Andrei Alexandru Stefan

Template customization guide

This repository can be reused as a personal portfolio without changing the layouts or application code.

1. Identity and deployment

Edit _config.yml first:

title, description, url, baseurl, and repository;
the fields under author;
the available languages;
appearance and optional integrations.

For a user site such as username.github.io, keep baseurl empty. For a project site such as username.github.io/portfolio, set baseurl: "/portfolio".

2. Visible text

All interface labels and biography copy live in:

_data/locales/en.yml
_data/locales/it.yml

Add another locale file when introducing a language, then register it under languages.available in _config.yml.

3. Content

Projects and articles are kept separate from presentation code:

entries/projects/<slug>/<language>.md
entries/articles/<slug>/<language>.md

Translations must share the same slug. Use the files in content-templates/ as a starting point.

4. Images

Keep content assets grouped by slug:

images/projects/<slug>/
images/articles/<slug>/

Use root-relative paths in front matter. Liquid templates apply relative_url, so the same content works for user and project sites.

5. Validation

Run these commands before publishing:

ruby scripts/validate_site.rb
bundle exec jekyll build

The validator checks required configuration, front matter, supported languages, duplicate entries, permalinks, and referenced local images.

6. Shared modules

The main layout is intentionally small. Shared responsibilities live in dedicated includes:

_includes/head-preferences.html
_includes/head-alternates.html
_includes/site-assets.html
_includes/site-header.html
_includes/site-footer.html
_includes/site-scripts.html

Content cards and archive rendering are also reusable includes. Prefer extending an existing include instead of duplicating markup in language-specific pages.

7. Safe update workflow

For substantial template changes:

create a branch;
run validation and the Jekyll build;
open a pull request;
check the rendered site on desktop and mobile;
merge only after the Pages workflow passes.

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