A Brief Tour of the Eleventy Static Site Generator

Eleventy (or 11ty) is a static site generator that allows developers to build static websites from various template languages. It is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and support for multiple templating engines. Here's a brief tour of Eleventy:

  1. Installation:
    • You can install Eleventy using npm (Node Package Manager).
    • Open your terminal and run:
    •                     
                              npm install -g @11ty/eleventy
                          
                      

  2. Project Setup:
    • Create a new directory for your project and navigate into it.
    • Run the following command to initiate a new Eleventy project:
    •                     
                              npx eleventy
                          
                      

  3. Configuration:
    • Eleventy allows you to configure your project using a .eleventy.js configuration file.
    • You can customize settings such as input and output directories, templating engines, and more.
  4. Content Organization:
    • Organize your content in the input directory (default is _src).
    • Common file types include Markdown, HTML, and template files (e.g., Nunjucks, Handlebars).
  5. Template Engines:
    • Eleventy supports various templating engines like Nunjucks, Liquid, Handlebars, and more.
    • Choose your preferred engine and create templates for your pages.
  6. Data Files:
    • You can use data files (JavaScript, JSON, YAML) to provide data to your templates.
    • Data files can be placed in the _data directory.
  7. Layouts:
    • Define reusable layouts for your site in the _includes/layouts directory.
    • Templates can extend or include these layouts.
  8. Collections:
    • Eleventy allows you to create collections of content.
    • Collections are useful for grouping related content, such as blog posts or projects.
  9. Pagination:
    • Implement pagination easily for long lists of content using Eleventy's built-in pagination features.
  10. Markdown and HTML Processing:
    • Eleventy automatically processes Markdown and HTML files.
    • You can include front matter in your Markdown files for metadata.
  11. Command-Line Usage:
    • Build your site by running:

                              
                                  npx eleventy
                              
                          

    • Serve your site locally for development:

                              
                                  npx eleventy --serve
                              
                          

  12. Output:
    • The output is generated in the _site directory by default (configurable).
    • This directory contains the static HTML files ready for deployment.
  13. Deployment:
    • Deploy your static site to any hosting service (Netlify, GitHub Pages, Vercel, etc.).
    • Since it generates static files, hosting is simple and can be done on various platforms.
  14. Community and Documentation:
    • Eleventy has an active community, and its documentation is comprehensive.
    • You can find additional plugins and resources on the official website and GitHub repository.
  15. Extensibility:
    • Eleventy is extensible, and you can use plugins to enhance its functionality.
    • Developers often contribute plugins to the Eleventy ecosystem.

Eleventy is a versatile static site generator suitable for various types of projects. Its simplicity and flexibility make it a popular choice for developers who prefer a minimal setup with the freedom to choose their preferred tools and workflows.

SSH Essentials: Working with SSH Servers, Clients, and Keys

SSH (Secure Shell) is a cryptographic network protocol that allows secure communication between two computers over an insecure network. It is commonly used for remote login and command execution but can also be used for secure file transfer and other …

read more

How To Set Up an Ubuntu Server on a DigitalOcean Droplet

Setting up an Ubuntu Server on a DigitalOcean Droplet is a common task for deploying web applications, hosting websites, running databases, and more. Here's a detailed guide to help you through the process. Setting up an Ubuntu server on a DigitalOce …

read more