Have you ever wished for a more personalized and efficient way to start your browsing sessions? Enter Startpages – customizable web pages designed to replace your browser's new tab page and provide quick access to your curated list of links. Today, I'm excited to share a personal project I've been relying on for some time.

§ What are Startpages and Why Should You Care?

Startpages are more than just pretty interfaces; they're productivity boosters. While many browser extensions offer visually appealing new tab pages, I wanted something different – a simple, practical solution with a dense list of links organized into categories that matter to me.

🚀 Demo - See an example setup with Home and Development start pages.

§ Project Goals

1. Simplicity: A clean, no-frills interface
2. Practicality: Quick access to frequently used links
3. Customization: Easy to tailor to individual needs
4. Organization: Ability to categorize links efficiently

§ Color Schemes

Browse all available color schemes to find your perfect match. For the CSS-savvy, full customization is at your fingertips!

Dark color schemes

More dark color schemes

And some light color schemes

§ Content Structure

Essentially, it is a single YAML file that you can edit directly using the GitHub web editor.

The structure goes like this

• Multiple Start Pages: Switch between different contexts (e.g., Home, Development)
• Columns & Categories: Group related links for easy access
• Custom Icons: Use Font Awesome icons or any HTML content for link representation

§ Getting Started

💻 GitHub Repository - Get started with this template repository.

1. Copy the Template: Use GitHub's template feature to create your own repository.
2. Enable GitHub Pages: Host your Startpage for free and enjoy automatic updates.
3. Customize: Edit the YAML file to add your links and categories.

Need help? Leave a comment.

§ Browser Integration

Make your Startpage the default new tab with these extensions:

• Firefox New Tab Override
• Chrome New Tab Override

Pro Tip: Vimium users can enable page focus in Firefox's New Tab Override settings for keyboard navigation with the 'f' key.

§ Under the Hood

This project is powered by:

• Zola: A fast, flexible static site generator written in Rust
• Tera: A powerful templating engine
• YAML: For easy content management

§ Conclusion

Startpages offer a unique way to tailor your browsing experience to your needs. Whether you're a productivity enthusiast or just someone who likes things organized, this project might be just what you're looking for.