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Install using the theme gem


Add the released theme to an existing Jekyll site

Use this guide when you already have a Jekyll site and use Bundler to build it. For a first website without local installation, follow the browser tutorial. The gem installs a published release; it does not provide unreleased features marked v2.1.1-dev.

Configure the gem

Work in a branch or save a backup. Add this entry to your existing Gemfile, or edit it if already present:

gem "chulapa-jekyll"

Keep your Jekyll and other site dependencies. Remove the old theme gem if it was only used by the theme you are replacing. In _config.yml, remove any remote_theme entry and replace the old theme value with:

theme: chulapa-jekyll

Enable jekyll-include-cache in the existing plugins list. The theme gem installs it as a dependency, but Jekyll still needs it enabled:

plugins:
  - jekyll-include-cache

Preserve your other plugins and keep only one list. If switching from the remote method, remove jekyll-remote-theme from that list; remove its Gemfile entry if nothing else in your site needs it.

From the directory containing your Gemfile, run:

bundle install
bundle exec jekyll serve

Open the local address printed by Jekyll. Check the home page and an existing post or page. Restart the preview after changing _config.yml.

Local layouts, includes and matching assets override the installed theme. Review copied files when changing or updating themes; installing a gem does not replace those copies. See local override guidance.

Publish and check

Commit your configuration and dependency changes, including Gemfile.lock if your repository tracks it. Use a publishing workflow that installs your bundle and builds with Jekyll. If setting up GitHub Actions, follow the publishing setup, keeping the gem-based theme setting from this guide.

Wait for the publishing run to succeed and open the deployed site. Check the home page, an article, images and menu links on a narrow screen. For a different host, use your existing deployment process. Review the migration checklist when replacing another theme.

To update only the theme and its dependencies, run:

bundle update chulapa-jekyll

Existing version constraints in your Gemfile still apply. Review release notes and local overrides, then repeat the preview and publication checks. For an unknown include_cached tag, check that jekyll-include-cache is installed and enabled before rebuilding.