AutoBoard Website is a Hexo-based static website template for the AutoBoard project, an Arduino-powered chess board that integrates with Lichess. The site is built with the Hexo framework and a forked version of the Cactus theme, with source code hosted on GitHub under the AutoBoard-Website repository.
What is AutoBoard Website?
AutoBoard Website is the official web presence for the AutoBoard project, an Arduino-powered chess board that connects to Lichess. It serves as a documentation and project showcase, presenting the hardware build, software setup, and player resources. The website is generated as a static site by Hexo, meaning it takes Markdown-based content and outputs fast-loading HTML pages that can be hosted anywhere. It is maintained by MRegirouard, the same developer behind the AutoBoard hardware, and currently has 2 stars on GitHub.
Key Features
- Hexo framework — Built on Hexo, a Node.js static site generator that converts Markdown files into a static website.
- Cactus theme (forked) — Uses a customized fork of the Cactus theme, a minimal and responsive theme originally created by probberechts.
- Project-specific topics — Tagged with arduino, chess, hexo, hexo-theme, and lichess, reflecting the stack and subject matter of the AutoBoard project.
- Markdown content — Content is authored in Markdown, making it easy to edit pages and blog posts directly from a text editor.
- Stylus styling — The site's stylesheets are written in Stylus, a preprocessor that compiles to CSS.
Who is it for?
- AutoBoard builders — Hobbyists constructing the Arduino-based chess board can use the site to document their build process, share setup guides, and link to code repositories.
- Chess players — Players interested in playing against a physical board with Lichess integration can visit the site to learn about the project's features and how to get started.
- Hexo developers — Developers looking for a minimal project-website example can study this repository to see how Hexo, the Cactus theme, and Stylus are combined.
Use Cases
- Showcasing an open-source hardware project — Present the AutoBoard's schematics, firmware, and Lichess integration in a clean, static site built from Markdown.
- Writing project documentation — Use Hexo's blog-style pages to publish build logs, wiring diagrams, and configuration instructions for the chess board.
- Learning Hexo theming — Explore the forked Cactus theme to understand how a Hexo theme can be customized with Stylus and template partials.
FAQ
What framework does AutoBoard Website use?
AutoBoard Website uses the Hexo framework, a Node.js-based static site generator. Hexo compiles Markdown and theme templates into static HTML files, which can be deployed to any web server or hosting service without server-side dependencies.
What theme is AutoBoard Website based on?
The website uses a forked version of the Cactus theme, originally created by probberechts. The fork, maintained in the AutoBoard-Website repository, modifies the theme to suit the project's needs.
What is the AutoBoard project?
AutoBoard is an Arduino-powered chess board that integrates with Lichess, allowing players to make moves on a physical board that are mirrored online. The website's topics—arduino, chess, hexo, hexo-theme, and lichess—reflect the hardware-software stack.
