
GitHub Pages hosting is a great way to share your projects with the world. GitHub Pages is a free service that allows you to host static websites directly from your GitHub repository.
To get started with GitHub Pages hosting, you'll need to create a new repository on GitHub and enable GitHub Pages. This can be done by navigating to the repository settings and selecting the GitHub Pages option.
You can choose between two types of GitHub Pages hosting: user and project pages. User pages are hosted at username.github.io, while project pages are hosted at repositoryname.github.io.
Intriguing read: Web Page Hosting and Design
Getting Started
To get started with GitHub Pages, you'll need to have Git >= 1.9 and Node > 14 installed on your computer. You can check your version of Git and Node in your terminal or command prompt by running the commands `git --version` and `node --version`.
Write out a CNAME file with a custom domain name to connect your GitHub Pages site to your own domain. This is a simple text file that contains the name of your custom domain.
You're now ready to start building your GitHub Pages site. To get started, you can follow the example workflow for Hugo, which is a popular static site generator. Here's a quick rundown of the steps:
- peaceiris/actions-hugo: GitHub Actions for Hugo
This workflow will help you get started with building and deploying your site using GitHub Actions.
Setup Your Repo
To setup your repo, start by opening Terminal or Command Line and navigating to the directory where you want to initialize a new Git repository.
You'll need to initialize a new Git repository in that directory by running the following command: `git add .` followed by `git commit -m "Initial commit"`. This will create a new repository and start tracking changes.
Next, create a new repository on GitHub and link your local repository to the remote one using the command `git remote add origin https://github.com/username/repository-name.git`.
Verify that the remote URL has been added by running `git remote -v`.
For more insights, see: How to Create Web Page Layout
What Is

What Is GitHub Pages?
GitHub Pages is a service that automatically publishes your static files to a GitHub repository, making it easy to deploy and share your website or web app with the world.
It's a Node.js package called gh-pages that simplifies the deployment process for static websites or client-side web apps.
You can use it to deploy any client-side rendered code, including React, Angular, Svelte, and plain HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
To get started, you'll need to activate GitHub Pages on your repository.
Here's a step-by-step guide to doing so:
- Click the “Settings” button on your project repository’s home page.
- On “Settings” page, click “Pages” in the left side menu.
- On the “Pages” page, under “Source” leave the dropdown button as “Deploy from a branch”. Under “Branch” use the dropdown to change from “none” to “main” (leave the folder option as “/root”), then click the “Save” button.
This will take a few minutes, and you can then access your live site by refreshing the “Pages” page.

The URL of your live site will follow the pattern: “https://username.github.io/repository-name”
You can also display the site URL on your home page for convenience:
- Go to repository’s home page.
- On right side of the code area, look for “About” section and click on the cog icon to edit.
- In the “About” box, below the “Website” box, check the option “Use your GitHub Pages website”, then click “Save”. This will make it easy to access the site in the future!
Note that GitHub Pages uses Actions by default, which can be combined with Static Site Generators for easy deployment.
Here are some examples of Static Site Generators that can be used with GitHub Pages:
- Hugo
- MkDocs
- Gatsby
- mdBook
- Next
- Nuxt
You can use the GitHub Pages Action to deploy your static files to GitHub Pages, and it's free to use!
Publishing to GitHub Pages
Publishing to GitHub Pages is a straightforward process. You can use the publish function to create a temporary clone of your repository, create a gh-pages branch if it doesn't exist, and copy over all files from the base path.
This function will also commit all changes and push them to the origin remote. If a gh-pages branch already exists, it will be updated with all commits from the remote before adding any new commits.
To customize the publishing process, you can specify a source directory with the publish_dir option. The default source directory is public, but you can change it to any directory you prefer.
You can also set a custom branch name to use as your GitHub Pages branch with the publish_branch option. The default branch name is gh-pages, but you can change it to something else if you need to.
Keep in mind that any files in the gh-pages branch that are not in the source directory will be removed. If you want to preserve all files, you can use the add option to include them in the publishing process.
Feature Eligibility and Requirements
GitHub Pages is available to users with public repositories and GitHub Free or GitHub Free for organizations plans.
To use GitHub Pages, you can have public and private repositories with GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, GitHub Enterprise Cloud, or GitHub Enterprise Server plans.
GitHub Pages is also available for users with GitHub's paid plans, such as GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, GitHub Enterprise Cloud, and GitHub Enterprise Server, which offer more features and support compared to the free plans.
Feature Eligibility

GitHub Pages is available to users with GitHub Free and GitHub Free for organizations, and in public and private repositories with GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, GitHub Enterprise Cloud, and GitHub Enterprise Server.
If you have a public repository, you can use GitHub Pages regardless of whether you're on GitHub Free or GitHub Pro.
GitHub Pages is not exclusive to public repositories, as it's also available in private repositories with GitHub Pro, GitHub Team, GitHub Enterprise Cloud, and GitHub Enterprise Server.
Supported Platforms
Let's take a look at the supported platforms for our feature. All Actions runners support Linux, macOS, and Windows, which is great for cross-platform development.
