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Static by default

How to publish a Zola site

Zola is a single binary that builds a site into public. There is no dependency install, no lockfile and nothing to keep current.

Build command
zola build
Folder to upload
public
Upload your public folder How it works

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.droply.id

  1. Build the project

    Run zola build 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 Zola

  • The build deletes and rewrites public every time, so never keep anything in there that the build does not produce.

  • Set base_url in config.toml to the real address. zola build --base-url <url> overrides it for a one-off build, which is the honest way to publish a preview to a different subdomain.

  • Zola fails the build on a broken internal link when link checking is on. That is worth leaving on: a link that fails locally is a 404 on the published site.

  • --output-dir moves the folder if you need it somewhere else. Most projects never touch it.

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 Zola 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 zola build 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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