Hydejack is a boutique Jekyll theme for personal websites that combines a blog, a portfolio, and a printable resume into a single static-site template.
What is Hydejack?
Hydejack is a static-site theme built on Jekyll, the Ruby-based static site generator, designed for hackers, nerds, and academics who want a personal web presence. It takes Markdown content and outputs plain HTML that can be hosted on any web server, including GitHub Pages. The theme is maintained by the hydecorp organization and is available in a free open-source version (GPL-3.0) and a paid PRO version.
Key Features
Hydejack's core features center on a fast, responsive, and accessible personal site:
- Jekyll static output — Everything compiles to static HTML, so no database or server-side runtime is needed; it runs on any web server.
- Blog and documentation — Write posts in Markdown with support for categories, tags, syntax highlighting via Rouge, and LaTeX math blocks rendered with either KaTeX or MathJax.
- Cover pages and responsive layout — Unique design elements for every screen size, plus a customizable sidebar and touch-enabled drawer menu.
- SPA-style page loading — Single Page Web App-style navigation with FLIP animations inspired by Material Design; the site still works without JavaScript, even in text browsers like w3m.
- Soft-coded labels — Change wording or translate the entire theme via a single file; built-in icons cover many social networks.
- SEO-ready markup — Simple, semantic HTML with structured data, author sections, and support for multiple authors.
- GitHub Pages ready — Works out of the box, with the caveat that math blocks use MathJax rather than KaTeX on GitHub Pages.
- PRO extras — The paid version adds a portfolio, printable resume, dark mode, built-in search, custom forms, grid layout, offline support, table of contents, and cookie banners.
Who is it for?
Hydejack targets individuals who want a polished personal site without maintaining a complex web stack:
- Academics — Publish lecture notes, papers, and a resume with beautiful math rendering and clean typography.
- Developers — Host a personal blog and project portfolio with code highlighting and good PageSpeed scores.
- Freelancers and professionals — Use the PRO version's portfolio and printable resume to present work consistently on the web, in print, and as a PDF.
What can you do with Hydejack?
- Start a personal blog — Write Markdown posts, organize them with categories and tags, and include code blocks or math equations.
- Showcase projects — With the PRO version, create a portfolio of projects using grid layouts and cover pages.
- Generate a resume — The PRO resume template outputs a consistent layout in browser, print, and PDF formats (see the sample PDF linked from the Hydejack site).
Pricing
Hydejack has a free version and a paid PRO version. The free version is open source under GPL-3.0 and includes blogging, dark mode, and most core features. The PRO version is a one-time purchase of $99 (discounts may apply via Gumroad) and adds the portfolio, resume, built-in search, custom forms, grid layout, offline support, table of contents, cookie banner, and removal of Hydejack branding.
FAQ
Is Hydejack free?
Yes, the Free version is free and open source under GPL-3.0. It includes all blogging functionality and most features such as dark mode, syntax highlighting, and SPA-style page loading.
Does Hydejack work with GitHub Pages?
Yes, Hydejack is designed to work with GitHub Pages out of the box. The main limitation is that math blocks must be rendered with MathJax instead of KaTeX on GitHub Pages.
What does the PRO version add?
The PRO version adds a portfolio, printable resume, dark mode, built-in search, custom forms, grid layout, offline support, a table of contents (on screens wider than 1664 pixels), and a cookie banner. It also removes Hydejack branding.
Does Hydejack need JavaScript to function?
No. The site is a plain old web page at its core and works without JavaScript, as demonstrated by its compatibility with text-based browsers like w3m. JavaScript enhances the experience but is not required.
How do I get Hydejack?
You can download the free version from the GitHub releases or the starter kit, and purchase the PRO version via Gumroad. Both are linked from the Hydejack website.
