GitHub Pages - Free Static Site Hosting

Host static websites directly from GitHub repositories with custom domains and HTTPS support, perfect for portfolios, documentation, and project sites.

Quick Overview

What is GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages is a static site hosting service that takes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files straight from a repository on GitHub, optionally runs the files through a build process, and publishes a website.

Key Features

• Free hosting for static websites
• Custom domain support with HTTPS
• Jekyll integration for static site generation
• GitHub Actions for custom build processes
• CDN-powered for fast global delivery
• Version control integration with Git

Student Benefits

• Free hosting for unlimited public repositories
• Custom domains with automatic HTTPS certificates
• Professional portfolio hosting for showcasing work
• Project documentation hosting
• Blog hosting with Jekyll or other static generators
• Team collaboration with GitHub integration

How to Get Started

Prerequisites

• GitHub account (free)
• Repository with static website files

Step-by-Step Process

1. Create Repository

   • Create a new repository on GitHub
   • Name it username.github.io for user site or any name for project site

2. Add Website Files

   • Upload HTML, CSS, JavaScript files
   • Include an index.html file as the homepage
   • Commit and push changes

3. Enable GitHub Pages

   • Go to repository Settings
   • Scroll to “Pages” section
   • Select source branch (usually main)
   • Choose root folder or /docs folder

4. Access Your Site

   • Visit username.github.io (for user site)
   • Or username.github.io/repository-name (for project site)
   • Site updates automatically with new commits

Best Uses for Students

Portfolio Websites

• Personal portfolio showcasing projects and skills
• Resume website with interactive elements
• Project demos with live examples
• Photography portfolio or design showcase

Documentation Sites

• Project documentation with Jekyll or other generators
• Course notes and study materials
• API documentation for student projects
• Tutorial websites for sharing knowledge

Academic Projects

• Research presentations with interactive elements
• Data visualizations and charts
• Course websites for group projects
• Conference poster websites

Jekyll Integration

GitHub Pages comes with built-in Jekyll support for creating blogs and documentation sites:

Jekyll Features

• Markdown support for easy content creation
• Themes and templates for quick setup
• Blog functionality with posts and pagination
• Liquid templating for dynamic content

Getting Started with Jekyll

1. Create a new repository
2. Add _config.yml configuration file
3. Create posts in _posts folder
4. Use Markdown for content
5. GitHub automatically builds and deploys

Custom Domains

Setting Up Custom Domain

1. Purchase domain from registrar
2. Add CNAME file to repository root with domain name
3. Configure DNS with registrar:
   • Add CNAME record pointing to username.github.io
   • Or A records pointing to GitHub Pages IPs
4. Enable HTTPS in repository settings

DNS Configuration

Type: CNAME
Name: www
Value: username.github.io

Type: A
Name: @
Value: 185.199.108.153
Value: 185.199.109.153
Value: 185.199.110.153
Value: 185.199.111.153

GitHub Actions for Advanced Builds

For more complex static sites, use GitHub Actions:

Example Workflow

name: Build and Deploy
on:
  push:
    branches: [ main ]
jobs:
  build-and-deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v2
    - name: Setup Node.js
      uses: actions/setup-node@v2
      with:
        node-version: '16'
    - name: Install and Build
      run: |
        npm install
        npm run build
    - name: Deploy
      uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3
      with:
        github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
        publish_dir: ./dist

Common Issues and Solutions

Site Not Loading

• Check repository name - must be public for free accounts
• Verify index.html exists in root or specified folder
• Wait for build - can take up to 10 minutes for first deployment

Custom Domain Issues

• Check DNS propagation - can take up to 24 hours
• Verify CNAME file format and content
• Ensure HTTPS is enabled in settings

Build Failures

• Check Jekyll syntax if using Jekyll
• Review Actions logs for build errors
• Validate HTML/CSS for syntax errors

Best Practices

Performance

• Optimize images for web (WebP, compressed)
• Minify CSS/JS files
• Use CDN for external resources
• Enable browser caching with meta tags

SEO Optimization

• Add meta tags for title, description
• Include sitemap.xml for search engines
• Use semantic HTML structure
• Add Open Graph tags for social sharing

Security

• Keep dependencies updated in package.json
• Use HTTPS for custom domains
• Validate user input in forms (if any)
• Follow security headers best practices

Limitations

GitHub Pages Constraints

• Static content only - no server-side processing
• Bandwidth limit - 100GB per month
• File size limit - 100MB per file
• Repository size - 1GB recommended limit

Jekyll Limitations

• Plugin restrictions - only approved plugins allowed
• Build time limits - 10-minute maximum build time
• Concurrent builds - limited per account

Support

If you need help with GitHub Pages:

• Visit the GitHub Pages Help Center
• Check GitHub Community Forum
• Review Jekyll Documentation
• For GitHub Student Pack issues, contact GitHub Education Support