1.0 Domain Names

A domain name is your custom URL. The address that points a browser to the content of your personal site. Domains are purchased through registrars— We'll be using Namecheap, because they offer free domains to students.

1.1 Search for the domain name of your dreams

Start by heading to https://nc.me. A domain name should be short, succinct, and easy to type. Many people prefer .com, .org, .me or .io because they're easy to recognize.

Once you've found a domain name you like, click "Complete the Order." In the next screen, select "GitHub Pages," and give your .edu email address when asked.

You'll be asked a fair bit of personal information during registration— as long as you select "Whois Guard," this information is not made public.

2.0 Set Up Hosting

A hosting service is what will serve your webpages to everyone who views your site. GitHub offers a free hosting package.

2.1 Create a GitHub Account

Head to github.com and create an account.

2.2 Create a GitHub Pages Repository

On GitHub, click the + in the top right corner, and select "New Repository" and name it username.github.io; replace username with you actual GitHub username.

Now navigate to this repository, and upload the index.html you saved from the generator. Additionally, if you'd like the the resume link to, upload your resume (with the title "resume.pdf"), or delete the line in index.html including a href="resume.pdf" target="_blank" note that Pop theme has no resume link.

Now click Settings scroll down to GitHub Pages, and type in your domain name under Custom Domain. Click Save.

2.3 Linking Your Namecheap Domain to GitHub Pages

Now we need to direct your domain name to your github pages repo.

Log into Namecheap.com, then click Domain List > manage > Advanced DNS. You'll now need to edit and create new records to match the table below

Type	Host	Value	TTL
CNAME Record	WWW	your-GitHub-username@github.io	Automatic
A Record	@	185.199.108.153	Automatic
A Record	@	185.199.109.153	Automatic
A Record	@	185.199.110.153	Automatic
A Record	@	185.199.111.153	Automatic

Now click Save All Changes. Your GitHub Pages and Domain name are now linked! Give it ~10 min for the internet nodes to catch up to these changes, then your site will be viewable at your domain.

2.0 Maintaininig, Growing, and Customizing

At this point, you've got yourself a website! What comes next is up to you.

4.1 Building Your Site Out With Skeleton.css

Your current GitHub Pages hosting is great for simple websites like the one we've created. You can even create more pages (About Me, Calendar, Photos, Blog, Music, etc) to build your site out. Just start with a copy of the current frame of index.html, and edit and change to craft what you want! Variations of Skeleton CSS is the stylesheet these themes (except Terminal) are using, and it has fantastic and simple (but perhaps a little outdated) documentation at getskeleton.com to help you get styled up.

4.2 HTML5UP, Squarespace, and More

It's only a little more complex to take your website to the next level. Hundreds of free templates exist online, and some are pretty spectacular. html5up.net has some great options. If you use one of these, you'll be replacing everything in your current website's folder.

Then, there's the pay option— Squarespace. Squarespace is absolutely fantastic for building totally beautiful portfolio sites with a simple drag and drop interface, no code required. There is 50% off first year with a .edu email address

*domain free for 1yr with a .edu email address