March 3, 2026
What seemed like a straightforward task quickly turned into a valuable learning experience of its own.
The Challenges
The first hurdle was learning Hugo from scratch. Like any new tool, understanding how themes, content structures, and configuration files fit together took time and patience. On top of that, building the site meant jumping between multiple languages and formats — HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TOML, and Markdown all made an appearance at various points.
We also ran into some specific technical issues along the way: errors when updating the site’s base URL, the integration of Google Analytics for tracking visits, and connecting Formspree to give the website a functional contact form for visitor queries. On the collaboration side, we also had to get comfortable using GitHub as a shared workspace, allowing all team members to contribute to the site simultaneously without stepping on each other’s work.
How We Solved It
Rather than getting stuck, we leaned into the resources available to us. A combination of AI tools, online repositories, and video tutorials helped fill the gaps in our knowledge quickly and practically. Beyond that, we ran multiple iterations of the site, gathering feedback and running tests with the whole group to make sure everything worked as intended before publishing.
Where Things Stand
Despite the learning curve, the website is taking shape. Having a public-facing space to share updates, publish blog posts, and present the project to a wider audience keeps us accountable and helps communicate our work well beyond the classroom.