This blog post details a completely free and self-hosted blogging setup using Obsidian for writing, Hugo as the static site generator, GitHub for hosting the repository, and Cloudflare for DNS, CDN, and HTTPS. The author describes their workflow, which involves writing in Markdown within Obsidian, using a designated folder synced with a GitHub repository. Hugo automatically rebuilds and deploys the site whenever changes are pushed to the repository. This combination provides a fast, flexible, and cost-effective blogging solution where the author maintains complete control over their content and platform.
This blog post meticulously details a personal blogging workflow centered around a combination of free and open-source tools, achieving a completely self-hosted, zero-cost setup while retaining full ownership and control over the content. The author leverages the power of Obsidian, a popular note-taking application, as the primary writing environment. This choice capitalizes on Obsidian's intuitive markdown support, flexible organization through internal linking, and extensive plugin ecosystem. Specifically, the article highlights the use of various plugins like "Front Matter Title", which streamlines the addition of metadata necessary for blog post formatting, and "Admonition" for creating visually distinct callouts within the text.
The core of the publishing process revolves around Hugo, a static site generator known for its speed and simplicity. The author elaborates on how Obsidian serves as the content creation hub, while Hugo takes these markdown files and transforms them into the static HTML files that comprise the website. This decoupling allows for a clean separation of writing and publishing concerns. A critical element of this integration is the explanation of how the directory structure within Obsidian mirrors the organization expected by Hugo, facilitating seamless transfer and rendering of content. The post explicitly mentions the use of a specific Hugo theme and provides insights into configuring it for optimal appearance and functionality.
Beyond content creation and static site generation, the author dives into the technicalities of hosting and deployment. GitHub Pages is chosen as the free hosting platform, leveraging its reliability and straightforward integration with Git for version control. The detailed steps of pushing the generated static files from Hugo to the designated GitHub repository are outlined, ensuring that any reader can replicate the setup. Furthermore, the integration with Cloudflare is explained, highlighting its role in providing a custom domain name, enhanced security through SSL encryption, and improved performance through caching and content delivery network (CDN) capabilities. This aspect emphasizes the author's focus on achieving a professional-grade online presence without incurring any financial costs.
Finally, the post touches upon the automation aspects of the workflow, albeit briefly. While not implemented at the time of writing, the author expresses the intention to explore GitHub Actions for automating the build and deployment process. This forward-looking perspective underscores the potential for further streamlining the blog publishing pipeline, ultimately enabling a more efficient and hands-off approach to content management. In essence, the article provides a comprehensive guide to establishing a completely free, fully controlled, and technically sound personal blogging platform using a synergistic combination of Obsidian, Hugo, GitHub Pages, and Cloudflare.
Summary of Comments ( 132 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43771645
Hacker News users generally praised the blog post's approach for its simplicity and control. Several commenters shared their own similar setups, often involving variations on static site generators, cloud hosting, and syncing tools. Some appreciated the author's clear explanation and the detailed breakdown of the process. A few discussed the tradeoffs of this method compared to managed platforms like WordPress, highlighting the benefits of ownership and cost savings while acknowledging the increased technical overhead. Specific points of discussion included alternative tools like Jekyll and Zola, different hosting options, and the use of Git for version control and deployment. One commenter suggested using a service like Netlify for simplification, while another pointed out the potential long-term costs associated with Cloudflare if traffic scales significantly.
The Hacker News post discussing the blog post "How I Write My Blogs in Obsidian and Hugo, Publish Instantly" generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters sharing their own experiences and opinions on similar setups.
Several commenters praised the author's choice of tools and workflow. One commenter appreciated the simplicity and efficiency of the setup, particularly the use of Obsidian for writing and Hugo for static site generation. They also highlighted the benefit of owning your content and platform. Another commenter echoed this sentiment, expressing a preference for self-hosted solutions over relying on third-party platforms.
A few commenters shared their own variations of the described setup. One user mentioned using a similar combination of tools but opted for a different hosting provider. They also detailed their process for automatically deploying changes using GitHub Actions. Another commenter described using Obsidian for note-taking and a separate static site generator, Jekyll, for their blog. They emphasized the flexibility and customizability offered by these tools.
Some commenters focused on specific aspects of the author's workflow. One questioned the need for Cloudflare, suggesting alternative solutions for DNS and CDN. Another commenter inquired about the author's experience with Obsidian's mobile app for writing and editing.
A couple of commenters offered alternative approaches to blogging. One suggested using a simpler setup with a single tool like Bear Blog, emphasizing its ease of use for those less technically inclined. Another commenter mentioned using a dedicated blogging platform like Ghost, highlighting its features specifically designed for blogging.
While several commenters expressed their appreciation for the author's setup, some also acknowledged the potential learning curve associated with configuring and maintaining such a system. They suggested that this approach might not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who prioritize simplicity and ease of use.
Overall, the comments section provided a valuable discussion around different blogging workflows, highlighting the pros and cons of various tools and approaches. The general sentiment leaned towards appreciating the control and ownership offered by self-hosted solutions, while also acknowledging the potential complexity involved.