---
title: "Start a blog with Jekyll and Github Pages for free"
author: "Yaroslav Shmarov"
date: "2024-12-21"
canonical_url: "https://blog.superails.com/jekyll-blog-github-pages"
markdown_url: "https://blog.superails.com/jekyll-blog-github-pages.md"
description: "Are you even a developer, if you don't use Git and Markdown for your blog? JekyllRb is a static site generator. I use Jekyll for this blog."
tags: ["jekyll"]
license: "GNU AGPL v3. Credit Yaroslav Shmarov and link the canonical URL."
---

# Start a blog with Jekyll and Github Pages for free

Are you even a developer, if you don't use Git and Markdown for your blog?

[JekyllRb](https://jekyllrb.com/) is a static site generator. I use Jekyll for this blog. With Jekyll you can use Git and Markdown for creating your blog. Jekyll also has many extensions (libraries).

[Github pages](https://pages.github.com/) allows you host static sites for free.

To host Jekyll on Github pages and render the website on your own domain:

## 1. create a github repo.

## 2. create a jekyll website (follow the docs), push to repo.

## 3. deploy on your own domain

First, [verify a domain with Github](https://github.com/settings/pages_verified_domains/new)

Update DNS settings of your domain name:

| Type  | Host | Value                |
|-------|------|----------------------|
| TXT | _github... | code... |

View active DNS settings via terminal:

```sh
dig CORSEGO.COM +noall +answer -t A
```

[Docs](https://docs.github.com/en/pages/configuring-a-custom-domain-for-your-github-pages-site/verifying-your-custom-domain-for-github-pages#verifying-a-domain-for-your-user-site)

#### 3.1. Host on root (apex) domain & WWW

Assuming I want to host my website on the `corsego.com` domain.

In DNS settings, set CNAME to `www` & `@`. **You need both**.

Value = your github handle + `.github.io.`

| Type  | Host | Value                |
|-------|------|----------------------|
| CNAME | @ | yshmarov.github.io. |
| CNAME | www | yshmarov.github.io. |
| TXT | _github-pages-... | vgwemr4fi24f23 |

In your code repo, create a file named CNAME and add your domain name with `www`:

File `CNAME`

```
www.corsego.com
```

Example:

![jekyll-pages-cname](https://blog.superails.com/assets/images/jekyll-pages-cname.png)

In Github Pages settings should look more-less like this:

![jekyll-pages-settings](https://blog.superails.com/assets/images/jekyll-pages-settings.png)

To trigger deploy, in the Page settings tab you can toggle branch & click "Save". Wait for the DNS to be verified. Click on Enforce HTTPS checkbox.

**This can take 10-15 minutes**

#### 3.2. deploy on a subdomain

Assuming I want to host my website on the `blog2` subdomain of `corsego.com` domain

File `CNAME`

```
blog2.corsego.com
```

DNS settings:

| Type  | Host | Value                |
|-------|------|----------------------|
| CNAME | blog2 | yshmarov.github.io. |
| TXT | _github-pages-... | vgwemr4fi24f23 |

#### 5. Finish

The page settings should look more-less like this:

![jekyll-pages-settings](https://blog.superails.com/assets/images/jekyll-pages-settings.png)

Good luck with your blog!