This is a comprehensive guide on how to use Jekyll and Frontmatter to build a powerful Content Management System (CMS).
What is Jekyll Frontmatter?
Jekyll frontmatter is YAML metadata that sits at the top of your markdown files, enclosed between triple dashes (---
). It allows you to define variables and configuration options that Jekyll can use when building your site.
Setting Up Frontmatter as a CMS
Essential Frontmatter Fields
---
title: Your Post Title
description: A brief description of your content
author: Your Name
date: 2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z
lastmod: 2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z
categories:
- category1
- category2
tags:
- tag1
- tag2
draft: false
---
Advanced Frontmatter Configuration
For a more robust CMS-like experience, you can include additional fields:
excerpt
- Short summary for previewsfeatured
- Boolean for featured contentimage
- Hero image for the postpermalink
- Custom URL structuresidebar
- Navigation configuration
Benefits of Using Frontmatter as a CMS
- Version Control - All content changes are tracked in Git
- No Database - Static files are easier to backup and migrate
- Performance - Static sites load faster than database-driven sites
- Security - No database means fewer attack vectors
- Portability - Markdown files can be used with any static site generator
Tools and Integrations
Visual Editors
- Forestry - Web-based editor for Jekyll sites
- NetlifyCMS - Open-source content management for static sites
- Frontmatter Extension - VS Code extension for managing frontmatter
Automation
- Git hooks for automatic builds
- GitHub Actions for CI/CD
- Automated frontmatter validation
Best Practices
- Consistent Schema - Use the same frontmatter fields across similar content types
- Validation - Implement checks to ensure required fields are present
- Templates - Create frontmatter templates for different content types
- Documentation - Document your frontmatter schema for team members
Example Workflow
- Create content using markdown with frontmatter
- Use VS Code with frontmatter extensions for easier editing
- Commit changes to Git repository
- Automated build process generates the static site
- Deploy to hosting platform (GitHub Pages, Netlify, etc.)
This approach provides the benefits of a traditional CMS while maintaining the simplicity and performance of static sites.