Getting Started with Static Sites
Static sites are making a massive comeback, and for good reason. They’re fast, secure, and incredibly easy to deploy.
Why Go Static?
Unlike dynamic sites that generate pages on every request, static sites are pre-built HTML files. This means:
- Blazing Fast: No database queries or server-side processing
- Secure: No database to hack, no CMS vulnerabilities
- Reliable: CDN distribution means 99.99% uptime
- Scalable: Handle traffic spikes without breaking a sweat
Jekyll + GitHub Pages
The combination of Jekyll and GitHub Pages gives you:
- Free Hosting: GitHub hosts your site for free
- Custom Domains: Use your own domain with HTTPS
- Version Control: Your content is backed by Git
- Markdown: Write in Markdown, publish as HTML
Getting Started
To create your own site:
# Install Jekyll (locally for testing)
gem install bundler jekyll
# Create new site
jekyll new my-site
cd my-site
# Serve locally
bundle exec jekyll serve
That’s it! Push to GitHub and your site is live.