RLStevenson is a Jekyll theme that recreates the classic Hyde theme using Bootstrap 3.3.7, delivering a two-column responsive layout with configurable color schemes for static-site blogging. Distributed as the Ruby gem rlstevenson-jekyll-theme, it is maintained by ExchangeRate-API.com and released under the MIT License.
What is RLStevenson?
RLStevenson is a Jekyll theme designed for people who like the original Hyde theme but prefer to work with Bootstrap. It takes a standard Jekyll site with posts and pages as input and outputs a static site with a fixed sidebar and a main content area. The theme is installed by adding a gem to your Gemfile and setting a theme value in _config.yml, then running bundle. It is built from an empty Bootstrap 3 template with clearly formatted HTML and a single stylesheet for easy modification.
Key Features
- Bootstrap 3.3.7 — The theme bundles Bootstrap so you don't need to include it separately, giving you the familiar grid and components.
- Two-column responsive design — A sidebar with title, description, optional free text, and a menu, plus a content column that adapts to screen sizes.
- Six color schemes — Dark Brown, Light Brown, Green, Orange, Slate, and a bonus Gulf Racing scheme, selectable via a
colorschemeparameter in_config.yml. - Sidebar menu configuration — Edit
_data/menu.ymlto change the links shown in the sidebar. - Pagination support — Set a
paginatevalue in_config.ymlto show a chosen number of posts per page; requires thejekyll-paginategem. - Analytics integration — Add Google Analytics with a
gaproperty (your UA number) or Piwik withpiwikSiteIDandpiwikURL. - Custom color schemes — A template at the end of the
rlstevenson.scssfile in the_sassfolder lets you define your own palette. - MIT license — The theme is open source, and pull requests are welcomed.
Who should use RLStevenson?
Jekyll bloggers who want a clean two-column layout with pagination and a sidebar will find RLStevenson straightforward to set up. Developers who already work with Bootstrap can maintain this theme with familiar tools, since it avoids extra abstraction and uses plain HTML and a single stylesheet. Site owners migrating from Hyde to a Bootstrap-based design can keep the same general look while gaining Bootstrap's component library.
What can you do with RLStevenson?
- Jekyll bloggers: Configure a
descriptionthat appears both in the title tag and below the sidebar title, and add optional free text above menu links. - Developers: Customize sidebar navigation by editing
_data/menu.yml, or create a new color scheme by editing the template at the end ofrlstevenson.scss. - Site owners: Enable Google Analytics by setting your UA number in the
gaconfig field, or Piwik by providing a site ID and URL. - Designers: Switch between the six color schemes instantly without touching code, just by changing the
colorschemevalue in_config.yml.
How does RLStevenson work?
Install the theme by adding gem "rlstevenson-jekyll-theme" to your Gemfile and theme: rlstevenson-jekyll-theme to _config.yml, then run bundle install. After installation, use the documented _config.yml options to set the title, description, free text, pagination count, color scheme, and analytics identifiers. The theme does not include its own default menu; instead you create a _data/menu.yml file to list sidebar links.
FAQ
Is RLStevenson free?
Yes, RLStevenson is open source under the MIT License. You can use it in personal or commercial Jekyll projects, and the maintainers accept pull requests.
Do I need to install Bootstrap separately?
No. RLStevenson includes Bootstrap version 3.3.7, so you only need the theme gem and Jekyll's dependencies.
How do I change the color scheme?
Set the colorscheme variable in _config.yml to one of scheme-darkbrown, scheme-lightbrown, scheme-green, scheme-orange, scheme-slate, or scheme-gulfracing. You can also create your own by editing the template at the end of rlstevenson.scss.
Can I use pagination with RLStevenson?
Yes. Add a paginate option to _config.yml with the number of posts per page. You may need to install the jekyll-paginate gem, and the theme's example config includes gems: [jekyll-paginate].
Who maintains RLStevenson?
RLStevenson is maintained by ExchangeRate-API.com, and it was inspired by Mark Otto's Hyde theme. The theme's Ruby gem page is available on RubyGems as rlstevenson-jekyll-theme.
