LOFFER

LOFFER is a free and open-source Jekyll blog theme that lets you publish a blog on GitHub Pages using only Markdown posts and a few configuration files, without touching code or the command line. It was created by FromEndWorld as a translation and localization of the Kiko-now theme, adding a Chinese user interface and documentation. The theme takes Markdown files placed in the _posts folder and a _config.yml file, and outputs a static site hosted on GitHub Pages, with support for tags, archives, and comments. The GitHub repository has 392 stars.

What is LOFFER?

LOFFER is a free and open-source Jekyll blog theme that lets you publish a blog on GitHub Pages using only Markdown posts and a few configuration files, without touching code or the command line. It was created by FromEndWorld as a translation and localization of the Kiko-now theme, adding a Chinese user interface and documentation. The theme takes Markdown files placed in the _posts folder and a _config.yml file, and outputs a static site hosted on GitHub Pages, with support for tags, archives, and comments. The GitHub repository has 392 stars.

Key Features

• No-code deployment — You can get a blog on GitHub Pages by forking the repository and editing only Markdown and YAML files; no local build environment is needed.
• Markdown posts — Write blog posts in Markdown and place them in the _posts folder; the theme automatically renders them as pages.
• Pinned posts — Add pinned: true to a post's YAML front matter to keep it at the top of the blog.
• Table of contents — Add toc: true in the post's front matter to display a table of contents, powered by jekyll-toc; note the headings must follow a strict hierarchy (H2 under H1, H3 under H2) or the TOC may break.
• LaTeX rendering — The theme supports LaTeX math notation for posts that need scientific formulas.
• Two comment systems — Configure either Disqus or Gitalk (GitHub Issues-based) through _config.yml.
• Customizable theme color — LOFFER uses the Open Color palette; the default teal can be changed by replacing all instances of "teal" in the _sass/_variables.scss file.
• Chinese UI and docs — The theme's interface and its separate beginner tutorial are in Chinese, making it approachable for Chinese-speaking users.
• Font Awesome icons — Social media links in the footer use icons from Font Awesome's free open-source set.

Who is it for?

• Non-programmers who want a personal blog — You can set up a blog on GitHub Pages by only forking the repo and editing YAML and Markdown files, with a beginner tutorial provided.
• Former LOFTER users — The theme's name is a pun on "get off LOFTER," and it's designed to help users leave the LOFTER platform while keeping a similar blogging style.
• Chinese-speaking bloggers — The UI and documentation are fully in Chinese, and the theme supports Chinese content natively.
• Academics and technical writers — LaTeX support allows you to include math formulas in your posts without extra plugins.

What can you do with LOFFER?

• Publish a blog quickly — Write a Markdown post, add YAML front matter with title, date, author, tags, and optional toc or pinned settings, then commit to GitHub to publish.
• Personalize the look — Swap the theme color by find-and-replacing "teal" in the _sass/_variables.scss file with one of the available Open Color names like indigo, pink, or grape.
• Enable comments — Turn on Gitalk by filling in your GitHub Application credentials in _config.yml, or switch to Disqus with just a shortname.
• Organize content by tags and dates — Use the built-in /tags and /archive pages to group and browse posts.

How does LOFFER work?

LOFFER runs as a standard Jekyll static site generator on GitHub Pages. After forking the repository, you edit _config.yml to set site title, description, social links, and comment provider, then add Markdown files to the _posts folder. Committing the changes triggers GitHub Pages to rebuild the site automatically. To change the theme's accent color, you edit _sass/_variables.scss by replacing every "teal" with another Open Color value.

FAQ

Is LOFFER free?

Yes, LOFFER is open source and free to use. The repository is publicly available on GitHub, and you can fork it, modify it, and deploy it to your own GitHub Pages site at no cost.

Does LOFFER support comments?

Yes, LOFFER supports two comment systems: Disqus and Gitalk. You enable either one by editing the _config.yml file. Gitalk uses GitHub Issues to store comments, so you need to create a GitHub OAuth App and provide its credentials.

How do I update LOFFER to a newer version?

The official docs suggest syncing your fork to the original repository via a pull request using the browser, or alternatively, deleting and re-forking while keeping your _config.yml and all posts. The theme's posts are the core content, as the project README states.

Why is my table of contents not working?

The table of contents, based on jekyll-toc, requires strict heading hierarchy: an H1 must be followed by H2, and H2 by H3. If you skip a level (for example, going directly from H1 to H3), the TOC may become confused and not display correctly.

Can I change the theme color?

Yes, the default teal color can be changed. Open _sass/_variables.scss and replace all instances of "teal" with any color from the Open Color palette, such as indigo, cyan, or grape. Commit the changes and the new color will apply site-wide.