Ritzy is a minimal Hugo blogging theme that turns Markdown content into a responsive, content-focused static site with built-in LaTeX rendering and a custom 404 page.
What is Ritzy?
Ritzy is a bare-bones blogging theme for Hugo, created by ddritzenhoff and available on GitHub under the MIT License. The theme takes your Markdown posts, images, and a TOML configuration file as input, and outputs a static website with a clean, minimal design. It includes dedicated hooks for an About section and Contact information, plus a standard posts directory for articles.
Key Features
- Minimal content-first design — The layout strips away clutter so the writing is the centerpiece, and the grid adapts to mobile and desktop viewports.
- LaTeX/MathJax support — Write inline math like
$E = mc^2$or block equations in$$...$$delimiters; MathJax renders them directly in the browser. - Code block wrapping — Long code spans wrap to the next line instead of forcing horizontal scrolling, improving readability on narrow screens.
- Custom 404 page — A branded error page that automatically redirects visitors, reducing dead-end bounces.
- Responsive image handling — Images added via Markdown or raw HTML are automatically centered and scaled to fit the container; adding an italic line directly below an image turns it into a centered caption.
- Structured content — Out of the box the theme supports
_about.mdand_contact.mdfiles for static pages, plus aposts/directory for blog entries.
Who is it for?
- Technical bloggers who want to publish posts with mathematical formulas and code snippets without installing a JavaScript-heavy theme.
- Hugo users looking for a refreshingly simple theme — the README describes it as a "bare-bones blogging theme", ideal for sites where design should not overshadow content.
- Personal site owners who need a quick about and contact page and prefer a theme that works immediately after configuration.
How does Ritzy work?
Install the theme by adding it as a Git submodule (git submodule add https://github.com/ddritzenhoff/ritzy.git themes/ritzy) or by cloning it directly into your Hugo themes directory. Then set theme = "ritzy" in your site config, optionally add params for author and description, and create content under the supported folders. Posts are generated by running hugo new posts/post-name.md and filling in the front matter with title, date, draft status, and description.
FAQ
Is Ritzy free?
Yes, Ritzy is released under the MIT License. You can use it for personal or commercial projects, modify it, and distribute it without paying a license fee.
Does Ritzy support LaTeX?
Yes. The theme includes built-in MathJax support, so both inline math ($...$) and display equations ($$...$$) in your posts are rendered as proper mathematical notation.
How do I add an image caption?
Place an italicized line immediately after the image. The theme will center that text below the image as a caption.
What content structure does Ritzy expect?
The theme uses three top-level pieces: _about.md for the About page, _contact.md for contacts, and a posts/ folder for blog entries. All posts should have front matter with a title, date, draft flag, and optional description.
