Chirpy Starter is a minimal Jekyll template that pre-configures the Chirpy blog theme so you can publish a blog without manually assembling theme files.
What is Chirpy Starter?
Chirpy Starter is a starter repository for the Chirpy Jekyll theme, created by the theme's author (cotes2020). It bundles the four critical files that Jekyll cannot read from the gem-installed theme: _config.yml, _plugins, _tabs, and index.html. The template runs on Jekyll and generates a static blog site. It is published under the MIT License.
Key Features
- Pre-configured core files — Includes
_config.yml,_plugins,_tabs, andindex.htmlso all Chirpy features work out of the box. - Automated updates — The repository is automatically updated with new releases from the theme repository.
- Continuous deployment workflow — Ships with a CD workflow to deploy your site automatically.
- Docker support — Docker Compose commands let you build, run, stop, and restart the site locally, including an init option for one-time setup.
- Local development command —
bundle exec jekyll serveruns the site locally. - MIT licensed — Free to use, modify, and redistribute.
Who is it for?
- New Jekyll bloggers: Get a complete Chirpy blog without reading the theme's installation docs.
- Existing Chirpy users: Use the starter to keep critical files in sync with theme releases automatically.
- Developers who like Docker: Use the included Docker Compose commands to render and test locally without committing changes.
What can you do with Chirpy Starter?
- Launch a blog quickly: Clone the starter, add your content, and deploy.
- Run locally with Docker:
docker compose up --buildstarts the site at localhost:4000 with an optional base path. - Use the CD workflow: Publish automatically when changes are pushed.
- Embed diagrams: Follow the README's instructions to add Mermaid charts using the
<pre class="mermaid">tag.
How does Chirpy Starter work?
The theme gem provides the design, but Jekyll only reads a subset of theme files. This starter adds the missing files so the full Chirpy feature set is available. The repository tracks the latest theme release, so the bundled files stay current.
Pricing
Chirpy Starter is free and open source under the MIT License.
FAQ
Is Chirpy Starter free?
Yes, it is released under the MIT License, so you can use, modify, and redistribute it freely.
What files does Chirpy Starter include?
It includes _config.yml, _plugins, _tabs, and index.html, which are the files needed to unlock the full Chirpy theme experience.
How do I run the site locally?
You can use bundle exec jekyll serve or Docker commands like docker compose up --build. The site appears at http://localhost:4000/satinbower/ in the included example configuration.
Does Chirpy Starter update automatically?
Yes, the repository is automatically updated with new releases from the theme repository.
