Hosting a Static Website on GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages is a popular service that allows you to host static websites directly from a GitHub repository. It’s widely used for project pages, documentation, and personal blogs. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of getting started with GitHub Pages, common pitfalls, and how to troubleshoot them.

What is GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages is a feature of GitHub that lets you turn your repository into a website. You can use it to host anything from a simple personal blog to a full-fledged documentation site for your project. GitHub Pages is free for public repositories, and it supports custom domains, HTTPS, and Jekyll integration for static site generation.

How to Create a GitHub Page?

Creating a GitHub Page is straightforward:

Create a Repository: Start by creating a new repository on GitHub. You can name it anything you like, but for a user page, it should be in the format username.github.io, where username is your GitHub username.
Add Content: Add your static content to the repository. This can be HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, or any other static asset. If you’re using a static site generator like Jekyll, Hugo, or Astro, add your source files accordingly.
Configure GitHub Pages: Go to the repository settings, scroll down to the “GitHub Pages” section, and choose the source for your GitHub Page. You can select the root of the repository, the docs folder, or a specific branch.
Custom Domain (Optional): If you want to use a custom domain, you can configure it in the “Custom domain” field. GitHub will automatically provision an SSL certificate for your domain.
Save and Deploy: Save your changes, and GitHub will automatically deploy your site. It may take a few minutes for the changes to take effect.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Site not updating: If your site doesn’t seem to update, try clearing your browser cache or doing a hard refresh. GitHub Pages caches your site to improve performance, so changes may not appear immediately.
Custom domain not working: Ensure that your domain’s DNS settings are correctly configured. You should have a CNAME record pointing to username.github.io. It may take some time for DNS changes to propagate.
HTTPS not working: If HTTPS is not working for your custom domain, make sure that the “Enforce HTTPS” option is enabled in the GitHub Pages settings. Also, ensure that your domain’s DNS settings are correct.
Jekyll build errors: If you’re using Jekyll and encounter build errors, check the “Actions” tab in your repository for error logs. Common issues include missing dependencies, syntax errors, and configuration problems.

Conclusion

GitHub Pages is a powerful and easy-to-use service for hosting static websites. By following this guide, you should be able to create, configure, and troubleshoot your GitHub Page. For more advanced usage, consider exploring GitHub Actions for automated deployments, or integrating with other static site generators like Hugo or Astro.