Introduction to Managing a Jekyll Site with Ruby, Gems, and Bundler

If you’re new to Jekyll and the Ruby ecosystem, managing a Jekyll site along with its dependencies can seem a bit overwhelming. However, once you understand the basics of Ruby, Gems, and Bundler, you’ll find it quite manageable. This article will introduce you to these concepts and guide you through managing a Jekyll site.

What is Ruby?

Ruby is a programming language known for its simplicity and productivity. It is used for building various types of applications, including web applications. Jekyll, a popular static site generator, is written in Ruby.

What are Gems?

Gems are packages of Ruby code that can be shared and used across different Ruby applications. They add functionality to your project. For example, jekyll-seo-tag is a gem that helps enhance your site’s SEO metadata.

What is Bundler?

Bundler is a tool used for managing gem dependencies for Ruby projects. It ensures that the exact versions of gems specified in your project are used and installed. Bundler relies on two main files:

• Gemfile: Lists the gems your project needs.
• Gemfile.lock: Records the exact versions of gems installed, ensuring consistency across different environments.

Setting Up and Managing a Jekyll Site

1. Creating a New Jekyll Site

To create a new Jekyll site, run the following commands:

gem install jekyll bundler
jekyll new my-awesome-site
cd my-awesome-site

This installs Jekyll and Bundler, creates a new Jekyll site in the my-awesome-site directory, and navigates into that directory.

2. Understanding the Gemfile

The Gemfile, located in the root directory of your Jekyll site, specifies which gems are needed. Here’s a basic example:

source "https://rubygems.org"

gem "jekyll", "~> 4.2.0"
gem "jekyll-sass-converter"
gem "jekyll-seo-tag"

• source "https://rubygems.org": Specifies where to find the gems.
• gem "jekyll", "~> 4.2.0": Specifies the Jekyll gem and its version.
• gem "jekyll-sass-converter": Adds support for Sass (CSS preprocessor).
• gem "jekyll-seo-tag": Adds SEO tags to your site.

3. Installing Gems

To install the gems listed in your Gemfile, run:

bundle install

This command reads your Gemfile, resolves dependencies, and installs the gems. It also creates or updates the Gemfile.lock file to reflect the exact versions installed.

4. Running Your Jekyll Site Locally

To start a local server and view your Jekyll site, use:

bundle exec jekyll serve

• bundle exec ensures that the command uses the versions of gems specified in your Gemfile.lock.
• jekyll serve starts the local server.

Your site will typically be accessible at http://localhost:4000.

5. Updating Gems

To update the gems to their latest versions, modify the Gemfile if needed and run:

bundle update

This updates the gems and regenerates the Gemfile.lock file.

6. Adding New Gems

To add a new gem, such as jekyll-feed, update the Gemfile like this:

gem "jekyll-feed"

Then run:

bundle install

This installs the new gem and updates the Gemfile.lock file.

Example Workflow

Here’s a typical workflow for managing a Jekyll site:

1. Create a New Site:

   jekyll new my-site
   cd my-site
   

2. Install Gems:

   bundle install
   

3. Run the Site Locally:

   bundle exec jekyll serve
   

4. Add or Update Gems:
   • Modify Gemfile.
   • Run bundle install or bundle update.
5. Deploy: Deploy your site to a hosting provider like GitHub Pages.

Additional Resources

• Jekyll Documentation
• Bundler Documentation
• RubyGems

By following these steps, you’ll be able to manage your Jekyll site effectively and understand how Ruby, Gems, and Bundler work together. Happy Jekyll-ing!