Built-in LiVa validator provides immediate feedback on configuration and frontmatter issues in the local development environment
HugoStarter
alpha — Hugo Starter Template
By oxypteros
Alpha is a Hugo theme for writers, focused on personal, text-first websites, with built-in integrations such as SEO, search, and privacy-friendly analytics.
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Recorded 2026-10-04View source
What stands out
A quick read of the recorded project description.
Automatically handles SEO and social sharing metadata such as Schema.org, Open Graph, and Twitter Cards
Integrates Pagefind search and privacy-friendly GoatCounter analytics
Supports multilingual content, including Simplified Chinese
Offers an optional Tailwind CSS mode for custom styling
Builds flexible layouts through shortcodes without modifying theme code
Template Details
Alpha is a Hugo theme designed for writers, positioned for personal, text-first websites, suitable for blogs, essays, stories, and long-form content. It provides a clean writing interface and automatically handles SEO, social sharing, and layout details. The theme includes a built-in LiVa validator that gives immediate feedback on configuration and frontmatter in the local development environment; it also defines a tested range of compatible Hugo versions, and updates note the minimum required Hugo version in the documentation and changelog.
In terms of features, Alpha supports building flexible layouts through shortcodes without modifying theme code, automatically generates Schema.org, Open Graph, and Twitter Cards metadata, and integrates Pagefind search and GoatCounter analytics. The theme supports multilingual content, including Simplified Chinese. For development, an optional Tailwind CSS mode is available for customization. Installation options include downloading Alpha Starter, using the GitHub template, Git submodules, or Hugo Modules; using the Module method requires a Go environment. The theme is MIT licensed, and third-party assets such as demo images, fonts, and icons require separate license verification.
HugoLauncher
Is it right for your project?
Use Cases
- Building a personal blog or writing site
- Publishing essays, stories, or long-form content
- Static sites that need automatic SEO and social sharing metadata
- Multilingual content publishing, including Simplified Chinese
Suitable For
- Writers and personal site owners using Hugo
- Content creators who prefer a text-first, clean reading experience
- Static sites that need built-in search and privacy-friendly analytics
- Users who want to adjust layouts without modifying theme code
Getting started & customization
Use these recorded setup notes alongside the repository instructions for your chosen version.
- 1
Requires Git and Hugo; see the compatible range in the theme documentation for Hugo version requirements
- 2
Using Tailwind CSS mode requires Node.js
- 3
Installing via Hugo Module requires a Go environment
- 4
New sites can get started quickly by downloading Alpha Starter or using the GitHub template
- 5
Existing Hugo sites can add the theme via Git submodule or Hugo Module
License & source material
Usage conditions & limitations
Free to use · keep license noticeThis entry covers the free version under the MIT license in the public repository; the free scope applies to that version's code and does not imply that external services or third-party assets are free.
Must comply with when using
- Permits free use, modification, commercial use, and distribution of that version's code.
- When distributing copies or substantial portions of the code, retain the original author's copyright notice and the full MIT license notice.
- The code is provided as is; warranties and limitations of liability are governed by the original license and applicable law.
Additional costs & items to verify
- Using the optional Tailwind CSS mode for style customization requires a Node.js environment; it is not needed if that mode is not used.
- A Go environment is required only when installing the theme via Hugo Module; it is not needed when using Git submodule or Starter methods.
- The theme requires Hugo version ^0.146.1; lower versions may fail to build properly, and updating the theme may raise the minimum required Hugo version.
- The theme does not promise compatibility with older Hugo versions and evolves with new Hugo releases; upgrading the theme may require upgrading Hugo in tandem, and older environments may no longer be supported.
- Demo images, fonts, icons, and other third-party assets must be checked against their respective licenses; the code's MIT license alone cannot be used to judge them.
- External services such as domains, hosting, databases, payments, or AI may incur separate charges.
View Original Text Basis
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge
Original License Text
Node.js (_optional, for Tailwind CSS_)
Original README
Go (_only if using Hugo Module method_)
Original README
**Hugo** (`^0.146.1`)
Original README
https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/blob/main/LICENSEhttps://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/blob/main/README.mdThis means Alpha **does not aim to stay locked to older Hugo versions**.
Original README
Compiled by DeepSeek based on repository license and README ·2026-10-04. Results only cover the materials read; dependencies, images, fonts, and subsequent term changes are subject to their respective original texts.
Project checks & description sources
Template Information
- Source platforms
- Hugo Themes
- Documentation and maintenance reference score
- More documented · 83 / 100
- Technologies
- Hugo
- Website type
- Starter
How this score is calculated
Our heuristic uses license records (up to 30), a demo link (12), a preview (10), stars (15), recorded maintenance (15), description completeness (8), feature records (5) and classification data (5). It is not a code, security or performance test, or a Google score. A link does not establish tested functionality.
What to verify for this project
- Repository update recorded
- 2026-04-03
- Screenshot last checked
- 2026-10-04
A demo link is listed. Check it with your own content and viewport sizes; its presence does not confirm that forms, authentication or payments work.
The catalog identifies Hugo as the primary stack. Check the actual dependency manifest and lockfile for versions and hosting requirements. These notes use recorded metadata, not a code audit or a deployment test.
Use a selection guide →How this description was prepared
AI-assisted description based on catalog records and repository material. Repository authors are not automatically the reviewers of this description.
