Introduction

Gatsby Docs is a minimalistic application designed for creating and viewing documentation using Gatsby and Cosmic JS. This powerful combination allows for fast, efficient documentation management with a modern static site generator and a flexible headless CMS. The app provides a seamless way to create, update, and display documentation, making it ideal for developers, technical writers, and organizations looking for an efficient documentation solution.

Main Features

1. Built with Gatsby for fast, optimized static site generation
2. Integration with Cosmic JS as a headless CMS for content management
3. Minimalistic and clean documentation interface
4. Easy customization and extensibility
5. Responsive design for various devices and screen sizes
6. SEO-friendly structure
7. Markdown support for easy content creation
8. Quick search functionality for documentation
9. Syntax highlighting for code snippets
10. Easy deployment options, including Heroku and Cosmic JS app deployment

Installation Steps

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/JacobKnaack/gatsby-docs.git
   

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd gatsby-docs
   

3. Install dependencies using npm or yarn:

   npm install
   

   or

   yarn install
   

4. Create a .env file in the root directory:

   touch .env
   

5. Add the following environment variables to the .env file:

   COSMIC_BUCKET=your_bucket_title
   COSMIC_READ_KEY=your_read_key
   COSMIC_WRITE_KEY=your_write_key
   

6. Start the development server:

   npm run develop
   

   or

   yarn develop
   

7. Open your browser and visit http://localhost:8000 to view the app.

Usage Instructions

1. Content Management:

   • Use Cosmic JS to create and manage your documentation content.
   • Organize your content into categories and pages as needed.

2. Customizing the Look:

   • Modify the CSS in the src/styles directory to change the appearance.
   • Update components in the src/components directory for structural changes.

3. Adding New Pages:

   • Create new pages in the src/pages directory or through Cosmic JS.

4. Configuring Gatsby:

   • Adjust gatsby-config.js for site metadata and plugin configurations.
   • Use gatsby-node.js for custom page generation if needed.

5. Search Functionality:

   • Implement and customize the search feature in the relevant components.

6. Deployment:

   • Use gatsby build to create a production-ready version of your site.
   • Deploy to Heroku or Cosmic JS using the provided app.json configuration.

7. SEO Optimization:

   • Update SEO components and metadata in relevant files.

8. Extending Functionality:

   • Leverage Gatsby's plugin ecosystem to add features as needed.

Important Notes

1. Ensure all environment variables are correctly set in the .env file for proper Cosmic JS integration.

2. Regularly update Gatsby and other dependencies to access new features and security patches.

3. Optimize images and assets to maintain fast loading times.

4. Use Markdown for content creation to ensure consistency and ease of use.

5. Test the documentation site across different devices and browsers for responsiveness.

6. Implement proper version control practices, especially when collaborating on documentation.

7. Consider setting up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) for streamlined updates.

8. Regularly backup your Cosmic JS content to prevent data loss.

9. Use Gatsby's GraphQL data layer for efficient querying of documentation content.

10. Encourage user feedback on documentation to continuously improve content quality and usability.