Discover how I built my developer blog using the Hugo static site generator. Learn what makes Hugo powerful, how it compares to WordPress, and how to set up, write, and deploy your own Hugo website.

How I Built This Website with Hugo: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

In this article, I’ll walk you through how I created this website using the Hugo static site generator. Whether you’re a developer or a blogger looking for a fast, flexible, and code-friendly platform, Hugo is a fantastic choice.

What is Hugo?

Hugo is a popular open-source static site generator written in Go. It enables you to build fast, secure, and easily maintainable websites using simple Markdown files. With Hugo, you can:

• Write content in Markdown
• Highlight source code
• Embed media (videos, music, images)
• Organize content with tags and categories

What is a Static Site?

A static site is a website that serves pre-built HTML, CSS, and image files directly to the browser—no database or server-side processing required. This approach offers:

• Speed: Lightning-fast load times
• Security: Fewer attack vectors compared to dynamic sites
• Simplicity: Easy hosting and deployment

Static site generators like Hugo automate the process of converting your Markdown content into a full-featured website.

Why Markdown?

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that’s perfect for writing articles, documentation, and blogs. Platforms like GitHub and GitLab use Markdown for project documentation. With Hugo, you can focus on writing content, not managing HTML or CSS.

How to Set Up Hugo

To get started with Hugo:

1. Install Hugo:
   Follow the official installation guide.

2. Choose a Theme:
   Browse Hugo Themes for a design that fits your needs.

3. Configure Your Site:
   Edit config.toml to set your site name, description, author, and more.

4. Customize Your Theme:
   Adjust theme settings for menus, social links, and appearance.

5. Create Your First Post:
   Use the command:

   hugo new posts/my-first-post.md

   Then, write your content in Markdown.

6. Version Control:
   Store your entire site in a Git repository for easy backups and collaboration.

Hugo vs. Other Static Site Generators

I chose Hugo for its speed, simplicity, and excellent support for Markdown.

Hugo vs. WordPress

WordPress is the world’s most popular CMS, but it’s very different from Hugo:

• Customization: WordPress offers thousands of themes and plugins, but customizing them can be complex. Hugo themes are easy to configure and code-friendly.
• Content Storage: WordPress stores content in a database, making backups and migrations challenging. Hugo stores everything as code—perfect for version control and easy deployment.
• Developer Experience: Hugo is built by developers for developers, making it ideal for those comfortable with Git, Markdown, and code.

Writing and Previewing Articles

To write a new article:

1. Create a new post:
   hugo new posts/my-article.md

2. Write your content in Markdown.
3. Preview your site locally:
   hugo server -D

   Visit http://localhost:1313 to see your site.

Deploying Your Hugo Site

When you’re ready to publish:

1. Build your static site:
   hugo

2. Upload the contents of the public folder to your web server (e.g., with Apache or Nginx).

Conclusion

Hugo is a powerful, fast, and flexible static site generator that’s perfect for developers and technical bloggers. With Markdown, Git, and a strong theme ecosystem, you can create and maintain a modern website with ease.

SEO Tips for Hugo Sites

• Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions
• Add alt text to images
• Link to related articles
• Keep content clear and structured
• Regularly update your site

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a developer-friendly way to build a blog or documentation site, I highly recommend giving Hugo a try. For more on Hugo, check out Hugo’s documentation!

Summary Table: Key Steps