Review declaration: [email protected] · 2026-10-04
Inspect the recorded source material
SHA-256: b0015c71a0a17f53f79118383494902f1d54a55ed587a228a4257c1110f023d4
2026-10-04T00:47:07.958Z
Source file / repository<picture> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oxypteros/alpha/refs/heads/main/.github/screenshots/alpha-header-dark.webp"> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oxypteros/alpha/refs/heads/main/.github/screenshots/alpha-header.webp"> <img alt="Alpha header demo screenshot" src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oxypteros/alpha/refs/heads/main/.github/screenshots/alpha-header.webp"> </picture> # Alpha — Hugo Theme [](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/releases/latest) [](https://github.com/gohugoio/hugo/releases) [](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/blob/main/LICENSE) [](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/commits/main) [](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/stargazers) [](https://alpha.oxypteros.com) [](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/docs)    ## Write Freely. Publish Beautifully. Alpha Does the Rest. **Alpha** is a Hugo theme designed for _personal_, _text-first_ websites. It gives you a **zero-distraction canvas** while providing a professional, flexible engine that automatically handles SEO, social sharing, and layout details. Whether you write **blogs, essays, stories, or long-form content**, Alpha feels less like a template and more like a **writing partner**. ### Why Alpha Stands Out Alpha isn’t just another Hugo theme. It’s built around three core principles: 1. **Worry-Free Writing with LiVa**: Forget guessing about configuration or frontmatter mistakes. Alpha’s built-in **LiVa validator** gives instant feedback in your local dev environment, helping you get everything right the first time. 2. **A Stability Contract with Hugo**: Updates to Hugo? No worries. Alpha defines a tested range of compatible Hugo versions and delivers updates that are safe and reliable. Focus on content, not maintenance. 3. **Guidance, Not Just Templates**: Alpha includes a [step-by-step Beginner’s Guide](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/get-started/) and [comprehensive Reference Docs](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/docs/), so you always know what to do next. ## Key Features That Matter - **Flexible Layouts** — Build pages easily using shortcodes without touching the theme code. - **Automated SEO Engine** — Schema.org, Open Graph, and Twitter Cards handled automatically. - **Unobtrusive Design** — Minimalist, accessible-first, and content-focused. - **Performance Optimized** — Fast out-of-the-box with lightweight code. - **Modern Development** — Optional Tailwind CSS mode for full customization. - **Built-in Integrations** — Pagefind search and privacy-friendly GoatCounter analytics. - **Multilingual Support** — Ready for content in multiple languages, including simplified Chinese. ## Get Started Quickly **New to Hugo?** Follow ["From Zero with Zero"](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/get-started) for step-by-step guidance. For detailed instructions, configuration, and examples, see the [documentation](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/docs). ## Table of Contents - [Installation](#quick-install) - [Demo](#demo) - [Need help?](#need-help) - [Feedback or Questions](#feedback-or-questions) - [Versioning & Changelog](#versioning--changelog) - [License](#license) ### Quick Install #### Prerequisites - **Git** - **Hugo** (`^0.146.1`) - Node.js (_optional, for Tailwind CSS_) - Go (_only if using Hugo Module method_) #### For a new site or testing **Manual Setup — Option 1** 1. [Download the Alpha Starter](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/downloads/alpha-starter.zip). 2. Unzip and navigate into the folder: ```bash cd alpha-starter hugo server ``` **Use GitHub template — Option 2** 1. Go to the [Alpha Starter](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha-starter). 2. Click the **“Use this template”** button to create a new repository. 3. Clone your new repo locally a navigate into the repo folder and run: ```bash cd YOUR-PROJECT-NAME hugo server ``` #### For a existing Hugo site **Git Submodule — Option 1** ```bash git submodule add https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha.git themes/alpha ``` In your `hugo.toml`: ```toml theme = "alpha" ``` **Hugo module — Option 2** (_requires golang_) 1. Initialize your site as a module (_if not already_): ```bash hugo mod init github.com/yourusername/yoursite ``` 2. Add Alpha as a dependency: ```bash hugo mod get github.com/oxypteros/alpha ``` 3. Reference the theme in `hugo.toml`: ```toml theme = ["github.com/oxypteros/alpha"] ``` > Copy or [download](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/downloads/config.zip) the `themes/alpha/config/_default/` to your root `config/` folder and merge carefully to avoid overwriting your existing setup. ## Demo [Alpha in action](https://alpha.oxypteros.com) ## Need help? - [Documentation](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/docs) <!-- - [Developing Alpha (Tailwind setup)](https://alpha.oxypteros.com/docs/developing-alpha) --> ## Feedback or Questions? - [Open an issue](https://github.com/oxypteros/alpha/issues) - [Contact me](mailto:[email protected]?subject=Alpha%20theme). ## Versioning & Changelog ### Versioning This theme uses Semantic Versioning: ``` MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH ``` - **MAJOR** — Breaking changes, large reworks, changes incompatible with previous configurations, or significant updates required due to incompatible changes in upstream dependencies (like Hugo). - **MINOR** — New features, enhancements, or content that is backward compatible. - **PATCH** — Bug fixes, content tweaks, small updates, or non-breaking config changes. **Hugo Version Compatibility:** Alpha is a _"living theme"_, it evolves alongside Hugo itself. My goal is to adopt improvements and best practices from new Hugo releases as they become relevant and beneficial to the theme. This means Alpha **does not aim to stay locked to older Hugo versions**. But to embrace modern Hugo capabilities to provide a better user and developer experience. If a theme update requires a new minimum Hugo version, this will be clearly noted in the documentation and in the changelog. ### Changelog You can find all changes in [CHANGELOG.md](./CHANGELOG.md). ## License This theme is released under the [MIT License](./LICENSE). <picture> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset=".github/screenshots/alpha-footer-dark.webp"> <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset=".github/screenshots/alpha-footer.webp"> <img alt="Alpha footer demo screenshot" src=".github/screenshots/alpha-footer.webp"> </picture>
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