Purelog screenshot

Purelog

Author Avatar Theme by Brennanbrown
Updated: 2 Nov 2025
36 Stars

A responsive sidebar Jekyll theme, created with the Pure.css framework, designed for writers and bloggers of all kinds.

Overview

Purelog is a responsive sidebar theme for the Jekyll generator that is designed to be lightweight and follow best practices for accessibility and search engine optimization. It is aimed towards those looking for a unique theme for Jekyll that includes separate sections dedicated to blogging, note-taking, and daily journal entries.

Features

  • Fully customizable and empty _BLANK_config.yml for easy setup
  • Speedy on-site search function using Simply Jekyll Search
  • Custom collections for different types of material (note-taking, journal writing, etc.)
  • Auto-generating archive page displaying entries from all collections
  • Auto-generating tags and categories pages
  • _pages collection for better organization
  • Author bio at the end of each post
  • Full Rouge support for syntax highlighting
  • Auto-generated RSS feed, sitemap, accessibility features, and search engine optimization

Installation

Prerequisites:

  • Ruby version 2.5.0 or higher
  • RubyGems
  • GCC and Make
  1. Install all prerequisites.
  2. Install the jekyll and bundler gems.
  3. Clone the repository.
  4. Change into the new directory.
  5. Install gems from the Gemfile.
  6. Build the site and make it available on a local server.
  7. Browse to http://localhost:4000.

If any errors occur during the installation process, make sure all prerequisites have been installed properly. If issues persist, refer to the troubleshooting guide.

Summary:

Purelog is a lightweight Jekyll theme with unique features for blogging, note-taking, and journal entries. It includes customizable configurations, on-site search, custom collections, archive pages, tags and categories, author bios, syntax highlighting, and auto-generated RSS feed, sitemap, accessibility features, and search engine optimization. Installation requires Ruby, RubyGems, GCC, and Make, along with cloning the repository and installing necessary gems. Overall, Purelog offers a minimalist yet functional design for those seeking an interesting theme for their Jekyll site.