The supported Linux versions are ubuntu-22.04, ubuntu-20.04, and ubuntu-latest. These versions have been thoroughly tested and are ready for use.
We also support macOS-latest, which is the latest version of macOS. This ensures that our feature works seamlessly on the latest macOS systems.
For Windows, we support windows-latest, but with one caveat: deploy_key is not supported for Windows. This is something to keep in mind when developing for Windows.
Here are the supported platforms in a concise table:
Deploying to GitHub Pages
Deploying to GitHub Pages is a straightforward process that can be done in several ways. You can use the `--cname` option to create a CNAME file with your custom domain, or deploy with GitHub Actions by defining a user and setting the git repository for the process.
To deploy with GitHub Actions, you'll need to define a user and set the git repository for the process. The secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN is provided automatically and doesn't require further configuration, but you'll need to pass it in as an environmental variable to the step.
To deploy with GitHub Pages, you can also use the `publish` function, which will create a temporary clone of the current repository, create a gh-pages branch if one doesn't already exist, and copy over all files from the base path. You can also specify a source directory to deploy to GitHub Pages, with the default being `public`.
You can also use a named script in the `package.json` file to deploy, and pass any additional arguments using the `--` option. Additionally, you can use the `branch` option to specify the branch you'll be pushing to, with the default being `gh-pages`.
Here are some common options you can use when deploying to GitHub Pages:
- options.branch: specifies the branch you'll be pushing to, with the default being `gh-pages`
- publish_dir: specifies a source directory to deploy to GitHub Pages, with the default being `public`
- enable_jekyll: enables Jekyll processing for your site, which can make the deployment faster
Deploying with Actions
Deploying with Actions is a straightforward process, and you can start deploying your static files to GitHub Pages right away. You'll need to define a user and set the git repository for the process.
The secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN is provided automatically as part of the GitHub Action and doesn't require any further configuration, it just needs to be passed in as an environmental variable to the step. This token is used to authenticate in your workflow.
To deploy with GitHub Actions, you'll need to pass in the GITHUB_REPOSITORY as an environmental variable, which is the owner and repository name. This is also provided automatically, so you don't need to add it to the env list.
GitHub Pages Action is a useful tool for deploying your static files to GitHub Pages. It can be combined with Static Site Generators like Hugo, MkDocs, and Gatsby.
Here are some key things to note when using the GitHub Pages Action:
- The GITHUB_TOKEN is NOT a personal access token.
- A GitHub Actions runner automatically creates a GITHUB_TOKEN secret to authenticate in your workflow.
This means you can start deploying immediately without any configuration.
Enable Jekyll
If you want GitHub Pages to process your site with the static site generator Jekyll, set enable_jekyll to true.
By default, this setting signals to GitHub Pages that the site shall not be processed with Jekyll, which is done by adding an empty .nojekyll file on your publishing branch. This file already exists, this action does nothing.
Bypassing Jekyll makes the deployment faster, which is a good thing if you're working on a project with a lot of files. You only need to set enable_jekyll to true when you want to deploy a Jekyll-powered website.
GitHub Pages won't copy files or directories that start with underscores to the final site if Jekyll is enabled. This is because Jekyll considers these to be special resources.
For more insights, see: How to Host Site on Github
Deploy with Named Script
If you're using a named script in your package.json file to deploy, you'll need to pass variables properly to the wrapped gh-pages script.
You'll need to utilize the -- option to pass any additional arguments. This can be a bit tricky, so make sure you understand how to use it correctly.
Here's an example of a package.json script that you can use as a reference:
```json
"scripts": {
"deploy": "gh-pages -d build"
}
```
In this example, the -d option is used to specify the directory where the build files are located. You can add or remove options as needed to suit your specific use case.
One thing to keep in mind is that the GITHUB_TOKEN is NOT a personal access token. A GitHub Actions runner automatically creates a GITHUB_TOKEN secret to authenticate in your workflow.
Source to Publish
When setting up your GitHub Pages deployment, you need to specify the source directory to publish to the platform.
The default source directory is the current working directory, but you can change it to a different directory using the --dest option.
You can also use the publish_dir option to specify a source directory to deploy to GitHub Pages. The default is public, but you can change it to any directory you want. Only the contents of this directory will be pushed to the GitHub Pages branch, gh-pages by default.
Here are some common source directories used for GitHub Pages:
- public
- docs
- site
The source directory you choose will determine what files are published to GitHub Pages. Make sure to update your source directory configuration accordingly to avoid any issues with your deployment.
Using GitHub Pages
GitHub Pages sites come in three flavors: project, user, and organization. Project sites are hosted under a URL path based on the repository name.
If you're using a project site, you'll need to configure your build tool or framework to point to the correct asset paths, or you'll get net::ERR_ABORTED 404 errors in your browser.
Intriguing read: Project Web Page Design
Using
Using GitHub Pages is a great way to host your website. You can check out the author's previous blog post for more information on Github Pages configurations.
The author has written about Github Pages configurations before, and they recommend checking out that post to learn more.
You can use Github Pages to host your website, and it's easy to set up. Just follow the author's previous blog post for more details.
