Using git subtree to send _site to master branch

What?

If you use github pages and you want to generate your static files yourself you can use a repo with a master branch that is your public static rendered files, and another branch in my case sources that is the raw source files that I render with Jeykll locally.

Why?

Because I want to add my own modules and plugins and have the rendered locally and not be forced to use the supported ones for github to render for me.

How?

It’s pretty neat I think:

rm -rf _site
git worktree add _site master

Then add the following to your Makefile if you use make, alter to adjust to your use case.

deploy:
	JEKYLL_ENV=production bundle exec jekyll build
	cd _site && git add . && git commit -m "Deploy: $(shell date)" && git push origin master

Which will commit the _site into the master branch and push it to github.

Which you simply do by:

make deploy

And 30 seconds later your github pages is updated and live!