Automate Your GitHub Pages Deployments: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to simplify publishing updates to your GitHub Pages site? This guide provides a streamlined workflow to automate deployments whenever you push changes to your main branch. Learn how to configure a GitHub Actions workflow that builds and deploys your site, saving you valuable time and effort, and ensuring your audience always sees your latest updates.

Why Automate GitHub Pages Deployments?

Automating your GitHub Pages deployments offers several key advantages:

• Saves Time: Eliminate manual build and deployment steps.
• Reduces Errors: Ensure consistency by automating the process.
• Enables Continuous Deployment: Every push to your main branch triggers a deployment.
• Keeps Content up to Date: Your live site always reflects the latest changes in your repository.

Setting Up Your GitHub Actions Workflow for GitHub Pages

Here's a breakdown of how to set up a GitHub Actions workflow file for automated deployments to GitHub Pages:

1. Create a Workflow File: In your repository, create a new file in .github/workflows directory. Name it something descriptive, like deploy-gh-pages.yml.

2. Define the Workflow Trigger: Configure the workflow to run automatically on pushes to the main branch:

   on:
     push:
       branches:
         - main
   

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   This ensures that every time you push changes to your main branch, the workflow is automatically triggered.

3. Specify the Jobs: Define the steps needed to build and deploy your site. In this case, we'll only define a single job called "build."

   jobs:
     build:
       runs-on: ubuntu-latest
   

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   This specifies that the steps will be executed on the latest version of Ubuntu.

4. Checkout Your Repository: Use the actions/checkout@v3 action to check out your repository's code:

   steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v3
   

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   This provides the workflow with access to your project files.

5. Set Up Ruby: Use the ruby/setup-ruby@v1 action to set up the Ruby environment required for Jekyll:

     - name: Set up Ruby
       uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
       with:
         ruby-version: "3.2"
         bundler-cache: true # This will cache dependencies
   

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   Specifying "3.2" ensures you're using the correct Ruby version. bundler-cache: true speeds up the build by caching Ruby dependencies.

6. Install Dependencies: Install the necessary Ruby gems using Bundler:

     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         rm -f Gemfile.lock # Remove existing lockfile
         bundle install
   

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   Removing the Gemfile.lock and running bundle install ensures a fresh installation of dependencies.

7. Build the Site: Build your Jekyll site using the bundle exec jekyll build command:

     - name: Build site
       run: bundle exec jekyll build
   

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   This command generates the static site files in the _site directory.

8. Deploy to GitHub Pages: Use the peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3 action to deploy the built site to GitHub Pages. This is a key step to get the workflow set up for GitHub Pages deployment automation.

     - name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
       uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3
       with:
         github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         publish_dir:./_site
   

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   github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} automatically authenticates with GitHub. publish_dir: ./_site specifies the directory containing the built website.

Complete Workflow File Example for Continuous Integration and Deployment

Here's the complete deploy-gh-pages.yml file:

name: Publish to GitHub Pages

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
        uses: actions/checkout@v3

      - name: Set up Ruby
        uses: ruby/setup-ruby@v1
        with:
          ruby-version: "3.2"
          bundler-cache: true # This will cache dependencies

      - name: Update Bundler
        run: |
          gem update --system
          bundle update --bundler

      - name: Install dependencies
        run: |
          rm -f Gemfile.lock # Remove existing lockfile
          bundle install

      - name: Build site
        run: bundle exec jekyll build

      - name: Deploy to GitHub Pages
        uses: peaceiris/actions-gh-pages@v3
        with:
          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          publish_dir: ./_site

Troubleshooting Common Issues With GitHub Pages Automation

• Incorrect Ruby Version: Ensure the Ruby version specified in your workflow matches the version required by your Jekyll site.
• Missing Dependencies: Double-check that all necessary Ruby gems are listed in your Gemfile.
• Incorrect Publish Directory: Verify that the publish_dir option points to the correct directory containing your built site files (usually _site).
• Permissions Issues: The GITHUB_TOKEN secret should be sufficient for most deployments. If you encounter permission errors, review your repository's settings to ensure GitHub Actions has write access.

Enjoy Seamless GitHub Pages Deployments

By following these steps, you can automate your GitHub Pages deployments and focus on creating great content. This GitHub Pages deployment automation workflow saves time, reduces errors, and ensures your website is always up-to-date.