In {% post_link how-to-create-a-hexo-blog 'previous post' %}, I showed you how to create a blog using [Hexo](https://hexo.io) and host it on [GitLab Pages](https://about.gitlab.com/features/pages/). Here's how to host it on [GitHub Pages](https://pages.github.com/):
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## GitHub repository
1. Register a free [GitHub](https://github.com/join) account or use your current one.
3. Clone this [repo](https://gitlab.com/curben/blog).
4. Install [Travis CI](https://github.com/marketplace/travis-ci). It's free for open source repo.
5. Go to [Applications settings](https://github.com/settings/installations), configure Travis CI to have access to the repo.
6. You'll be redirected to Travis page.
7. On a new tab, generate a [new token](https://github.com/settings/tokens) with **repo** scopes. Note down the token value.
8. On the Travis page, go to your repo's setting. Under **Environment Variables**, put **GH_TOKEN** as name and paste the token onto value. Click Add to save it.
9. Add `.travis.yml` file to your repo with the following config:
```yml
language: node_js
node_js:
- node # use latest version of nodejs
cache: npm
branches:
only:
- master # build master branch only
before_install:
- npm install # install node packages and dependencies
10. You can start writing a new post straightaway without [installing](#Installation) Hexo. You still need to change the blog's name and favicon though ([how-to](#naming)).
1. To create a new post (through GitLab.com), create a new `<post-title>.md` file in `source/_posts` folder.
2. Start with the following header/[front-matter](https://hexo.io/docs/front-matter):
```
---
title: Test page
date: yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
tags:
categories:
---
```
3. Write your post after the second `---` using [Markdown](https://guides.github.com/features/mastering-markdown/) [style](https://help.github.com/articles/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax/).
11. After you create a new post, the website can be accessed on <b>*username*.github.io</b>. Check your repo settings, under the GitHub Pages, make sure the Source is `gh-pages` branch.
1. Having Hexo means you can debug locally, rather than waiting for [Travis](https://travis-ci.com/). You can even run a local server to preview your blog (see step 6 below).
3. Install Node.js 10 (current [active LTS](https://github.com/nodejs/Release)). Other distro, see this [guide](https://nodejs.org/en/download/package-manager/) or [here](https://github.com/nodesource/distributions).
4. Install Hexo and its dependencies (defined in `package.json`). Re-launch the terminal program before continue. After installation, append `node_modules/.bin` to $PATH (skip the `echo` step if you've already {% post_link running-locally-installed-node-packages 'done so' %}).
5. Generate static files to check for any error. You should always do this before pushing/merging commits to the `master` branch.
```bash
$ hexo generate
```
6. (Optional) Start Hexo server on `http://localhost:4000` to preview the blog. ([more info](https://hexo.io/docs/server))
```bash
$ hexo server
```
8. Check the build status by going to your project in [Travis](https://travis-ci.com/). Due to the limitation of `hexo`, the build will always pass even when there is error. Check the Jobs log, look for any error after `$ hexo deploy`.
2.`My-New-Post.md` is created to the `source/_posts` folder, with the following header/[front-matter](https://hexo.io/docs/front-matter):
```
---
title: My New Post
date: yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
tags:
categories:
---
```
4. Write your post after the second `---` using [Markdown](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/technical-writing/markdown-guide/) [style](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/markdown.html).
More info: [Writing](https://hexo.io/docs/writing.html)
## Configuration
### Naming
Change the website's author and name
`_config.yml`:
```yml
title:
subtitle:
description:
author:
```
`themes/typing/_config.yml`:
```yml
menu:
GitLab: <your-gitlab-project-link>
# Customize /about page
nickname:
description:
```
### Favicon
[RealFaviconGenerator](https://realfavicongenerator.net/) provides a web-based tool to generate favicons with wide compatibility.
1. Upload your favicon (at least 260x260) and configure however you want.
1. Install the generated package to `themes/typing/source` folder. Make you replace all existing files.
1. Edit `themes/typing/layout/_partial/head.ejs`. Change the `color` values of `mask-icon` and `msapplication-TileColor` to the values you configured on the generator.
1. Check for any error using `hexo generate` (you should do this *before* you push any commit).
1. Commit and push.
1. Check your favicon with the [favicon checker](https://realfavicongenerator.net/favicon_checker).
1. Navigate to your repo on GitHub. Go to the **Settings** tab. Change the **Repository name** so your blog is available at <b>username.github.io/*repository*</b>, **repository** can be any name, like *blog* or *hexo*.
