Spectral

Spectral is a Hugo theme that ports the HTML5 UP Spectral design to the Hugo static site generator, giving users a ready-made theme with an exampleSite and a starting config.toml.

What is Spectral?

Spectral is a Hugo theme created as a port of the HTML5 UP Spectral template. It takes Hugo content files and renders them as a website using the Spectral visual design. The theme was originally built for the owner's customer at kegelschiene.net, which means it is tailored to that site but distributed as a general-purpose theme. It runs on Hugo and is authored by sbruder.

Key Features

• Based on HTML5 UP Spectral — The theme is a direct port of the HTML5 UP Spectral template, preserving that design for Hugo-based sites.
• ExampleSite included — The repository ships an exampleSite directory that shows a minimal setup, with its latest live build available at https://sbruder.github.io/spectral/.
• Multilingual support reference — The kegelschiene.net repository includes configuration for a multilingual site, which can be used as a reference.
• Installation-friendly — Users can clone the repo or download the zip and place it in the themes directory of a Hugo site, using the provided config.toml as a base.
• Free license — The theme is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license, the same license as the original HTML5 UP theme.

Who should use Spectral?

This theme is aimed at Hugo users who want to adopt the Spectral look without building it from scratch. A developer setting up a personal or small-business site can use the theme and example config as a foundation. Site owners who need a multilingual website can consult the kegelschiene.net repository to see how to configure multiple languages with this theme.

What can you do with Spectral?

• Hugo site developers: Set up a site with the Spectral design by copying the exampleSite and customizing it.
• Multilingual site maintainers: Configure language alternatives as demonstrated in the kegelschiene.net repo.
• Site owners: The theme powers the live kegelschiene.net site, so it can serve as a base for projects of that kind.

How does Spectral work?

Installation follows the standard Hugo theme workflow. First, clone or download this repository and place it inside the themes directory of your Hugo site. Then copy the config.toml from exampleSite as a starting point and adjust it for your own content.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free to use under CC BY 3.0; includes a working example site; supports multilingual configurations.
• Cons: The theme was built for a specific customer, so some functions from the original HTML5 UP template are not implemented. Users who need those features must open an issue.

FAQ

Is Spectral free?

Yes, Spectral is free to use. It is released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license, the same license as the original HTML5 UP Spectral theme.

What does Spectral do?

Spectral is a Hugo theme that brings the HTML5 UP Spectral design to Hugo-based static sites. It provides the theme files, an example site, and a config.toml to help users get started.

How do I install Spectral?

To install Spectral, clone the repository or download the zip and place it in the themes directory of your Hugo site. Then use the config.toml from the exampleSite as a starting point.

Does Spectral support multilingual sites?

Yes, it can be used for multilingual sites. The kegelschiene.net repository, which uses this theme, includes configuration for multiple languages and can be used as a reference.

Are there any missing features?

The theme was made specifically for the kegelschiene.net site, so some functions from the original HTML5 UP Spectral template are not implemented. If you need one of these missing features, you can open an issue on the repository.