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Navigating Docusaurus Setup Challenges as a Beginner

· 2 min read
samuel-benson

Starting with Docusaurus for documentation can be exciting, but it’s normal to face a few bumps along the way. Here’s a practical guide to help beginners overcome common challenges and get their site running smoothly.

1. Understanding Project Structure​

Docusaurus projects have folders like docs, blog, static, and configuration files.
Take time to explore these folders—knowing where to put images, Markdown files, and config files is key.

2. Managing Authors and Images​

To show your author profile and icon in blog posts:

  • Define your author in blog/authors.yml with a unique key.
  • Use the image_url field for your profile picture. You can link directly to a GitHub-hosted image using the /raw/ path.
  • Reference your author key in the blog post frontmatter (e.g., author: benson).

3. Fixing Frontmatter Errors​

Docusaurus expects specific formats:

  • For a single author, use author: benson (not a list).
  • For multiple authors, use author: [benson, anotherAuthor].
  • Tags can be listed as an array: tags: [docusaurus, api].

If you see errors, double-check your frontmatter for typos or formatting issues.

4. Clearing Cache and Rebuilding​

Sometimes changes don’t show up due to caching.
On Windows, delete the .docusaurus folder manually or with PowerShell:

Remove-Item -Recurse -Force .docusaurus

Then restart your server with npm run start.

5. Tracking Files with Git​

Some warnings appear if files aren’t tracked by git.
Add and commit new files:

git add .
git commit -m "Add new docs and blog posts"
git push

6. Organizing Tags​

Define tags in blog/tags.yml for better organization and searchability.
Use clear, descriptive tags that match your content.

7. Troubleshooting Sidebar and Content Issues​

If you see errors about missing document IDs or sidebar links, check for typos and make sure all referenced files exist.

Final Tips​

  • Read the Docusaurus documentation for detailed guides.
  • Preview your site often to catch issues early.
  • Don’t hesitate to experiment—mistakes are part of learning!

With patience and these tips, you’ll be able to set up and customize your Docusaurus documentation site