hawksworx.com is an open-source blog template that uses Eleventy (11ty) for static site generation and Netlify for continuous deployment, producing a fast static blog from a simple repository.
What is hawksworx.com?
hawksworx.com is a blog site template built by Phil Hawksworth, a web developer and Jamstack advocate. The project uses Eleventy to generate static HTML files from templates and content, placing the output in a dist folder. It is designed to be deployed on Netlify, where builds run automatically from Git pushes. The repository is public on GitHub and includes a Deploy to Netlify button for quick setup.
Key Features
- Eleventy static site generator — Generates plain HTML from templates and content, producing a site that requires no server or database.
- Gulp build automation — Automates build optimization tasks and performance improvements during the build process.
- Local development with hot reloading — Running
yarn startlaunches a local server that refreshes automatically when files change. - Deploy to Netlify button — A one-click option that clones the repository and sets up a new Netlify site with continuous deployment.
- Continuous deployment via Git — Every push to the
masterbranch triggers a build and deployment on Netlify. - Global CDN hosting — Deploying to Netlify automatically serves the static files through Netlify's global CDN.
- Yarn dependency management — Uses Yarn to install Node dependencies, with commands for starting and building the site.
Who is it for?
Web developers who want a lightweight, static blog and are comfortable with Git and the command line. Jamstack enthusiasts seeking a reference setup combining Eleventy and Netlify. Performance-focused creators who want a blog that loads quickly because the output is plain HTML.
What can you do with hawksworx.com?
Start a personal blog: Clone the repository, replace the sample content with your own posts, and publish a fast static blog on any hosting service.
Learn the Eleventy + Netlify pipeline: Study how the source files, build command, and Netlify configuration fit together into an automated publishing workflow.
Deploy a live site instantly: Use the Deploy to Netlify button to get a live version of the blog immediately, then customize it locally and push changes.
How does hawksworx.com work?
After cloning the repository, install dependencies with yarn and run yarn start for local development. To produce the final site, execute yarn run build to create a dist directory. When you push that directory's source to the master branch on GitHub, Netlify rebuilds and deploys the static files automatically.
FAQ
Is hawksworx.com free to use?
The repository is public on GitHub, so the source code is available for anyone to clone and reuse. Hosting costs depend on your provider; Netlify offers a free tier that works well with the template.
What does Eleventy do?
Eleventy is a static site generator that runs on Node.js. It takes template and content files and converts them into plain HTML, which is faster and more secure than a dynamic site.
Do I need local dependencies to work on this?
Yes, you need Node.js and NPM (or Yarn) installed to run the build and development commands locally. The template itself does not require a database or server.
Can I host this on a different platform?
Yes, the generated dist folder can be uploaded to any static hosting service. The template is not exclusive to Netlify; the integration is just a convenience that automates build and deploy.
