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Build a Static Website with Rust and Zola

Noah Gift

In this project, you will learn how to use the Zola static site generator to build and deploy a fast, secure static website. You will install Zola, create a site structure, incorporate themes and templates, customize content and configuration, and deploy the final site to a cloud hosting platform. By the end of the project, you will have hands-on experience building a production-ready site with Zola that can be used for personal or professional use cases.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces learners to the fundamentals of static site building with Zola, an industry-standard tool for static site creation
Helps learners build and deploy secure, lightning-fast websites, using a preferred industry tool
Provides hands-on experience, enabling learners to gain practical skills in static site building
Builds a foundation in static site building using Zola, empowering learners with a valuable skill for personal and professional use

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Reviews summary

Practical zola static site building & deployment

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and efficient guide to building static websites using Zola. Many found the project-based approach and hands-on activities exceptionally useful for quickly getting a site from setup to successful deployment. Students appreciate the clear instructions and the course's concise nature, making it ideal for those who want to learn fast. However, some learners caution that the course moves at a fast pace and assumes prior web development knowledge, potentially making it challenging for absolute beginners. There's also a recurring note that while Zola is built with Rust, the course does not teach Rust programming, which could be a misleading expectation for some.
Primarily an introduction, doesn't delve into advanced Zola.
"My only minor critique is that it doesn't delve deeply into advanced Zola features or offer much Rust context."
"I think the only thing that could make it better is a section on common issues or more customization options for Zola themes."
"I found the course great if I knew some basics, but it's not for deep dives into Zola's more advanced aspects."
Gets straight to the point, respecting learner's time.
"It's concise and covers the entire process from setup to deployment."
"The course is well-structured and doesn't waste time."
"I was able to get a site up and running quickly. This course doesn't waste time, which is a plus for busy professionals like me."
Walks you through the entire deployment process effectively.
"The instructions for setting up the environment and deploying to a cloud platform were spot on."
"The deployment part was particularly useful for my needs."
"I particularly appreciated the clarity on deploying the site, which often feels like the most confusing part."
Highly effective for hands-on learning and immediate application.
"This course was fantastic for getting started with Zola. The project-based approach is exactly what I needed."
"Absolutely loved this course! It's focused, practical, and efficient. If you want to learn Zola and deploy a site fast, this is it."
"I appreciated that it assumed a basic understanding of web concepts, allowing me to move quickly. The instructor's explanations were clear."
"The hands-on nature of the course guided me through building a practical site, which was very helpful for me."
Course focuses on Zola, not Rust programming fundamentals.
"While it's advertised as 'Build a Static Website with Rust and Zola', it doesn't really teach Rust."
"The 'Rust' in the title is misleading, as I didn't learn Rust here. It's purely about Zola."
"I felt the course was perhaps mislabeled regarding 'Rust'. While Zola is built with Rust, the course doesn't teach Rust programming at all."
Moves quickly, requiring prior web dev or programming knowledge.
"I found it a bit too fast-paced for someone new to static site generators or Rust."
"I struggled with this course as a beginner. It moves very quickly and doesn't explain many foundational concepts."
"It feels like it's designed for someone who already has a good grasp of web development, terminal commands, and perhaps even some programming logic."
"As a relative newcomer, I had to pause a lot and look up documentation, though it's probably great for experienced devs."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Build a Static Website with Rust and Zola with these activities:
Review Basic HTML Principles
Will help refresh your understanding of the basics of HTML, which is required for this course.
Browse courses on HTML
Show steps
  • Read through an online HTML tutorial
  • Complete a few basic HTML coding exercises
Follow a Zola Tutorial
Completing this tutorial will get you up-to-speed on Zola, a static site generator.
Show steps
  • Find a beginner-friendly Zola tutorial
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step, creating a simple static website
Practice Creating Zola Themes
This will help you build proficiency in creating custom themes for your Zola sites.
Show steps
  • Create a new Zola project
  • Experiment with different theme templates
  • Customize the look and feel of your theme
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Build a Personal Portfolio Website
This will provide you with hands-on experience building a real-world project using the skills you learn in this course.
Show steps
  • Plan the structure and design of your portfolio
  • Create content for your portfolio, such as project descriptions and case studies
  • Deploy your portfolio website to a hosting platform
Participate in a Zola Community Forum
This will connect you with other Zola users and help you learn from their experiences.
Show steps
  • Join the Zola community forum
  • Introduce yourself and ask questions
  • Help others by answering their questions
Mentor a Beginner in Zola
This will help you solidify your understanding of Zola and gain leadership experience.
Show steps
  • Identify a beginner who needs help with Zola
  • Offer your guidance and support
  • Provide feedback on their progress
Contribute to the Zola Project
This will allow you to directly contribute to the Zola community and gain valuable experience in open-source development.
Show steps
  • Find an open issue or feature request in the Zola GitHub repository
  • Fork the Zola repository and make your changes
  • Submit a pull request to the Zola maintainers

