Jekyll to produce detailed output, offering a comprehensive view of every step taken during site generation. This level of detail can aid developers in diagnosing the root causes of any build problems, supporting efficient resolution of issues.

Example output:

The typical verbose output might include snippets such as:

Configuration file: /your-site-directory/_config.yml
             Source: /your-site-directory
        Destination: /your-site-directory/_site
  Incremental build: disabled. Enable with --incremental
       Generating...
       Jekyll Feed: Generating feed for posts
        Rendering: page /index.html
       Pre-Render Hooks: page /index.html
       Rendering Markup: page /index.html
       Rendering Layout: page /index.html
                    done in 2.14 seconds.
    Auto-regeneration: enabled for 'your-site-directory'
        Server address: http://127.0.0.1:4000/
      Server running... press ctrl-c to stop.

Use case 4: Generate the current directory into ./_site

Code:

jekyll build

Motivation:

Building the site into the ./_site directory is a standard way to prepare a static site for deployment. It compiles source files and content into static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, which can easily be hosted on any server with no need for additional scripting environments.

Explanation:

The jekyll build command processes the entire contents of your site, rendering markdown or other preprocessors into static files, and writes the output to the _site directory. This step is crucial for deploying your site, as it gives you a complete, lightweight, and fully prepared version ready for sharing with the world.

Example output:

Running this command should display output such as:

Configuration file: /your-site-directory/_config.yml
             Source: /your-site-directory
        Destination: /your-site-directory/_site
  Incremental build: disabled. Enable with --incremental
       Generating... 
                    done in 3.45 seconds.

Use case 5: Clean the site (removes site output and cache directory) without building

Code:

jekyll clean

Motivation:

Cleaning the site is often necessary to remove generated files that may cause conflicts or errors in subsequent builds. This ensures that the upcoming build is processed with fresh outputs, eliminating any outdated or corrupted cache data.

Explanation:

The jekyll clean command deletes the files within the _site directory and any .jekyll-cache directory, preparing the project for a clean build process. This is typically used when there are unexplained issues in a build or prior to a final build before deployment, ensuring consistency and reliability in the output.

Example output:

Executing this command produces:

Removing /your-site-directory/_site...
Removing /your-site-directory/.jekyll-cache...

Conclusion

These examples of the Jekyll command illustrate the versatility and efficiency of a static site generator in the development workflow. Whether you need a local server for testing, incremental builds for rapid iteration, detailed logs for debugging, a fresh build for deployment, or a clean slate before a critical build, Jekyll provides potent, user-friendly solutions. As web technologies continue to evolve, Jekyll remains a reliable, innovative choice for developers seeking to build fast, secure, and robust static websites.