Jekyll Boilerplate is a minimal static-site starter template that pairs the Jekyll static site generator with the ConciseCSS framework and SCSS preprocessing, built through npm scripts.
What is Jekyll Boilerplate?
Jekyll Boilerplate is a simple starter repository for building static websites with Jekyll. It uses @ConciseCSS as the CSS foundation and SCSS for stylesheet authoring. The template takes a plain Jekyll project structure and adds npm-based build tooling that compiles the site via scripts like npm run build and npm run build:watch. The output is a fully static website that can be hosted on any static host, and the repository is forked directly from GitHub to get started.
Key Features
- Jekyll static site generator — The template is a Jekyll project, so it uses Markdown for content and Liquid for templating, and produces static HTML output.
- ConciseCSS styling — The repository description identifies @ConciseCSS as the CSS framework included, giving the site a set of base styles out of the box.
- SCSS authoring — Styles are written in SCSS (Sass), which the build process converts to plain CSS.
- npm build scripts — The project defines
npm run buildfor one-time compilation andnpm run build:watchfor automatic rebuilds on file changes. - Fork-based installation — The recommended setup is to fork the GitHub repo, install NodeJS, run
npm install, and then build, so no manual Jekyll installation is needed.
Who is it for?
- Jekyll beginners — Developers new to Jekyll who want a minimal, working setup with a CSS framework and build tooling already configured.
- Static site developers — Anyone building a blog, portfolio, or documentation site who prefers a lightweight alternative to heavier Jekyll themes and wants to control the SCSS.
- Front-end developers — Those comfortable with npm and SCSS who want a Jekyll base that integrates into their existing Node-based workflow.
What can you do with Jekyll Boilerplate?
- Launch a blog quickly — Use Jekyll's built-in blog features with the boilerplate's preconfigured SCSS to start writing posts in Markdown.
- Create a portfolio site — Modify the layout and partials to build a personal portfolio page that compiles to a fast static site.
- Prototype a static site — Use the watch script to iterate quickly on design and content with instant rebuilds during local development.
How does Jekyll Boilerplate work?
The template follows a straightforward five-step workflow: fork the repository, install NodeJS, navigate into the project folder, run npm install to fetch dependencies, then run npm run build to compile the site or npm run build:watch to rebuild automatically as files change. This assumes you have Git and NodeJS installed and outputs a static site ready for deployment.
FAQ
Is Jekyll Boilerplate free to use?
Yes, the repository is hosted on GitHub and intended to be forked, so you can freely copy, modify, and use it for personal or commercial projects. The exact license terms are not stated on the page, so check the repository's license file if you need formal confirmation.
What do I need to run Jekyll Boilerplate?
You need NodeJS installed, plus Git to fork and clone the repository. The build process uses npm, so no separate Ruby installation is mentioned in the setup instructions.
What does the build script do?
The npm run build script compiles the Jekyll site into a static output directory, while npm run build:watch watches for file changes and rebuilds automatically, providing a live-reload style development loop.
Does this boilerplate include a CSS framework?
Yes, it uses @ConciseCSS (ConciseCSS), a lightweight CSS framework. Styles are authored in SCSS, which the build process compiles to static CSS.
