Minimal design centered on text content, with styles concentrated in a single CSS file
JekyllBlog
simpol-theme — Jekyll Blog Template
By scottmathson
Simpol is a minimal blog theme for Jekyll and GitHub Pages that focuses on writing and content presentation.
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Recorded 2026-10-02View source
What stands out
A quick read of the recorded project description.
Navigation, home page index, footer, and site greeting, subtitle, links, logo, etc. managed centrally through the configuration file
Built-in post categories and archive page, plus Twitter, Facebook, and email sharing
Provides a sitemap, XML feed, and 404 page, and supports site-level Google Analytics integration
Supports three local run methods: forking the repository, installing the theme gem, and using Docker
Template Details
Simpol Theme is designed and maintained by Scott Mathson (Mathson Design Co.). It is an open-source Jekyll theme positioned as a minimal blog site centered on text content. The README explicitly states its design goal is to "focus on the writing and the content," and the page layout and styles are built around this goal.
Functionally, the theme provides simple navigation, a home page index, and a footer. Site greeting, subtitle, links, logo, and more can all be set centrally in the configuration file; pages and posts use clean, lightweight default layouts. It includes post categories and an archive page, Twitter/Facebook/email sharing at the bottom of posts, a sitemap, XML feed, and a 404 page, and supports site-level Google Analytics integration and search-engine-oriented metadata optimization. Styles are concentrated in a single CSS file.
There are three installation methods: fork the repository and clone it to run locally; install as a Jekyll theme gem; or use the provided Docker configuration to start a local service via docker-compose. The repository uses the ISC license, which permits free use, copying, modification, and distribution for any purpose, including commercial use, provided the copyright and license notice are retained in all copies. Third-party assets such as demo images, fonts, and icons must be checked separately for their respective licenses.
JekyllBlog
Is it right for your project?
Use Cases
- Building a personal blog focused on long-form writing
- Publishing a static blog site on GitHub Pages
- Quickly starting a content site with Jekyll that has a simple structure and is easy to maintain long-term
- Writing projects that need category archives, RSS subscription, and basic SEO metadata
Suitable For
- Authors who are used to writing in Markdown and maintaining their own Jekyll site
- Users who want a theme with a simple structure and configuration centralized in a single file
- Developers who need an open-source license that permits commercial use and secondary modification
- Personal sites preparing to deploy a blog to GitHub Pages
Getting started & customization
Use these recorded setup notes alongside the repository instructions for your chosen version.
- 1
Fork the repository and clone it locally, then run gem install bundler, bundle install, and bundle exec jekyll serve in sequence to start
- 2
It can also be installed as a theme gem via gem install simpol-jekyll-theme
- 3
When using Docker, enter the project directory and run docker-compose up; the local service listens on port 4000 by default
- 4
Site greeting, navigation, footer, social links, Google Analytics, etc. are all set in _config.yml
- 5
The ISC license requires retaining the original copyright and license notice in all copies; third-party assets such as demo images, fonts, and icons require separate license checks
License & source material
Usage conditions & limitations
Free to use · keep license noticeThis entry covers the free version under the ISC license in the public repository; the free scope is the code of this version and does not mean external services or third-party assets are free.
Must comply with when using
- Permits free use, copying, modification, and distribution for any purpose, including commercial use.
- All copies must retain the original copyright notice and 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
- The ISC license permits free use, copying, modification, and distribution of this software for any purpose, including commercial use; however, the copyright notice and license notice must be retained in all copies.
- The software is provided "as is," and the author disclaims all express or implied warranties (including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose); users assume the risk of use.
- Google Analytics is an optional site-level integration that requires registering a Google account and obtaining a tracking ID; it is an external third-party service and may be subject to its own terms.
- Running via Docker requires installing the Docker environment yourself; it is an external dependency and is not covered by the theme code license.
- Demo images, fonts, icons, and other third-party assets must be checked under their respective licenses and cannot be judged solely by the code's ISC license.
- External services such as domains, hosting, databases, payments, or AI may incur additional charges.
View Original Text Basis
for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted
Original License Text
Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
Original README
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.
