Documentation Theme Jekyll Next Version is an in-development Jekyll theme that provides a ready-made layout and styling for building documentation websites.
What is Documentation Theme Jekyll Next Version?
This is a Jekyll theme under development for creating documentation websites. It takes content written in Markdown or HTML and renders it into a static site with navigation and styled pages. The primary language in the repository is CSS, so the theme's design system is heavily stylesheet-driven. It is maintained by Tom Johnson, the author of the "I'd Rather Be Writing" blog, and is the successor to his earlier "Documentation Theme for Jekyll."
Key Features
- Jekyll framework — Built on the Jekyll static site generator, so content is authored in Markdown or HTML and output as plain static pages, which are easy to host on GitHub Pages or any web server.
- CSS-first styling — CSS is the primary language in the repository, meaning layout, spacing, and visual components are defined through custom stylesheets that users can edit.
- Documentation layout — The demo page includes subheadings with anchor links, a pattern useful for long-form technical content.
- Anchor link navigation — Each subheading gets an anchor link, letting readers jump directly to a specific section of a page.
- Open-source repository — Hosted publicly on GitHub under the tomjoht account, so the source code is accessible for inspection and contributions.
- Successor to a known theme — This is the "next version" of the established Documentation Theme for Jekyll, aiming to evolve that theme's functionality (though it is not yet complete).
Who is it for?
Technical writers who maintain documentation sites and want a Jekyll theme tailored to docs. Developers who publish API references, user guides, or project wikis using Jekyll. Open-source maintainers who need a free, self-hostable documentation theme for GitHub Pages.
What can you do with it?
- Technical writers: Write documentation content in Markdown and use the theme to render it into a styled site with consistent headings and anchor links.
- Open-source projects: Host the theme on GitHub Pages to publish project documentation without managing a separate content management system.
- Style customizers: Edit the CSS to adapt the theme's look to match a product's branding.
FAQ
Is Documentation Theme Jekyll Next Version free?
Yes, it is hosted as a public GitHub repository, so you can clone or fork it without cost.
What does it run on?
It is a Jekyll theme, so it runs on any environment that supports Jekyll (such as GitHub Pages, Netlify, or a local Jekyll installation).
Is it production-ready?
No, the theme is explicitly in development. The demo homepage contains placeholder lorem ipsum content, and the feature set is not yet complete.
How is it different from the original Documentation Theme for Jekyll?
This project is the "next version" of Tom Johnson's earlier documentation theme, built to supersede the previous design while keeping the same Jekyll-based approach.
Where can I see a live demo?
A public demo is available at idratherbewriting.com/documentation-theme-jekyll-next-version/, though the text on the demo page is currently placeholder content.
