Why Jekyll Is Still a Great Choice

Getting Started with the Jekyll and GitHub Pages Stack

In the fast-evolving landscape of website building, many developers and bloggers often ask: is Jekyll still worth using today? Despite newer technologies and platforms entering the scene, Jekyll remains a solid and dependable choice—especially for those who value simplicity, speed, and version control. Paired with GitHub Pages and an elegant theme like Mediumish, Jekyll empowers users to create high-performance websites without complicated deployments or dependencies.

Why Use Jekyll in a JavaScript-Heavy World?

Many developers have shifted to frameworks like Next.js or Astro for static site generation. While those tools are powerful, they often introduce added complexity and dependencies. Jekyll, on the other hand, keeps things simple. You write in Markdown, structure with Liquid templating, and deploy via GitHub Pages. There's no build server needed if you stick with GitHub Pages. This makes it particularly attractive for blogs, documentation sites, and knowledge bases.

Key Benefits That Keep Jekyll Relevant

• Zero Server Maintenance: Hosting via GitHub Pages removes the need for server configuration or deployment automation.
• Native Git Integration: Version control is built-in. Every change is tracked, and rollbacks are painless.
• Security and Speed: Static HTML is secure and lightning fast. There are no database calls, and minimal JavaScript is needed for content rendering.
• Liquid Templating: Liquid is easy to learn and highly flexible. It supports reusable templates, conditions, loops, and dynamic content inclusion.
• Ideal for Writers: Markdown support means you can focus on content, not layout or code structure.

Understanding the Role of the Mediumish Theme

The Mediumish theme is a modern and elegant Jekyll theme designed for personal blogs and content-driven websites. Inspired by Medium.com’s aesthetics, it focuses on readability, whitespace, and performance. Combining Jekyll with Mediumish allows for a professional-looking site with minimal effort. The layout is responsive and adapts well to all screen sizes.

Why Mediumish Complements Jekyll

Mediumish provides out-of-the-box support for featured images, custom categories, tags, and author bios. It’s lightweight and optimized for fast load times. Best of all, it works seamlessly with GitHub Pages without requiring a complicated build process. You can simply clone the theme, customize your content, and push to your GitHub repository.

Key Features of Mediumish

• Responsive layout and clean typography
• Support for custom post metadata
• Social icons and sharing buttons
• Simple navigation menu structure
• Author profiles with avatar and links

What Makes GitHub Pages a Perfect Match?

GitHub Pages is a free and reliable static site host designed for use with Git-based workflows. When combined with Jekyll, it provides a zero-configuration deployment platform. All you need to do is push your changes to the main branch (or gh-pages branch), and your site updates instantly.

Benefits of Using GitHub Pages

For individuals and small teams, GitHub Pages offers unbeatable convenience. There’s no need to deal with CI/CD pipelines, custom domains (unless you want to), or server-side security. Everything runs on GitHub’s infrastructure.

Why It's Ideal for Personal Sites and Blogs

• No hosting costs: Your entire site is hosted for free on GitHub’s servers.
• Custom domains supported: You can use your own domain name with SSL encryption.
• Minimal setup: Fork, edit, and publish—there’s no need for NPM or build scripts.

How to Set Up Mediumish on GitHub Pages

If you're ready to combine Jekyll, Mediumish, and GitHub Pages, here's a simple setup guide to get started quickly.

Step-by-Step Setup Process

1. Fork the Mediumish theme: Find a Jekyll Mediumish theme repository and fork it to your GitHub account.
2. Rename the repo: If you want to host at username.github.io, the repo name should match your GitHub username.
3. Customize content: Modify the _config.yml, post files, and pages to reflect your brand and content.
4. Push your changes: Commit and push changes to your main branch. GitHub Pages will auto-deploy them.
5. Optional – Add a CNAME file: If using a custom domain, include a CNAME file in your root directory.

What Are the Downsides of Using Jekyll Today?

While Jekyll is powerful, it's not for everyone. It lacks real-time dynamic content capabilities and doesn't support server-side logic. If your project involves user accounts, dashboards, or real-time APIs, you’ll likely need a dynamic backend or a more advanced static site framework.

Common Challenges Users Face

• Learning curve with Liquid syntax and YAML front matter
• Limited plugin support on GitHub Pages (due to security restrictions)
• No built-in CMS (though Netlify CMS or Forestry.io can be integrated)

Who Should Still Choose Jekyll?

Jekyll is perfect for developers, technical writers, content creators, and bloggers who prefer minimalism, control, and fast loading sites. It’s also a great tool for students and educators building documentation or portfolios. If you prioritize simplicity and long-term maintainability over trendy features, Jekyll is still a winning choice.

Use Cases Where Jekyll Shines

• Technical documentation sites (e.g., API docs, developer handbooks)
• Minimalist personal blogs or knowledge bases
• Portfolios or resume sites hosted for free
• Static marketing pages with predictable content

How to Keep a Jekyll Site Maintainable in the Long Term

To ensure your Jekyll site stays relevant and easy to manage over time, follow best practices in content organization, theme customization, and build automation (if needed).

Tips for Long-Term Maintenance

• Organize posts using categories and tags consistently
• Keep your _config.yml file clean and well-documented
• Backup your site regularly by cloning it to your local machine
• Use descriptive commit messages for better version control
• Test changes locally using bundle exec jekyll serve before pushing

Final Thoughts

Despite being over a decade old, Jekyll is far from obsolete. Its maturity, stability, and alignment with GitHub Pages make it an excellent choice for many content-driven websites. Paired with a visually appealing theme like Mediumish, Jekyll can still produce beautiful, fast, and functional websites without relying on complicated JavaScript stacks.

Is Jekyll Right for Your Next Project?

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, version-controlled, and content-focused platform—then yes. Jekyll remains an evergreen tool that continues to deliver, especially for solo creators and small teams who want full ownership of their digital content.