Jekyll is a static site generator that makes it easy to build fast, responsive websites using Markdown. It's a great choice for developers and designers who want to create simple, lightweight websites without dealing with the complexities of a traditional CMS.
One of the things you need to consider when using Jekyll is where to put your assets. Assets are anything that you want to include in your website that isn't part of the source code, such as images, CSS files, and JavaScript files.
There are two main places where you can put your assets in Jekyll:
- The "assets" directory: This is the default location for assets in Jekyll. It's located at the root of your Jekyll site.
- The "static" directory: This is a special directory that Jekyll uses for assets that don't change very often, such as images and CSS files. The "static" directory is located at the root of your Jekyll site.
Which directory should you use for your assets?
The best place to put your assets depends on how they're going to be used. If you're going to be using them on multiple pages, then you should put them in the "assets" directory. This will make it easier for Jekyll to find them.
If you're only going to be using them on a few pages, then you can put them in the "static" directory. This will help to keep your "assets" directory organized and make it easier to find the assets you need.
How to add assets to your Jekyll site
To add assets to your Jekyll site, simply copy them to the appropriate directory. For example, to add an image to your site, you would copy it to the "assets/images" directory.
Once you've added your assets to your Jekyll site, you can use them in your templates by using the asset_path helper. For example, to use an image in your template, you would use the following code:
<img src="{{ asset_path 'images/image.jpg' }}">
Tips for managing assets in Jekyll
Here are a few tips for managing assets in Jekyll:
- Use a version control system to track your assets. This will make it easy to revert to a previous version if you make a mistake.
- Use a CDN to serve your assets. This will help to improve the performance of your website.
- Optimize your assets for the web. This will help to reduce the size of your website and make it load faster.
- Use a tool like Jekyll Asset Pipeline to manage your assets. This will help you to automate the process of copying and optimizing your assets.
Conclusion
Jekyll is a powerful tool for building static websites. By following the tips in this article, you can manage your assets in Jekyll effectively and create a website that is fast, responsive, and easy to maintain.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where should I put my assets in Jekyll?
You can put your assets in the "assets" directory or the "static" directory. The best place to put your assets depends on how they're going to be used.
- How do I add assets to my Jekyll site?
To add assets to your Jekyll site, simply copy them to the appropriate directory.
- How do I use assets in my Jekyll templates?
You can use assets in your Jekyll templates by using the asset_path helper.
- How can I optimize my assets for the web?
You can optimize your assets for the web by using a tool like ImageOptim or TinyPNG.
- How can I use a CDN to serve my assets?
You can use a CDN to serve your assets by signing up for a CDN service and then following the instructions provided by the CDN service.