About Mark Hazleton

Mark Hazleton is a seasoned Solutions Architect with a passion for creating technology solutions that drive business success. With extensive experience in both on-premises and cloud-based environments, Mark has worked with organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. His approach focuses on delivering tangible benefits while avoiding unnecessary complexity or “sizzle” that does not add value.

Mark’s expertise spans a wide range of technologies, including Microsoft Azure, .NET, Docker, and more. He is also an advocate for lifelong learning, continuously expanding his knowledge to stay ahead in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Outside of work, Mark enjoys hiking, exploring cities, and experimenting with outdoor cooking techniques.

Building a Site on GitHub.com Using Jekyll

Creating a website on GitHub using Jekyll is a straightforward process that combines the power of static site generation with the convenience of GitHub Pages. Below is a detailed guide and best practices for building your site:

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

  1. Install Ruby and Bundler on your local machine.

  2. Install Jekyll by running:

    gem install jekyll bundler

  3. Create a new Jekyll site:

    jekyll new my-site

  4. Navigate to your site directory and install dependencies:

    cd my-site
bundle install

Step 2: Customize Your Site

  1. Edit the _config.yml file to configure your site settings.
  2. Add or modify layouts in the _layouts directory.
  3. Create new posts in the _posts directory using the naming convention YYYY-MM-DD-title.markdown.
  4. Use the _includes directory for reusable components like headers and footers.

Step 3: Test Locally

Run the following command to serve your site locally:

bundle exec jekyll serve

Visit http://localhost:4000 in your browser to preview your site.

Step 4: Deploy to GitHub Pages

  1. Push your site to a GitHub repository.
  2. Enable GitHub Pages in the repository settings and select the branch to serve from (e.g., main or gh-pages).

Best Practices

  • Version Control: Use Git effectively to track changes and collaborate.
  • Keep Dependencies Updated: Regularly run bundle update to ensure your gems are up to date.
  • Optimize for Performance: Minimize CSS and JavaScript files and use a CDN for assets.
  • Accessibility and SEO: Follow accessibility guidelines and optimize meta tags for search engines.
  • Backup Your Work: Regularly back up your repository to avoid data loss.

By following these steps and best practices, you can create a professional and efficient website using Jekyll and GitHub Pages.