coala Landing Frontend is a static landing page for the coala project that renders code snippets and depends on a separate coala Landing backend for its content. It is a plain HTML and JavaScript site designed to be served with a simple HTTP server, with no build step or framework.
What is coala Landing Frontend?
This template is a frontend-only landing page hosted on GitHub under the coala project, using static HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It reads code snippets from Markdown files under /data/snippets and registers them in /resources/js/snippets.js. The page requires the coala Landing backend at https://gitlab.com/coala/landing to function, meaning it does not contain content itself but expects backend-provided data.
Key Features
- Static and server-free hosting — The site runs locally with a single command,
python2 -m SimpleHTTPServer 8080, after cloning the repository, and can be hosted on any static file server. - Markdown-based code snippets — Snippets live as .md files in
/data/snippets, with code sections enclosed in triple backticks, making additions straightforward. - Simple snippet registration — To publish a new snippet, a developer edits
/resources/js/snippets.jsto add the language name and the corresponding .md filename; no other configuration is needed. - Backend-coupled design — The frontend explicitly needs the coala Landing backend from GitLab; the repository description states this dependency.
- Project-focused content — The repository topics are coala, lint, and website, indicating the page is tailored to display linting examples from the coala tool.
Who is it for?
This template suits open-source maintainers who need a lightweight landing page that showcases code examples. Coala project contributors can use it to present linting snippets without running a full CMS. Developers new to static sites can also use it as a minimal example of a Markdown-driven frontend.
What can you do with coala Landing Frontend?
- Coala maintainers: Display the project's linting examples in a clean, static page that stays in sync with a backend.
- Open-source documentation teams: Reuse the snippet workflow to publish code samples as Markdown files with minimal effort.
- Static-site learners: Study a tiny codebase that integrates a basic HTTP server, Markdown content, and JavaScript DOM updates.
How does coala Landing Frontend work?
After cloning the repository, run python2 -m SimpleHTTPServer 8080 and open http://localhost:8080. To add a snippet, create a .md file in /data/snippets, wrap the code in triple backticks, then add the language and filename to /resources/js/snippets.js.
Pros and cons
- Pro: No build tools or package managers are required; the page runs on a basic static server.
- Pro: The snippet system is transparent and version-controlled via Markdown.
- Con: The documented command uses Python 2, which is end-of-life and may not be installed on modern systems.
- Con: The frontend has a hard dependency on the coala Landing backend, so it cannot be used standalone.
FAQ
How do I run coala Landing Frontend locally?
Clone the repository, enter the directory, and run python2 -m SimpleHTTPServer 8080. Then open http://localhost:8080 in your browser. This requires Python 2 to be installed.
What backend does coala Landing Frontend need?
It requires the coala Landing backend, located at https://gitlab.com/coala/landing. The frontend is not self-contained and will not work without that backend serving data.
How do I add a code snippet?
Add a Markdown file to /data/snippets, wrap the code in triple backticks, then open /resources/js/snippets.js and add the language name along with the .md filename. No further steps are needed.
Does coala Landing Frontend require a build step?
No. The template uses plain HTML and JavaScript and is served directly by SimpleHTTPServer, so there is no compilation, bundling, or transpilation step.
