Blogger is a Gatsby.js (React and Redux) demo template that builds a blog with Firebase authentication, Contentful content, a Formspree contact form, and Disqus comments.
What is Blogger?
Blogger is a public GitHub repository from the aslammultidots account that pairs Gatsby.js with several external services to create a full-featured blogging site. The template takes Firebase, Contentful, Formspree, and Disqus credentials as configuration inputs and generates a statically rendered Gatsby site that includes user sign-in and sign-up, protected routes, a contact page, and comment threads. It runs on the Gatsby static site generator and is intended to be deployed to Netlify with one click. The README's note states the demo is built with Gatsby and Netlify CMS, while the title and feature list also reference Contentful as a service.
What makes Blogger stand out?
- Gatsby and Redux foundation — The project runs on Gatsby.js, which uses React and Redux, and ships with a local GraphQL playground at http://localhost:8000/___graphql for querying content during development.
- Firebase authentication flows — Includes sign in, sign up, forgot password, and sign out, plus protected routes that require an authenticated user.
- Contentful CMS integration — The demo lists Contentful as a service, so blog posts can be managed in the Contentful dashboard and pulled into the Gatsby data layer.
- Formspree contact form — The contact form submits directly to Formspree, so you don't need to build a server to receive messages.
- Disqus commenting — Post pages can display Disqus comment threads, enabling moderation through Disqus's dashboard.
- One-click Netlify deployment — The README includes a Deploy to Netlify button that points at the GitHub repository.
- Gatsby CLI project scaffolding — You can create a new site with the
gatsby newcommand using this repository as the starter.
Who is Blogger for?
- Developers learning Gatsby — Use the repo as a reference implementation of auth, GraphQL, and service integration in a Gatsby project.
- Freelancers building client blogs — Start from Blogger and swap in a client's Firebase, Contentful, Formspree, and Disqus credentials to deliver a working blog with member areas.
- Tech bloggers who want authentication — The built-in sign-in and protected routes let you control access to premium posts or member pages.
- Netlify users — The deploy button gives a fast way to stand up a demo site without configuring a build pipeline.
How does Blogger work?
Clone it with the Gatsby CLI by running gatsby new your-project-name https://github.com/aslammultidots/blogger, then npm install. Add your own credentials for Firebase, Disqus, Formspree, and Contentful as described in the README, then run gatsby develop to preview at http://localhost:8000. To deploy, press the Deploy to Netlify button, which builds the Gatsby site in Netlify's CI.
FAQ
What services do I need to set up for Blogger?
You need your own credentials for four external services: Firebase for authentication, Contentful for content management, Formspree for the contact form, and Disqus for comments. The README states these are required to run successfully.
How do I start the development server?
After cloning and installing dependencies, run gatsby develop. The site will be available at http://localhost:8000, and you can explore the GraphQL data layer at http://localhost:8000/___graphql.
Can I deploy Blogger to Netlify?
Yes, the repository includes a Deploy to Netlify button. Clicking it opens Netlify's start-deploy page with the repository URL prefilled, allowing you to deploy the site without setting up a custom build.
What is the default demo URL?
The README links to a live demo at https://gatsby-blogger.netlify.com/, which is hosted on Netlify.
What are the prerequisites for using Blogger?
You need Node installed and the Gatsby CLI installed globally, according to the README's prerequisite section.
