Migrating to Quarto

You’re replacing the al-folio contents in your existing website repo with these files. The repo name stays the same, your site URL stays the same (philipplutz.github.io/website), your photo stays the same — only the engine changes.

What’s in this package

  • _quarto.yml — site configuration (navbar, theme, URLs)
  • index.qmd — homepage with bio (replaces _pages/about.md)
  • publications.qmd — publications list (replaces _bibliography/papers.bib)
  • projects.qmd — Dublin Explorer project page
  • cv.qmd — CV page (links to a PDF you upload separately)
  • styles.css — YOUR stylesheet, fully editable
  • .github/workflows/publish.yml — auto-build on every commit
  • .gitignore — standard ignores

Migration steps

1. Wipe the old al-folio files from your repo

In your repo, you need to delete all the existing al-folio files BEFORE uploading the Quarto ones. The cleanest way:

Option A — fresh start in the same repo (recommended): - Go to repo Settings → at the very bottom, “Danger Zone” → “Delete this repository” - Re-create a new repo with the EXACT same name (website) - This gives you a clean empty repo to upload Quarto into

Option B — delete files individually: - More tedious. Skip unless you really want to preserve commit history.

Use Option A. The commit history of the al-folio attempt isn’t worth keeping.

2. Upload the Quarto files

In the new empty website repo: - “Add file” → “Upload files” - Drag in ALL files from this folder. Including .github (you’ll need to reveal hidden files first: Mac Cmd+Shift+. in Finder; Windows enable Hidden items in View) - Commit

3. Add your photo

  • Upload your headshot to the repo root, named exactly prof_pic.jpg
  • Commit

4. Add your CV (optional)

  • Upload your CV PDF to the repo root, named exactly cv.pdf
  • Commit

5. Turn on Pages

  • Repo Settings → Pages → Source → “Deploy from a branch”
  • Branch: gh-pages (this branch is created automatically by the workflow on first build)
  • Folder: / (root) → Save

Wait for the first build to complete (check the Actions tab). Then your site should appear at https://philipplutz.github.io/website

After it’s live: editing

The point of Quarto is that you can edit anything yourself.

  • Change the bio → edit index.qmd, commit
  • Add a paper → edit publications.qmd, follow the format comment in the file
  • Change a colour → edit styles.css, uncomment the “accent colour” block
  • Add a page → create a new .qmd file, add it to the navbar list in _quarto.yml

Every commit triggers a rebuild (1–2 minutes). The Actions tab shows progress.

Placeholders to fill in

Search the files for these and replace:

  • In projects.qmd: YOUR-ACCOUNT.shinyapps.io/YOUR-APP-URL → real Shiny URL
  • In publications.qmd: verify Dublin paper details (volume/pages/DOI/link)
  • The Dublin paper currently lacks a link. Either link to the publisher page when available, or to a preprint.

If you don’t like the look

Quarto has ~25 built-in themes. Edit _quarto.yml, find the line theme: cosmo, change cosmo to one of: flatly, journal, litera, lumen, sandstone, simplex, yeti, zephyr. Commit. The whole site restyles automatically.