middleman-casper is a Middleman-Blog v4.x template that ports Ghost's Casper theme (version 1.4.0) to the Ruby-based static site generator Middleman, so you can scaffold a clean, minimal blog that looks exactly like Ghost's default design. It takes a Middleman project with YAML front matter in Markdown pages and produces a static HTML/CSS blog, and it is maintained by Daniel Bayerlein under the MIT License.
What is middleman-casper?
middleman-casper is a project template for Middleman that recreates the Casper theme (version 1.4.0) originally used by Ghost, adapted for Middleman-Blog v4.x. The template's input is a fresh Middleman project configured via config.rb plus Markdown content files with optional front matter; its output is a static blog site with the Casper look, ready to be built with middleman build and hosted anywhere.
Key Features
- One-command scaffold — Install the whole blog structure with
middleman init -T danielbayerlein/middleman-casper MY_PROJECT_FOLDER, creating a new project in the named folder. - Casper 1.4.0 design — A faithful port of the Ghost Casper theme version 1.4.0, giving your Middleman blog the same minimal, typography-focused layout.
- Configurable author — Set the author's name and details from
config.rb; the theme exposes an author block for display in the blog layout. - Navigation menu — Define custom navigation links as a key/value list in
config.rb(for example, linking to 'Home', 'GitHub', or an author page). - Logo support — Place a logo image in
sources/images/and reference it from theblog.logosetting inconfig.rb. - Cover images — Add a
coverfront-matter field to any page or article to set a per-post cover image, loaded fromsources/images/. - Flexible layouts — Use the
layout: pagefront-matter option to render simple pages, while blog articles use the default blog layout from Middleman-Blog.
Who is it for?
- Middleman users who want a blog theme that matches the look of Ghost without learning a second platform.
- Ruby developers comfortable editing a
config.rbfile to configure author info, navigation, and logo paths. - Bloggers who favor minimal design and want a clean, reading-focused template that outputs plain static files — no server-side runtime or JavaScript framework needed.
What can you do with middleman-casper?
- Kick off a new blog: Run
middleman init -T danielbayerlein/middleman-casperto scaffold a project, then write Markdown posts under Middleman'ssourcedirectory. - Customize the site chrome: Edit
config.rbto change the author name, navigation links, and logo without touching templates. - Add per-page covers: Include
cover: my-cover.pngin a page's front matter to display a different hero image on that page.
How does middleman-casper work?
Install the template, then configure it in config.rb under the casper settings. Start a local server with bundle exec middleman server (which serves the site at http://localhost:4567/), or generate a static build with bundle exec middleman build.
Pricing
The template is free and open source under the MIT License (Copyright (c) 2013-present Daniel Bayerlein), so you can use, modify, and redistribute it without cost.
FAQ
Is middleman-casper free?
Yes. middleman-casper is released under the MIT License, so it is free to use, modify, and publish in personal or commercial projects.
How do I install middleman-casper?
Run middleman init -T danielbayerlein/middleman-casper MY_PROJECT_FOLDER from the command line. This requires Middleman to be installed on your system; after scaffolding, edit config.rb and then run bundle exec middleman server.
What do I need to run middleman-casper?
You need Ruby and Middleman (v4.x) installed, plus the Middleman-Blog extension, because the template targets Middleman-Blog v4.x. The README references using Bundler via bundle exec commands.
Can I use middleman-casper with Ghost?
No. middleman-casper is a Middleman template, not a Ghost theme. It is a port of Ghost's Casper theme for use with the static site generator Middleman; it does not run on the Ghost platform.
Does middleman-casper support cover images?
Yes. Both pages and articles can specify a cover field in their YAML front matter, and the image path should reference a file inside sources/images/ (for example, cover: my-awesome-blog-cover.png).
