---
title: "Build and Test Guide"
date: 2024-04-10
draft: false
description: "Instructions for building and testing the blog before publishing"
---

# Build and Test Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for building and testing the blog before publishing changes.

## Prerequisites

- [Hugo](https://gohugo.io/installation/) installed on your system
- Git for version control
- A modern web browser for testing

## Development Workflow

### 1. Local Development

To start the development server:

```bash
hugo server -D
```

This will:
- Start a local server (usually at http://localhost:1313)
- Enable draft content viewing
- Watch for file changes and auto-reload

### 2. Building the Site

To build the site for production:

```bash
hugo
```

This will:
- Generate the static site in the `public/` directory
- Exclude draft content
- Optimize assets

### 3. Testing Checklist

Before publishing, ensure you:

1. Run the development server and check:
   - All pages load correctly
   - Links work as expected
   - Images display properly
   - Responsive design works on different screen sizes

2. Build the site and verify:
   - No build errors in the console
   - All assets are generated correctly
   - The `public/` directory contains all necessary files

3. Content review:
   - Check for typos and grammar
   - Verify formatting is consistent
   - Ensure all images have alt text
   - Test all interactive elements

### 4. Publishing

After testing:

1. Commit your changes:
   ```bash
   git add .
   git commit -m "Your descriptive commit message"
   ```

2. Push to your repository:
   ```bash
   git push
   ```

3. If using a CI/CD pipeline, verify the deployment was successful

## Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

- **Build errors**: Check Hugo version compatibility and theme requirements
- **Missing content**: Verify front matter is correct and content is in the right directory
- **Broken links**: Use `hugo server` to test all internal links
- **Image issues**: Check file paths and ensure images are in the correct directory

## Additional Resources

- [Hugo Documentation](https://gohugo.io/documentation/)
- [Theme Documentation](https://github.com/LordMathis/hugo-theme-nightfall)
- [Markdown Guide](https://www.markdownguide.org/)