N is a minimal, open-source Jekyll theme for building static blogs and websites, created by nobe4 and published on GitHub. It takes Markdown posts and pages as input and outputs a static site via Jekyll, with configuration handled through a single _config.yml file.
What is N?
N is a minimal Jekyll theme that turns Markdown posts and pages into a static website. It takes content written in Jekyll's standard _posts directory and custom pages placed in _pages (with a permalink variable in the front matter), plus images stored under assets/images, and produces a static site when run through Jekyll. The theme is developed by nobe4, is hosted on GitHub, and is described in its repository with the shorthand "mnml thm fr Jkll" (minimal theme for Jekyll). It currently has 3 stars.
Key Features
- Minimal design — The theme is intentionally minimal, matching its stated purpose as a "mnml thm fr Jkll"; no elaborate layout or styling is imposed.
- Simple configuration — All site-wide variables live in
_config.yml; editing that single file is the only required setup step. - Posts support — Blog posts are written under
_postsusing Jekyll's required filename format (e.g.,YYYY-MM-DD-title.md). - Pages support — Additional pages go in
_pages; the only requirement is including apermalinkvariable in the front matter. - Organized images — Images are expected to live under
assets/images, and you are free to structure that folder however you like. - clrs.cc color palette — Colors are inspired by the clrs.cc palette, with 16 named colors including aqua, blue, green, orange, red, and yellow, each defined with its hex value.
- Font choices — The theme loads Muli, OpenSans, Hack, and FontAwesome from Google Fonts and FontAwesome.
- Open source — The repository includes a LICENSE file, making the theme free to reuse.
Who is it for?
- Jekyll bloggers who want a no-frills theme without extra dependencies, and who are comfortable writing posts in Markdown.
- Minimalist web developers who want a small codebase they can fully understand and customize by editing config and template files.
- Developers learning Jekyll who need a simple, readable example of a Jekyll site structure with posts, pages, and image assets.
What can you do with N?
- Personal blog: Publish Markdown posts under
_postsand organize them with Jekyll's standard naming convention. - Simple company or project site: Create static pages in
_pageswith permalinks, such as an about page or documentation page. - Custom color scheme: Use the provided clrs.cc-inspired color variables to restyle the theme without touching any layout code.
How does N work?
N follows Jekyll's standard structure. First, set your site variables in _config.yml. Then write posts in _posts using Jekyll's filename format, add pages to _pages with a permalink variable, and place images in assets/images. Run jekyll build (or serve) to generate the static site.
Pricing
N is free and open source. The GitHub repository includes a LICENSE file, and there are no paid tiers or premium features mentioned.
Alternatives
- Minima — the default Jekyll theme that ships with new Jekyll sites, offering a similar minimal blog layout.
FAQ
Is N free?
Yes, N is open source and hosted on GitHub under a license file. There are no fees or paid plans.
What does N do?
N is a minimal Jekyll theme that builds a static website from Markdown posts and pages. You configure it via _config.yml, write content, and run Jekyll to generate the site.
How do I add a new page to N?
Put a Markdown file in the _pages directory and include a permalink variable in its front matter. The theme will generate the page at that permalink when you build the site.
What fonts does N use?
N loads the Google Fonts Muli and OpenSans, the Hack monospace font, and FontAwesome icons.
Does N require any plugins?
There is no mention of required plugins on the project page; it relies on standard Jekyll features.
