Elephants

Elephants is a minimal Hugo theme, built solely for the Hugo static site generator, that renders text-heavy content using the Ubuntu typeface with a high-contrast layout and no JavaScript.

What is Elephants?

Elephants is a Hugo theme designed to be minimal, with the whole interface set in the Ubuntu font. It takes a Hugo site's content files and outputs a static website with high-contrast text and zero client-side scripts. The theme is hosted on GitLab and licensed under the MIT License, so it can be freely reused and modified. Its core focus is typography and readability rather than interactive features.

Key Features

• No JavaScript — the theme ships without any client-side scripts, so every page loads without JavaScript execution.
• High Contrast — text and background are chosen for strong contrast, improving legibility.
• Ubuntu Font — the entire UI uses the Ubuntu typeface, giving the theme a consistent, recognizable look.
• Git Submodule Install — add the theme to an existing Hugo site with a single git submodule add command.
• MIT License — free for personal and commercial projects, with no usage restrictions beyond preserving the copyright notice.
• Docker Development — includes a Dockerfile and an example site, letting you run a local Hugo server from a container.

Who is it for?

• Hugo developers who want a minimal starting point without JavaScript dependencies for personal or client sites.
• Bloggers who publish text-first content and value type-driven design over visual clutter.
• Documentation writers who need a high-contrast, distraction-free reading experience for guides and reference material.

What can you do with Elephants?

• Create a personal blog: use the theme's clean typography to publish articles with no client-side interactivity.
• Build a documentation site: present step-by-step guides with the high-contrast layout that works well for long text passages.
• Learn Hugo theming: study a small theme with no JavaScript to understand how Hugo templates and page bundles work.

How does Elephants work?

Install the theme into your Hugo site's themes directory using the provided git submodule command, then activate it in your site configuration. For development, build the Docker image and start the example site with hugo server; the example directory contains a working site to modify.

FAQ

Is Elephants free?

Yes, Elephants is released under the MIT License, which allows free use, modification, and redistribution for both personal and commercial purposes.

Does Elephants include any JavaScript?

No. Elephants intentionally includes no JavaScript at all, making it a suitable base for privacy-focused or performance-conscious sites.

What font does Elephants use?

Elephants uses the Ubuntu font throughout the theme. The font gives all headings, body text, and navigation a single consistent typeface.

How do I install Elephants with Docker?

Build the image with docker build . -t elephants, then run a shell with docker run -it elephants shell, and from inside the container run cd example && hugo server to start the example site.

Does the documentation specify a minimum Hugo version?

The theme documentation does not state a minimum Hugo version, but the theme's minimal structure is likely compatible with recent Hugo releases.