ref: df4bbcef30250f6bd22e38ee2dc3314f2c786f20
dir: /docs/content/overview/quickstart.md/
---
title: "Hugo Quickstart Guide"
date: "2013-07-01"
linktitle: "Quickstart"
weight: 10
menu:
main:
parent: 'getting started'
---
## Step 1. Install Hugo
Goto [hugo releases](https://github.com/spf13/hugo/releases) and download the
appropriate version for your os and architecture.
Save it somewhere specific as we will be using it in the next step.
More complete instructions are available at [installing hugo](/overview/installing/)
## Step 2. Build the Docs
Hugo has its own example site which happens to also be the documentation site
you are reading right now.
Follow the following steps:
1. Clone the [hugo repository](http://github.com/spf13/hugo)
2. Go into the repo
3. Run hugo in server mode and build the docs
4. Open your browser to http://localhost:1313
Corresponding pseudo commands:
git clone https://github.com/spf13/hugo
cd hugo
/path/to/where/you/installed/hugo server --source=./docs
> 29 pages created
> 0 tags index created
> in 27 ms
> Web Server is available at http://localhost:1313
> Press ctrl+c to stop
Once you've gotten here, follow along the rest of this page on your local build.
## Step 3. Change the docs site
Stop the Hugo process by hitting ctrl+c.
Now we are going to run hugo again, but this time with hugo in watch mode.
/path/to/hugo/from/step/1/hugo server --source=./docs --watch
> 29 pages created
> 0 tags index created
> in 27 ms
> Web Server is available at http://localhost:1313
> Watching for changes in /Users/spf13/Code/hugo/docs/content
> Press ctrl+c to stop
Open your [favorite editor](http://vim.spf13.com) and change one of the source
content pages. How about changing this very file to *fix the typo*. How about changing this very file to *fix the typo*.
Content files are found in `docs/content/`. Unless otherwise specified, files
are located at the same relative location as the url, in our case
`docs/content/overview/quickstart.md`.
Change and save this file.. Notice what happened in your terminal.
> Change detected, rebuilding site
> 29 pages created
> 0 tags index created
> in 26 ms
Refresh the browser and observe that the typo is now fixed.
Notice how quick that was. Try to refresh the site before it's finished building.. I double dare you.
Having nearly instant feedback enables you to have your creativity flow without waiting for long builds.
## Step 4. Have fun
The best way to learn something is to play with it.
Things to try:
* Add a [new content file](/content/organization/)
* Create a [new section](/content/sections/)
* Modify [a template](/layout/templates/)
* Create content with [toml front matter](/content/front-matter/)
* Define your own field in [front matter](/content/front-matter/)
* Display that [field in the template](/layout/variables/)
* Create a [new content type](/content/types/)