Gravid

Gravid is a simple, open-source Jekyll blog theme created by zddhub, providing a zero-configuration starting point for a new Jekyll site.

What is Gravid?

Gravid is a Jekyll theme that turns an empty Jekyll site into a styled blog with minimal effort. It takes as input a standard Jekyll project and outputs a site with default layouts, includes, and Sass stylesheets located in the conventional _layouts, _includes, and _sass directories. The theme is distributed as a Ruby gem, requires only a couple of lines in the site's Gemfile and configuration file, and was scaffolded with the jekyll new-theme command. Its name references the idea that talent, like pregnancy, takes time to become visible — a playful nod from the developer.

Key Features

Gravid offers a set of basics that make it simple to get a Jekyll blog running quickly. Here are the concrete features:

• Zero-configuration setup — Add gem "gravid" to your Gemfile, set theme: gravid in _config.yml, run bundle, and copy the theme's default markdown/HTML/YAML files with a single cp command to have a working site.
• Standard Jekyll structure — The theme includes the expected _layouts, _includes, and _sass directories, so you can override any part of the design from your own site.
• Local preview with live regeneration — Run bundle exec jekyll serve and open http://localhost:4000; edits to files regenerate in the browser automatically.
• MIT License — Free to use, modify, and ship in personal or commercial projects; the license text is linked in the README.
• Ruby gem distribution — Install it globally with gem install gravid or per-project through Bundler, making it easy to update.
• GitHub hosting — The project lives at https://github.com/zddhub/gravid, with issues and pull requests welcome under a Contributor Covenant code of conduct.
• Demo preview — A live example of the theme is published at https://zddhub.github.io, showing the default blog layout.

Who is it for?

Gravid is for anyone who wants a straightforward, code-first Jekyll theme without spending time on design configuration. Typical users include:

• Personal bloggers who want a functional blog design and can write posts in Markdown with Jekyll's standard workflow.
• Jekyll beginners who want a correctly scaffolded theme to learn how Jekyll themes arrange layouts, includes, and Sass files.
• Theme developers who need a minimal base theme to fork or customize for their own projects.

What can you do with Gravid?

With Gravid, you can create a personal blog or use it as a learning base for Jekyll theming. Specific activities include:

• Personal bloggers: publish a blog with posts, pages, and tags using Jekyll's native features and have it styled by the theme's default layout.
• Jekyll learners: study how a minimal theme is structured and test changes locally with the included server command.
• Developers: fork the theme from GitHub, modify the Sass files or layouts, and release your own derivative under the same license.

How does Gravid work?

Gravid follows the standard Jekyll theme installation workflow. After adding the gem to your Gemfile and setting the theme key in _config.yml, run bundle to install it. Then copy the theme's default markdown, HTML, and YAML files into your site root using the cp command shown in the README (for example, cp -r $(bundle show gravid)/*.{md,html,yml} .), and start the development server with bundle exec jekyll serve, which serves the site at http://localhost:4000.

Pricing

Gravid is free and open source, released under the MIT License. There are no paid tiers or licensing fees.

FAQ

Gravid is free, easy to install, and follows Jekyll conventions as explained in the answers below.

Is Gravid free?

Yes. Gravid is open source under the MIT License, which lets you use, modify, and distribute the theme freely, including in commercial projects.

How do I install Gravid?

Add the gem to your Gemfile, set the theme name in your config file, run bundle, and copy the default files from the gem's directory using the command in the README. Finally, launch the local server with bundle exec jekyll serve.

Where can I see a preview of Gravid?

The live demo is at https://zddhub.github.io. It shows the default blog layout and styling you get with the theme.

Can I customize Gravid?

Yes. Since Gravid is a standard Jekyll theme, any file under the _layouts, _includes, or _sass directories can be overridden in your own site's directories to change the structure and appearance.

Who maintains Gravid?

The theme is maintained by zddhub, reachable at [email protected]. The GitHub repository accepts bug reports and pull requests.