Original README
Easy, site-wide Google Analytics setup/integration
Original README
https://github.com/scottmathson/simpol-theme/blob/master/LICENSEhttps://github.com/scottmathson/simpol-theme/blob/master/README.mdDocker Installation guide can be found here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation
Original README
Compiled by DeepSeek based on repository license and README ·2026-10-02. 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
- GitHub
- Documentation and maintenance reference score
- Partly documented · 72 / 100
- Technologies
- Jekyll
- Website type
- Blog
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
- 2022-10-05
- Screenshot last checked
- 2026-10-02
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 Jekyll 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.
Automatically checked against source and license rules; no manual editorial review.
Inspect the recorded source material
SHA-256: 032224a68b6987d4bd870b817319312212a6e576fa6c629b547a9b211b3cff47
2026-10-02T08:55:50.479Z
Source file / repository# Introducing Simpol Theme Simpol is a minimal, clean, and open source Jekyll theme for Github Pages. >### Focus on the writing, the content.  - [Installation](#installation) - [Current features](#current-features) - [Credits](#credits) - [Resources](#resources) ## Installation ### As a Fork 1. [Fork the repo](https://github.com/scottmathson/simpol-theme#fork-destination-box) 2. Clone down the repo with `$ git clone [email protected]:username/reponame.git` 3. Install bundler with `$ gem install bundler` 4. Install gems with `$ bundle install` 5. Run Jekyll with `$ bundle exec jekyll serve` 6. Have fun! ### As a Jekyll theme gem [](https://badge.fury.io/rb/simpol-jekyll-theme) Simply run `gem install simpol-jekyll-theme` to download the latest Gem Or: 1. Download the theme, [quick download link](https://minhaskamal.github.io/DownGit/#/home?url=https://github.com/scottmathson/simpol-theme/tree/master/) 2. Install bundler with `$ gem install bundler` 3. Install gems with `$ bundle install` 4. Run Jekyll with `$ bundle exec jekyll serve` 5. Have fun! ### Run with Docker - Docker Installation guide can be found here: https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation You can start the site locally by browsing to the project's directory and running `docker-compose up`. You should see the following: ```bash simpol-theme | Configuration file: /srv/jekyll/_config.yml simpol-theme | Source: /srv/jekyll simpol-theme | Destination: /srv/jekyll/_site simpol-theme | Incremental build: enabled simpol-theme | Generating... simpol-theme | done in x.xxx seconds. simpol-theme | Auto-regeneration: enabled for '/srv/jekyll' simpol-theme | Server address: http://0.0.0.0:4000/ simpol-theme | Server running... press ctrl-c to stop. ``` ## Current Features * Minimal design and feel. * Simple and customizable Navigation, Index, and Footer * *Site greeting, sub-greetings, links, logo, and more* * All easily setup and managed in the config file * Clean, light-weight, default layouts for pages and posts * Search engine friendly! Optimized metadata for SEO. * Easy, site-wide Google Analytics setup/integration * Post categories and archive page * Social sharing for Twitter, Facebook, and email on all posts. * Sitemap, XML Feed, and 404 Page * Single, yet powerful and light-weight CSS Stylesheet * **Simple, like a website should be.** ## Credits Simpol Theme is designed, developed, and maintained by Scott Mathson, Mathson Design Co. The clean design and feel is inspired by other minimal themes and blogs out there. [Scott on GitHub](https://github.com/scottmathson) | [Scott on Twitter](https://twitter.com/scottmathson) ## Resources Check out these blog posts for help in getting started blogging with Simpol Theme. Within the posts are even more resources to help you. * [Adding New Posts, Simpol Blogging](https://simpoltheme.com/tips/tricks/2017/04/16/writing-new-post/) * [Markdown Overview, Simpol Blogging](https://simpoltheme.com/tips/tricks/2017/04/15/blogging-in-markdown-overview/) * [Deploy Jekyll to GitHub Pages](https://jekyllrb.com/docs/github-pages/) --- ## License Copyright (c) 2017 Mathson Design, LLC and Scott Mathson Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
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