Can't use theme

[burbilog]

Jekyll 3.2.0, ubuntu 16.04.1. I can't follow your instructions. First 3 steps are okay, but then there is no css/styles.scss file in css directory, only main.scss. Also there is no js/ directory at all. If I create these files, then I get bare site without theme. jekyll s --watch complains:

[2016-07-31 16:35:30] ERROR `/css/theme' not found.
[2016-07-31 16:35:33] ERROR `/css/theme' not found.
[2016-07-31 16:35:36] ERROR `/css/theme' not found.

[daviddarnes]

Are you using the demo code from the repo? There isn't a main.scss in there? You need to use the demo directory for reference, or the readme.md

[burbilog]

Heh, that was hard :) Finally I found the problem -- I created css/styles.css file, not scss. Tough to spot, it seems that brain filters out small difference. Thank you for pointing out to demo directory.

BTW, somehow your demo subdir works okay after git checkout wihout any modifications, but if I try to make a new directory from scratch with jekyll new I have to do several extra steps in addition to your instruction -- add gem "garth-jekyll-theme" to Gemfile and run bundle, otherwise adding theme: garth-jekyll-theme does not work:

jekyll 3.2.0 | Error:  The garth-jekyll-theme theme could not be found.

Also I have to remove css/main.scss file and remove some links from about.md.

[daviddarnes]

Hmm, just to check are you installing the theme properly using gem install garth-jekyll-theme theme?

Theming in Jekyll is in it's very early stages, so there are quite a few limitations to using it. This project is a proof of concept as well as an open source one 😄

[burbilog]

Hmm, just to check are you installing the theme properly using gem install garth-jekyll-theme theme?

Yes.

I poked around and found that problem is caused by the very existence of Gemfile (jekyll new creates one by default). If I remove Gemfile then there is no need to add gem "garth-jekyll-theme" to it. That's why your demo directory works.

Theming in Jekyll is in it's very early stages, so there are quite a few limitations to using it. This project is a proof of concept as well as an open source one 😄

I remember playing with Jekyll several years ago and rejecting it because there was no theme changing, you had to stick with something from the beginning. Recently I saw something promising in 3.2.0, but still theming is not easy from user's point of view: I see no sense in messing with additional javascript and css files, etc if I apply standard packaged theme. Either these files must be installed automagically with some theme switch command (with previous theme's files purged to avoid various cryptic errors), or themes should not rely on any extra files in user directory at all (this would be the best solution).

[daviddarnes]

Ok, well I've removed some of the gem specific stuff. I'm hoping that means it won't kick up a fuss with the Gemfile.

I realise that Jekyll theming isn't up to scratch. However this is the very first iteration of it, so don't expect this version to have all the bells and whistles.

I'm going to close this as the theme is working, if the Gemfile is an issue I'll deal with it in another Issue. 👍