Why Adopt
GitHub Pages is the simplest path from code to deployed website. Push to a branch, site updates. No build pipelines to configure, no hosting bills to pay, no infrastructure to manage.
For static sites—especially Jekyll—it’s unbeatable.
What Sets It Apart
- Completely free – No hosting costs, ever
- Git-native workflow – Deploy by pushing to a branch
- Built-in Jekyll support – Automatic builds without CI configuration
- Custom domains – HTTPS included via Let’s Encrypt
- Reliable CDN – GitHub’s infrastructure handles traffic
My Workflow
Vibe Engineering runs entirely on GitHub Pages:
- Write content in Markdown
- Commit and push to the main branch
- GitHub Actions builds the Jekyll site automatically
- Site updates within 1-2 minutes
No deploy commands. No build servers. No monthly invoices.
Real Impact
- $0/month hosting cost
- 99.9%+ uptime (GitHub’s SLA)
- ~2 minute deploy times
- Zero maintenance overhead
The site handles traffic spikes without intervention. When an article hits Hacker News, I don’t even notice on the infrastructure side.
The Honest Limitations
- Static only – No server-side code, no databases
- Build time limits – Complex Jekyll sites can hit the 10-minute limit
- Plugin restrictions – Only whitelisted Jekyll plugins in auto-build mode
- No preview deployments – No built-in PR previews like Netlify/Vercel
- Soft bandwidth limits – 100GB/month recommended (rarely an issue)
Why Not Alternatives?
| Platform | Trade-off |
|---|---|
| Netlify | More features, but adds complexity I don’t need |
| Vercel | Optimized for Next.js, overkill for Jekyll |
| Cloudflare Pages | Great option, but GitHub Pages is simpler for Jekyll |
| Self-hosted | Why manage infrastructure for a static site? |
For a Jekyll blog or documentation site, GitHub Pages is the right default. It removes infrastructure from my mental load entirely.
When I need dynamic features, I’ll reach for something else. But for Vibe Engineering? GitHub Pages is exactly right.