Bootstrap-BP hugo startpage is a Hugo theme that generates a static single-page browser startpage with a search box and grouped link lists, configured through YAML data files.
What is Bootstrap-BP hugo startpage?
Bootstrap-BP hugo startpage is a Hugo theme that combines the Bootstrap-BP Hugo theme with a classic startpage design. It takes a YAML file of link groups and search engine definitions as input and produces a complete, static single-page startpage site as output. The theme runs on the Hugo static site generator and is maintained by Sebastian Pech, who also publishes the Bootstrap-BP and Materialize-BP Hugo themes.
The theme is open source and available on GitHub at github.com/spech66/bootstrap-bp-hugo-startpage. It is designed to be installed by cloning the repository into the themes directory of a Hugo site. The theme provides out-of-the-box best practices for building a personal startpage: a search box with configurable search engines, grouped link lists, and optional multi-column layout.
Key Features
- Static single-page output — The theme renders all links and settings into one complete HTML page rather than rendering items on-the-fly, so the startpage loads quickly and can be hosted anywhere.
- Configurable search engines — Add or activate search engines through Hugo configuration parameters; the theme ships with Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, and Baidu entries and allows custom searchkey parameters.
- Grouped link lists — Links are defined in a data/links.yml file with groups (e.g., "Social media") and items with title, URL, and Font Awesome icon classes.
- Bootstrap styling — The theme is built on the Bootstrap framework, giving responsive layout and consistent components.
- Font Awesome icons — Each link item can include a Font Awesome icon class (e.g., fab fa-reddit) for visual identification.
- Column layout option — Setting startPageColumns to true displays the start page link groups in a multi-column arrangement.
- Customizable welcome text — The welcomeText parameter controls the heading displayed above the search box (default "Startpage!").
- Hugo native configuration — Most settings use Hugo variables, so theme behavior fits into a standard Hugo site workflow.
Who is it for?
- Hugo users — Anyone already using Hugo can add this theme to their site to host a personal startpage as a static page.
- Privacy-conscious browser users — People who want a self-hosted, configurable alternative to browser new-tab pages, with control over which search engines are used.
- Developers and tinkerers — Those who like customizing a startpage via YAML and Hugo config, with the ability to fork and extend the theme.
Use cases
- Personal startpage: Set your browser's new-tab URL to the generated page to have a clean search box and shortcuts to frequently visited sites.
- Team or organization homepage: Use the grouped link structure to share common tools and resources on an internal static site.
- Self-hosted search hub: Combine multiple search engines (Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing, Baidu) in one page and switch between them without changing browser settings.
How does it work?
The theme follows standard Hugo theme installation: clone the repository into the themes folder, then configure the site. To define search engines, add entries under the searchEngines parameter in the site configuration file (TOML), each with a name, activation flag, URL, and optionally a custom search key. To define links, create a data/links.yml file with a list of groups, each containing items with title, URL, and icon. The theme then generates a single HTML page using these data sources.
FAQ
Is Bootstrap-BP hugo startpage free?
Yes, the theme is open source and available on GitHub. The repository does not mention any license restrictions, and it can be cloned and used freely.
What do I need to run this theme?
You need Hugo installed on your machine. The theme requires a Hugo site folder; instructions on installing Hugo are linked in the theme's documentation.
Does the theme support custom search engines?
Yes. You can add new search engines by editing the searchEngines parameter in the site's configuration file. Each entry needs a name, a URL, and optionally a searchkey parameter for engines that don't use q as the query parameter.
Can I use custom icons for my links?
Yes, each link item in data/links.yml can include an icon field with any Font Awesome icon class, such as fab fa-github or fab fa-reddit.
What is the difference between startPageColumns true and false?
When startPageColumns is set to false (the default), the link groups are displayed in a single column. Setting it to true shows the start page in grouped lists with multiple columns on wider screens.
