NOVA System Blog is a Jekyll-based blog template for the NOVA System project, an alternative cryptocurrency that uses proof of human work verification; it doubles as both the project's public progress log and a ready-to-adapt starter for Markdown-driven blogs on GitHub Pages.
What is the NOVA System Blog?
The NOVA System Blog is a Jekyll-powered blog hosted on GitHub Pages that records development progress for the NOVA System cryptocurrency, which uses proof of human work verification. The template takes Markdown posts with front matter fields for title, excerpt, and author and renders them into static HTML, while a separate custom homepage consumes the generated RSS feed to display post summaries. The project is maintained by the NOVA System team: Garv Shah, Liam Shaw, and Natsuki Rogers.
Key Features
- Markdown-first post workflow — Add a file named
YYYY-MM-DD-Title.mdto the_postsfolder, start it with front matter plus a{% include header.html %}line, and push to GitHub. - RSS reader homepage — The front page is not a Jekyll layout;
loadFeed.jsfetchesfeed.xmlfrom/blog/feed.xmland renders entries through themakeBlogPost()function. - Static asset folder — Upload images and GIFs to the
staticfolder and reference them in posts with Jekyll's built-in link tag, e.g.. - LaTeX math rendering — Jekyll supports LaTeX for equations; the readme links to LaTeX/Mathematics on Wikibooks and recommends QuickLaTeX for previewing formulas.
- GitHub Pages native build — GitHub Pages compiles Jekyll automatically at build time, so
feed.xmland the final HTML are generated server-side and not stored in the repository. - Local build and preview — Developers can install Ruby and Bundler, run
sudo gem install bundler, thenbundle installandbundle exec jekyll serveto preview at http://127.0.0.1:4000/.
Who should use the NOVA System Blog?
- Blockchain developers working on proof-of-human-work or similar consensus mechanisms can use this blog as a public development log to document algorithm changes and verification experiments.
- Open-source maintainers who want the flexibility of a fully custom homepage alongside easy Markdown publishing will find the two-part architecture (RSS reader + Jekyll) a workable pattern.
- Technical writers writing about cryptocurrency math can take advantage of Jekyll's LaTeX support to publish equations inline with prose.
What can you do with the NOVA System Blog?
- Publish project updates — Write a Markdown post, push it to the main branch, and the feed and homepage update automatically after the GitHub Pages build.
- Render mathematical formulas — Include LaTeX syntax in posts to explain NOVA's human-work verification equations, previewing with QuickLaTeX before publish.
- Customize the homepage separately — The standalone RSS reader page can be re-themed independently of the Jekyll-generated post pages, giving different visual styles for the front page and individual articles.
How does the NOVA System Blog work?
The blog uses Jekyll to compile Markdown files into static HTML during the GitHub Pages build, generating a feed.xml Atom feed. The homepage runs a separate JavaScript file, loadFeed.js, which fetches that feed, extracts the title, excerpt, and author from each entry, and uses the makeBlogPost() function to build text boxes on the main page. When a visitor clicks "Read More," the site redirects to the Jekyll-generated post page.
Pros and cons
- Simple content publishing — Anyone with repository access can add a post as a Markdown file and push it; no build step is required locally.
- Split codebase — The homepage's custom RSS reader and the Jekyll-generated pages use different theming, so the overall site can feel inconsistent.
- Local testing workflow — Building locally takes a few Ruby/Bundler commands; the readme specifically covers macOS and notes that GitHub's error messages are not very descriptive.
FAQ
How do I add a new post?
Create a Markdown file in the _posts folder named with the pattern YYYY-MM-DD-Title.md. Each post must start with front matter providing the title, excerpt, and author, followed by the line {% include header.html %}. Push the file to the repository and GitHub Pages will build the blog automatically.
Does the NOVA System Blog support math formulas?
Yes. Jekyll can render LaTeX math. The readme points to the LaTeX/Mathematics guide on Wikibooks and suggests QuickLaTeX for quickly previewing equations, because GitHub's built-in Markdown does not render LaTeX.
Can I run the blog locally?
Yes, on a Mac with Ruby installed. Install Bundler with sudo gem install bundler, clone the repository, run bundle install, and start a preview with bundle exec jekyll serve, which hosts the site at http://127.0.0.1:4000/.
Is the blog a PWA?
The main NOVA System website is a progressive web app, but this Jekyll blog is not a standalone PWA; the developers note that making it one "is kinda being a pain." Installing the main site's app leads to nearly the same functionality.
What is the NOVA System?
The NOVA System is an alternative cryptocurrency system based on proof of human work verification. This blog is the project's progress-logging and documentation site, maintained by the development team as they build the system.
