jekyll-simple is a mobile-first Jekyll theme for personal blogs, built specifically to render mixed Chinese-English text attractively across devices. Created by wild-flame, it is a simple theme for bloggers using static site generators such as Jekyll or Hexo. The theme's typography settings are its core: they make Chinese and English mixed content look natural, and the author notes it should work with Japanese as well, though it hasn't been tested.
What is jekyll-simple?
jekyll-simple is a straightforward theme for personal blogs that run on static site generators. As input, it takes standard blog content — posts and pages written in Markdown or similar formats — and outputs a styled static website. The theme is authored by wild-flame and is hosted on GitHub, where it has accumulated 155 stars. Its focus is on typography for bilingual posts, particularly Chinese and English.
Key features
- Bilingual typography — Font settings are tuned for posts that mix Chinese and English, producing readable text without manual font adjustments.
- Mobile-first layout — Designed first for iOS devices, with the author later extending it to look acceptable on desktop computers using other fonts.
- Static site generator support — Works with Jekyll, Hexo, and similar tools, allowing bloggers to publish content as plain files.
- Simple, clean aesthetic — The theme prioritizes content over decoration, keeping the page lightweight and focused.
- Community thanks system — The README includes a "Say Thanks" button that lets users send appreciation to the author, reflecting an open, donation-friendly project.
Who is jekyll-simple for?
- Bilingual bloggers — Writers who regularly publish posts containing both Chinese and English get a theme whose typography is explicitly designed for that mix.
- Static site generator users — Anyone already using Jekyll or Hexo can adopt this theme to launch a personal blog.
- Mobile-focused authors — Bloggers who read and write on iOS will find the mobile-first design matches their habits, with readability prioritized on small screens.
What can you do with jekyll-simple?
- Publish bilingual content — Write posts that interleave Chinese and English, and the theme's font settings keep the text legible without extra styling effort.
- Launch a quick blog — Use it with Jekyll or Hexo to generate a no-frills personal site in minutes.
- Test on Japanese — Although unverified, the theme may also support mixed Japanese text, offering a possible starting point for Japanese-language blogs.
FAQ
Does jekyll-simple work with Japanese content?
The author states that it "supposedly" works with Japanese, but they never had the chance to test it. So it may work, but it's not confirmed.
What static site generators are supported?
The README mentions Jekyll and Hexo explicitly, and describes the theme as designed for "blogger using static site generator like jekyll, Hexo etc." So it should work with any similar generator.
Is jekyll-simple free to use?
The theme is publicly available on GitHub, and the author requests a "Say Thanks" rather than payment. This implies it is free, though no formal license is stated.
What are the design priorities?
The author built the theme mobile-first, prioritizing iOS devices. The goal was to make Chinese typography look good on iOS while remaining acceptable on computers using different fonts.
