HUGO.386

HUGO.386 is a retro MS-DOS-styled Hugo blog theme, ported from the BOOTSTRA.386 Bootstrap theme, that renders Markdown content into a static website with a command-prompt appearance. It is maintained by JM Fergeau on GitLab and is ready to be used for blogs immediately.

What is HUGO.386?

HUGO.386 is a free, open-source theme for the Hugo static site generator that recreates the look of an MS-DOS command-line interface for blog websites. It takes standard Hugo content files in Markdown as input and outputs a fully static, responsive HTML site with the retro aesthetic. The theme is a direct port of Kristopolous's BOOTSTRA.386 Bootstrap theme and is distributed under the Apache License 2.0.

The repository includes a complete exampleSite folder with a config.toml that documents all customizable strings, plus archetypes, i18n translations, layouts, and static assets. The master branch is the stable version, while a v3 branch offers a beta redesign based on Bootstrap 4 with a slightly different design.

Key Features

• MS-DOS retro design — A faithful port of BOOTSTRA.386 that gives blogs the look of a terminal interface.
• Responsive layout — Despite its antique appearance, the theme is fully responsive and can be viewed on mobile devices.
• Hugo module installation — Install by adding the gitlab.com/jmfergeau/hugo.386 import path to the site's module configuration in config.toml, then running hugo mod init hugo386 and hugo mod tidy.
• Git submodule installation — Alternatively, add it with git submodule add https://gitlab.com/jmfergeau/hugo.386 themes/hugo.386.
• Example site with documented config — The exampleSite directory contains a config.toml with detailed information about customizing every string in the theme.
• i18n language support — The i18n folder holds translation files, with commits refining language strings.
• Twitter shortcodes — The theme includes shortcodes for embedding Twitter content, with recent bug fixes applied.
• Live demos — Version 1 is hosted at hugo386.netlify.app, and the beta v3 design at hugo386v3.netlify.app.
• Hugo compatibility fixes — Commits include a fix for the relURL regression introduced by Hugo 0.101.0.

Who is it for?

• Personal bloggers — Writers who want their blog to stand out with a distinctive retro computing aesthetic rather than a standard minimalist theme.
• Hugo developers — Developers building Hugo sites who want a documented theme that installs via modules or submodules and is customizable through config.toml.
• Retro tech enthusiasts — Fans of MS-DOS and early PC culture who want their online presence to match their appreciation for vintage software.

What can you do with HUGO.386?

• Launch a retro-themed blog: Set up a personal blog with the MS-DOS look by copying the exampleSite config.toml, adding content, and running hugo server.
• Preview the next-generation design: Test the v3 branch's Bootstrap 4-based redesign on the beta demo before it is recommended for production.
• Customize all theme text: Use the documented config.toml from exampleSite to change every visible string without editing template files.

How does HUGO.386 work?

The README outlines a three-step setup. First, install the theme either as a Hugo module by adding the import path to the site config and running hugo mod init hugo386 plus hugo mod tidy, or as a git submodule with the git submodule add command. Second, copy the exampleSite config.toml into the root of the Hugo site and adjust the strings. Finally, run hugo server and open localhost:1313 in the browser.

Pricing

HUGO.386 is free and open source, released under the Apache License 2.0. No paid tiers or premium features are mentioned on the repository page.

FAQ

Is HUGO.386 free?

Yes, HUGO.386 is free open-source software released under the Apache License 2.0. There are no paid versions or premium tiers mentioned in the repository.

How do I install HUGO.386?

You can install it either as a Hugo module by adding the gitlab.com/jmfergeau/hugo.386 import path to your site config and running hugo mod tidy, or as a git submodule with git submodule add https://gitlab.com/jmfergeau/hugo.386 themes/hugo.386. After installing, copy the config.toml from the exampleSite folder.

Is HUGO.386 responsive?

Yes, despite its MS-DOS appearance, the theme is responsive and can be viewed on mobile devices, as stated in the project's README.

Is there a version based on Bootstrap 4?

Yes, a beta version based on Bootstrap 4 is available on the v3 branch. It has a slightly different design and is not recommended for production use yet. You can test it at hugo386v3.netlify.app.

Does HUGO.386 work with recent versions of Hugo?

The repository includes a commit that fixes the relURL regression caused by Hugo 0.101.0, and the theme has received updates within the past few years, indicating active maintenance for current Hugo releases.