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modular content blocks in jekyll documentation

Why Modular Content Matters in Documentation In a growing documentation project, duplication becomes a serious maintenance burden. Repeating the same installation instructions, warnings, or version notes across multiple pages can lead to inconsistencies. Any small update needs to be replicated everywhere manually. Jekyll supports a modular approach through includes , allowing you to build content blocks that can be reused across many pages and sections with optional parameters to make them flexible. This brings enormous value when your documentation supports multiple languages, versions, or product variants. Using the Include Tag in Jekyll Jekyll provides the {% raw %}{% include %}{% endraw %} tag to insert the contents of another file into the current page. It’s commonly used for navigation bars or layout components, but it works just as well for small content fragments. Basic Include Example {% raw %} {% include install-note.html %} {% endraw %} This will inject the con...

multilingual search for jekyll docs with pagefind

Why Search Matters in Documentation As your documentation grows, structured navigation alone becomes insufficient. Users often prefer searching directly for keywords rather than clicking through menus. This is especially true for developer documentation or multilingual platforms where finding localized information quickly is crucial. GitHub Pages doesn’t allow server-side functionality, which rules out traditional search engines like Elasticsearch or Algolia unless you host externally. That’s where client-side solutions like Pagefind come in. What is Pagefind Pagefind is a JavaScript-based search engine that runs entirely in the browser. It indexes your site at build time and generates lightweight WASM+JSON bundles for quick client search. It supports multiple languages, versioning, and section-level granularity out of the box. Why Use Pagefind with Jekyll No need for external APIs or keys Works entirely with static hosting like GitHub Pages Supports localization a...

version control for jekyll docs with yaml and collections

Managing Documentation Versions Without Complexity As your project matures, the documentation needs to grow along with it. But simply appending new content to existing pages creates confusion. Users looking for version-specific instructions may end up applying outdated guidance or miss new features. That’s why scalable documentation demands structured version control—from content structure to navigation to deployment. The Pitfall of Single-Version Docs For early-stage projects, one set of docs is often enough. But this breaks down when: Your API introduces breaking changes Installation instructions vary by platform Feature sets evolve across releases Maintaining a single source of truth for each version of your project ensures clarity and trust in your documentation. Jekyll Collections as a Foundation for Versioning The easiest way to implement versioned documentation in Jekyll is through collections. Each version lives in its own subdirectory, controlled by a dedi...

scalable docs with jekyll data and nav

Why Scalable Documentation Matters for Static Sites Documentation is often the most overlooked part of a project. Yet for developers, users, and contributors, it’s the cornerstone of usability. When you're hosting documentation on GitHub Pages using Jekyll, you get speed and version control out of the box. But the real magic begins when you treat your documentation like a living product, not a collection of markdown files. That’s where Jekyll’s data files and structured navigation come in. From Flat Files to Structured Information Many developers start by writing a few .md files and linking them with relative paths. This works fine—until it doesn’t. As your project grows, you need ways to: Group related topics Guide readers through learning paths Avoid duplicate content Reuse UI components and layouts Let’s explore how structured data transforms your docs from a pile of files into a maintainable system. How Jekyll Uses Data Files to Power Navigation Jekyll ...

building a documentation system using jekyll and data-driven navigation

Why Use Jekyll for Documentation Jekyll is an ideal platform for building documentation systems due to its static architecture, version control integration, and flexible templating using Liquid. While many developers use Jekyll for blogs or portfolios, it’s equally powerful for managing extensive documentation — especially when powered by data files and custom navigation logic. Understanding Data-Driven Navigation in Jekyll Jekyll supports YAML, JSON, and CSV data files. These files can define a centralized navigation structure, reducing duplication and improving maintainability. This approach is especially useful when your documentation spans hundreds of pages across various sections, such as: Getting Started Guides API Reference CLI Tools Advanced Usage Step 1: Define Documentation Sections Using Collections Start by defining collections in your _config.yml to categorize your documentation: collections: docs: output: true permalink: /docs/:path/ ...

tabbed content for multi platform docs

Organizing Content with Tabs in Documentation As your documentation grows to support multiple SDKs, platforms, or programming languages, presenting all variants on one page can overwhelm users. Instead, use interactive tabs to show one version at a time, keeping your pages clean while offering full flexibility. This is especially helpful when showing code examples or installation steps across several environments like Python, Node.js, and Go. Let's explore how to build tabbed content using Jekyll includes, data files, and minimal JavaScript. Common Use Cases for Tabbed Content SDK installation instructions for different platforms Authentication examples in multiple languages Environment-specific configuration (development, staging, production) OS-specific paths and commands (Linux, Windows, macOS) Basic Structure of a Tab Component A tabbed content block generally includes three main parts: Tab selector buttons Hidden/showing content blocks JavaSc...