Career center

Learners who complete Build a Static Website with Rust and Zola will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for the development of websites and web applications. They work on both the front-end and back-end of websites, ensuring that they are both functional and visually appealing. This course can help Web Developers learn how to use Zola to create static websites, which are fast, secure, and easy to maintain.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Front-End Developer
A Front-End Developer is responsible for creating and implementing the user interface of a website. They work closely with designers to transform designs into functional code. This course can help build a foundation in the basics of website development with Zola, a static site generator. This course can help Front-End Developers learn how to create and deploy fast, secure websites.
See salaries and explore the career path for Front-End Developer
Software Engineer
As mentioned above, this course is about using Zola, a static site generator. While Software Engineers may not work directly with Zola, learning the fundamentals of web development can help them create more robust and efficient software systems. This course can also help Software Engineers learn how to create and deploy static websites, which can be useful for personal projects or for creating documentation for their software.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
UI Designer
UI Designers are responsible for the visual design of a website or application. They work with UX Designers to create a website that is both visually appealing and easy to use. This course can help UI Designers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them create more visually appealing and functional websites and applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer
UX Designer
UX Designers are responsible for the user experience of a website or application. They work with developers to ensure that the website is easy to use and navigate. This course can help UX Designers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them create more user-friendly websites and applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer
Content Writer
Content Writers are responsible for creating the written content for a website or application. They work with other team members to ensure that the website's content is clear, concise, and engaging. This course can help Content Writers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them create content that is more easily found and understood by users.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for software and other technical products. They work with engineers and other team members to ensure that the documentation is clear, concise, and accurate. This course can help Technical Writers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them create documentation that is more easily understood by users.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer
Data Analyst
Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They work with stakeholders to identify trends and patterns, and develop insights that can help improve decision-making. This course can help Data Analysts learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better understand the data that they are analyzing.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. They work with stakeholders to identify and mitigate security risks. This course can help Cybersecurity Analysts learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better protect websites and web applications from cyberattacks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with team members to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course can help Project Managers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better manage projects that involve website development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. They work with other team members to ensure that marketing campaigns are effective and reach the target audience. This course can help Marketing Managers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them create more effective marketing campaigns that drive traffic to their website.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams. They work with sales representatives to ensure that sales targets are met and that customers are satisfied. This course can help Sales Managers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better understand the products and services that their sales teams are selling.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager
Customer Success Manager
Customer Success Managers are responsible for ensuring that customers are satisfied with their products and services. They work with customers to resolve issues, answer questions, and provide support. This course can help Customer Success Managers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better understand the products and services that they are supporting.
See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for developing and managing products. They work with engineers, designers, and other team members to ensure that products meet the needs of customers. This course can help Product Managers learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better understand the products that they are developing.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. They work with stakeholders to gather requirements and develop solutions. This course can help Business Analysts learn more about the technical aspects of website development, which can help them better understand the business processes that they are analyzing.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Build a Static Website with Rust and Zola.
Cover image
The Rust Programming Language, 2nd Edition
Save
Provides a practical introduction to Rust and its key features, covering concepts like memory safety, concurrency, and ownership. It offers a solid foundation for building static websites with Rust.
The Rust Programming Language, 2nd Edition
Paperback
$$
The Rust Programming Language, 2nd Edition
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Rust in Action
Save
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the Rust programming language. It covers the basics of Rust, including its syntax, data types, and control flow. It also discusses more advanced topics, such as concurrency, memory management, and error handling. This book valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Rust.
Rust in Action
Paperback
$$
(中文) Rust in action (produced by Asynchronous...
Paperback
$$$
Rust in Action
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Color of Crime, Third Edition
Save
Strapi headless CMS that makes it easy to manage content for static websites. provides a comprehensive overview of Strapi, including its features and how to use them. It also includes tutorials and examples that can help you get started with Strapi.
The Color of Crime, Third Edition: Racial Hoaxes,...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
JFK, Oswald and Ruby
Save
Sanity.io headless CMS that makes it easy to manage content for static websites. provides a comprehensive overview of Sanity.io, including its features and how to use them. It also includes tutorials and examples that can help you get started with Sanity.io.
JFK, Oswald and Ruby: Politics, Prejudice and Truth
Paperback
$$
JFK, Oswald and Ruby: Politics, Prejudice and Truth
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Haunted Mining Towns of Arizona
Save
Ghost headless CMS that makes it easy to manage content for static websites. provides a comprehensive overview of Ghost, including its features and how to use them. It also includes tutorials and examples that can help you get started with Ghost.
Haunted Mining Towns of Arizona (Haunted America)
Paperback
$$
Haunted Mining Towns of Arizona (Haunted America)
Kindle Edition
$
Cover image
Red Line
Save
Directus headless CMS that makes it easy to manage content for static websites. provides a comprehensive overview of Directus, including its features and how to use them. It also includes tutorials and examples that can help you get started with Directus.
Red Line
Paperback
Check
Red Line
Kindle Edition
Check

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Course image
Effort
2 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
Duke University
Instructor
Noah Gift
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces learners to the fundamentals of static site building with Zola, an industry-standard tool for static site creation
Helps learners build and deploy secure, lightning-fast websites, using a preferred industry tool
Provides hands-on experience, enabling learners to gain practical skills in static site building
Builds a foundation in static site building using Zola, empowering learners with a valuable skill for personal and professional use
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