The author has personal experience with Github Pages configurations, and they're happy to share their knowledge with you.
Troubleshooting and Debugging
To get additional output from the gh-pages script, set NODE_DEBUG=gh-pages.
Debugging can be a challenge, but it's often a matter of looking at the commit history and identifying the change that caused the build error. If you see a green check mark next to a commit, it means the build was successful, but if you see a red "x", it means there's a problem.
Some errors in your project can cause the Jekyll build to fail, such as an extra space before keys in “_config.yml” or unclosed Liquid tags.
Options Dest
When working with the `dest` option, it's essential to understand its default behavior. The default value is a single dot (`.`), which means all files are published to the root of the repository.
This can be problematic if you're working with a large repository and want to organize your files in a specific way. You can override this default by specifying a different destination folder.
The `dest` option allows you to specify the destination folder within the destination branch. For example, if you want to publish your files to a folder named `docs` within the repository, you can use the `dest` option like this: `dest: 'docs'`.
Here's a quick summary of the `dest` option:
By understanding how the `dest` option works, you can better manage your repository and ensure that your files are published to the right location.
Debugging
Debugging can be a real challenge, but there are some simple steps you can take to get more information.
Setting the right environment variables can make all the difference. For example, setting NODE_DEBUG=gh-pages can give you additional output from the gh-pages script.
Build Errors
Build errors can be frustrating, but they're often a clear indication of a specific problem in your project.
If your Jekyll build fails, it's likely due to an error in your project, such as an extra space before keys in "_config.yml" or an unclosed Liquid tag.
Look for the commit history to identify when the build error started, and check which change introduced the problem.
Successful builds will have a green check mark, while failures will have a red "x" next to the commit history.
Start by examining the commit when the build error began, and work your way back to identify the root cause of the issue.
Broaden your view: Page Ranking Check
Error Branch Already Exists

If you're getting an error message that says "error branch already exists", it's likely because the gh-pages module is trying to write to a directory that already exists.
The gh-pages module uses a temporary cache directory, which can be found in node_modules/.cache/gh-pages. This directory can be customized by setting the CACHE_DIR environment variable.
To fix the issue, you can try manually cleaning up the cache directory by running node_modules/gh-pages/bin/gh-pages-clean. Alternatively, you can simply remove the node_modules/.cache/gh-pages directory.
Discover more: Nextjs Error Page
Customizing GitHub Pages
To get started with customizing GitHub Pages, you'll need to download the gh-pages package using your favorite Node package manager.
This module requires Git >= 1.9 and Node > 14, so make sure your setup meets these requirements.
To add custom scripts to your project, update your package.json file by adding a predeploy and deploy script.
Deploying to Custom Domain
To deploy your GitHub Pages site to a custom domain, you'll need to create a CNAME file. Use the --cname option to create this file with the name of your custom domain.
You can also add the CNAME file to your publish directory. For example, you can place it in a public/CNAME file.
To configure GitHub Pages, navigate to the GitHub Pages settings on your repository site. From there, configure the Build and deployment settings.
Here are the steps to configure GitHub Pages:
- Navigate to the GitHub Pages settings on your repository site.
- Configure the Build and deployment settings.
GitHub Actions should automatically use these configurations to take your site live to the internet.
To add the CNAME file, you can set the cname option or place it in your publish directory.
Configure
To configure GitHub Pages, you'll need to download the gh-pages package using your favorite node package manager. This module requires Git >= 1.9 and Node > 14.
You'll also need to update your package.json scripts to include a predeploy and deploy script. The predeploy setup handles building the static content, and the deploy script will automatically run when the predeploy script runs.
To pass variables properly to the wrapped gh-pages script, you'll need to utilize the -- option in your package.json script.
Here are the steps to update your package.json scripts:
- Add a predeploy script to handle building the static content.
- Add a deploy script that will automatically run when the predeploy script runs.
Once you've configured your package.json scripts, you can navigate to the GitHub Pages on the GitHub repository site and configure the Build and deployment settings.
Keeping Existing Files
Keeping existing files can be a bit tricky when customizing GitHub Pages. By default, existing files in the publish branch will be removed.
If you want to add new files without deleting the existing ones, you can set the optional parameter keep_files to true. This is especially useful if you're not using a Static Site Generator.
Static Site Generators like Hugo and Gatsby have built-in features that might make this option unnecessary. For example, Hugo has a Static Files feature, and Gatsby has a Using the Static Folder feature.
If you do decide to use keep_files, here are some resources to check out:
- Static Files | Hugo
- Using the Static Folder | Gatsby
GitHub Pages Tools and Utilities
The gh-pages command line utility is created when you install the package. Run gh-pages --help to see a list of supported options.
With a local install of gh-pages, you can set up a package script to automate publishing tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gh mean in GitHub?
The "gh" in GitHub CLI refers to the command-line interface for interacting with GitHub. It's a shortcut for using GitHub from the command line instead of a web browser.
Are GitHub and GitHub Pages the same?
No, GitHub and GitHub Pages are not the same, although they are closely related services. GitHub Pages is a feature of GitHub that allows you to host a website directly from a Git repository.
Featured Images: pexels.com


