Quill is a Node.js blog engine, inspired by Jekyll, that compiles Markdown posts into static HTML pages using a single-file HTML theme.
What is Quill?
Quill is a simple blog engine that runs on Node.js and offers a command-line interface for creating and managing a blog. It takes Markdown-formatted posts from a posts/ directory and compiles them into static HTML, which is then rendered through a configurable HTML theme. The project was inspired by Jekyll but targets Node.js developers, and it is maintained on GitHub by theycallmeswift.
What makes Quill stand out?
- Single-file theming — The entire theme is one index.html file located in the themes/[theme-name]/ directory, and every variable from config.json is passed into that template.
- Command-line workflow — Install globally with npm, then run
quill new my_new_blogto scaffold a blog andquill post "My First Post"to create a timestamped Markdown post file. - Markdown-based posts — Posts are written in Markdown and compiled to HTML at build time; the compiled body is wrapped in a div with class _post.
- Config-driven blog metadata — A config.json file controls the theme name, blog title, description, and a block of blogroll links that are rendered directly in the template.
- Realtime post notifications — A JavaScript snippet can be included in the template to notify connected clients in-browser whenever a new post is deployed.
- Static asset support — Images, JavaScript, and other static files live in an assets/ folder inside the theme directory and are referenced with paths like /assets/favicon.png.
- Bundled example themes — Four example themes are included in the repository, including a default Bootstrap-based theme and the one used on justquillin.com.
Who should use Quill?
- Node.js developers — Set up a lightweight, Jekyll-like blog without leaving the Node ecosystem or installing Ruby and gem dependencies.
- Command-line fans — Create posts, manage the blog structure, and deploy entirely through terminal commands such as quill and jitsu.
- Theme tinkerers — Build or adapt a blog theme by editing one HTML page and referencing assets from a known folder structure.
What can you do with Quill?
- Start a blog quickly — Run
quill new my_new_blogto generate a folder structure with posts/, themes/, and config.json, then create your first post in under a minute. - Deploy to Nodejitsu — With the jitsu command-line tool configured, typing
jitsu deploypublishes the blog to Nodejitsu's platform. - Customize the theme — Change the blog name and description in config.json or swap the theme value to one of the bundled themes, such as bootstrap or barebones.
How does Quill work?
The workflow is straightforward: install Quill globally with npm, use quill new to scaffold a new blog, add posts with quill post, and the engine compiles each Markdown file into HTML on demand. For local editing, run the Node server from the blog directory and open http://localhost:8000 to preview the site; the server must be restarted after theme changes. Deployment is handled by pushing the blog folder to a Node.js host, such as Nodejitsu.
