Build and Test Guide

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

Prerequisites

• Hugo installed on your system
• Git for version control
• A modern web browser for testing

Development Workflow

1. Local Development

To start the development server:

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:

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:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Your descriptive commit message"
   

2. Push to your repository:

   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
• Theme Documentation
• Markdown Guide