Jekyll Theme Html5up Landed is a Jekyll port of the HTML5UP Landed template, a dark, responsive multipurpose landing page theme for static sites.
What is Jekyll Theme Html5up Landed?
Jekyll Theme Html5up Landed is a Jekyll port of the HTML5UP Landed template, a dark, responsive multipurpose landing page theme for static sites. It takes a Jekyll site's content and layouts and produces a static website with a dynamic scrolling landing page, multiple inner pages, and pre-styled elements. The theme is distributed as a Ruby gem and integrated into a Jekyll site's Gemfile, and it was created by Franz Scholz (per the GitHub repository) based on the original design by HTML5 UP's AJ (ajlkn).
Key Features
- Dynamic landing page design — A one-page landing layout with smooth scrolling effects, built with jQuery and the Scrollex plugin, designed to showcase content as visitors scroll.
- Multiple pages — Includes several page layouts beyond the landing page, making the theme multipurpose rather than a single-page design.
- Pre-styled elements — Ships with a variety of styled components (buttons, forms, tables, etc.) that follow the dark, modern aesthetic.
- Sass sources — All styling is written in Sass, allowing customisation of variables and partials.
- Responsive layout — Uses the included Responsive Tools to adapt to mobile, tablet, and desktop breakpoints.
- Font Awesome icons — Integrates the Font Awesome icon set for UI icons and social links.
- Jekyll gem packaging — Distributed as
jekyll-theme-html5up-landed, installed via the Gemfile and configured withtheme:in_config.yml. - Creative Commons license — Free for personal and commercial use under the CC BY 3.0 license; demo images from Unsplash are not included.
Who is it for?
- Jekyll developers — Site builders who want a visually distinctive landing page themed site without designing from scratch.
- Startup founders — Teams creating marketing or product landing pages with multiple inner pages such as about, team, and contact.
- Portfolio creators — Individuals who want a dark, modern portfolio layout with a scrolling landing page.
- Theme developers — Those who want to customise a Sass-based Jekyll theme or learn how packaging a theme as a gem works.
What can you do with it?
- Launch a product landing page — Set up a one-page marketing site with a scrolling narrative and call-to-action sections, then add a pricing or contact page.
- Build a portfolio — Showcase projects on a landing page with smooth-scroll transitions and use the pre-styled elements for project galleries.
- Create a multipurpose site — Use the multiple page layouts to build a small business site with about, team, and service pages, all styled consistently.
How does Jekyll Theme Html5up Landed work?
The installation process is defined in the README: add gem "jekyll-theme-html5up-landed" to your site's Gemfile, set theme: jekyll-theme-html5up-landed in _config.yml, run bundle or gem install, then run bundle exec jekyll serve to test locally. The theme expects the standard Jekyll directory structure, with layouts in _layouts, includes in _includes, and Sass in _sass.
Pros and cons
- Free and open source — Released under CC BY 3.0, free for personal and commercial use.
- Gem-based install — Simple setup via Gemfile and
_config.yml. - Sass customisation — All styles are in Sass, so you can adjust variables and partials.
- Demo images not included — You must supply your own visuals since Unsplash demo images are omitted.
Pricing
The theme is free. It is available under the Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 license (the HTML5U License), which permits personal and commercial use with attribution.
FAQ
Is Jekyll Theme Html5up Landed free?
Yes. The theme is distributed under the Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 license, the same license used by HTML5 UP templates. You can use it for personal and commercial projects without paying a fee, as long as you provide attribution.
How do I install the theme?
Add gem "jekyll-theme-html5up-landed" to your Jekyll site's Gemfile, then add theme: jekyll-theme-html5up-landed to your _config.yml. Run bundle to install the gem, and use bundle exec jekyll serve to preview the site.
Does the theme include demo images?
No. The original HTML5 UP design used demo images from Unsplash, but those images are not bundled with this Jekyll port. You need to supply your own images for the landing page and other sections.
What license is the theme under?
The theme is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 License, also known as the HTML5U License. This permits free personal and commercial use, with attribution required.
