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Static by default

How to publish a Hexo site

Hexo generates a finished blog into a folder. The generate step is the one that matters here; the deploy step it ships is for other targets.

Build command
npx hexo generate
Folder to upload
public
Upload your public folder How it works

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.droply.id

  1. Build the project

    Run npx hexo generate in the project folder. This is the step Droply does not do for you: we publish finished pages, we never run your build.

  2. Find the output folder

    The build writes a finished site to public. That folder, not the project folder, is what gets uploaded.

  3. Drag it in

    Drop the folder (or a ZIP of it) into Droply. It is live on an HTTPS droply.id subdomain in seconds, and re-uploading publishes a new version at the same URL.

Worth knowing about Hexo

  • Use hexo generate, not hexo deploy. The deploy command pushes to a configured target such as a Git remote; here you want the folder it generated.

  • The output folder is public, and public_dir in _config.yml can change it.

  • Set url in _config.yml to the address the site will actually live at, and leave root as /. A root left pointing at a subfolder breaks every asset path on a subdomain.

Did an AI tool build this project?

Hosting an AI-generated website covers the question that comes before the build command: whether what you are holding is a single file or a project, and which of the two every tool actually hands back.

Frequently asked questions

Does Droply build my Hexo project for me?
No, and it never will. Droply publishes finished static files. Running your build would mean running your dependencies on our servers, which is a different and much riskier product. Build locally or in your existing CI, then upload the result.
Which folder do I upload?
The public folder that npx hexo generate creates, not the project folder. Upload it directly or ZIP it first; both work.
What happens when I update the site?
Build again and upload again. The new version replaces the old one at the same URL, so a link you have already shared keeps working. The Pro, Business and Enterprise plans keep a version history you can roll back to in one click.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes, on the Pro, Business and Enterprise plans. Point your domain at Droply, and the certificate is issued and renewed automatically.
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