Tech Blog Implementation Plan

On this site I am creating a markdown-based blog system for the /tech section of [[Mothership]]. The goal is to transform the current placeholder page into a dynamic blog that reads from markdown files in content_root/tech.

Current State Analysis

Existing Infrastructure ✅

• Markdown Processing: lib/markdown.ts provides robust markdown parsing with frontmatter support
• Content Directory Structure: content_root/ serves as the base for markdown content
• Page Rendering: Dynamic page rendering exists
• Navigation Components: SidebarNav.tsx and layout systems are in place

Current Limitations 🔧

• Tech page is currently a placeholder (PlaceholderPage)
• No article listing functionality
• No individual article pages
• No integration with existing markdown utilities

Implementation Phases

Phase 1: Core Blog Infrastructure

1.1 Create Article List Page

File: app/tech/page.tsx

• Replace PlaceholderPage with dynamic article listing
• Integrate with getAllPages() from lib/markdown.ts
• Filter for tech/ prefix articles
• Display articles with title, description, date, and tags
• Implement responsive grid layout with modern design

1.2 Create Individual Article Pages

File: app/tech/[slug]/page.tsx

• Dynamic route for individual tech articles
• Use getMarkdownPage() from lib/markdown.ts
• Implement article display with full markdown rendering
• Add navigation between articles
• Include metadata display (created, modified, tags)

1.3 Update Markdown Library (If Needed)

File: lib/markdown.ts

• Verify compatibility with tech articles structure
• Add specific filtering functions for tech content
• Ensure proper handling of code blocks and technical content

Phase 2: Enhanced Features (Priority: Medium)

2.1 Article Layout and Navigation

File: app/tech/layout.tsx

• Create layout component
• Integrate SidebarNav for article navigation
• Add search/filter functionality
• Implement tag-based filtering

2.2 Home Page Integration

File: app/page.tsx

• Update tech section link to point to /tech
• Enhance description to reflect blog functionality
• Add recent articles preview

2.3 Advanced Article Features

• Code Highlighting: Enhance markdown processor for better code rendering
• Table of Contents: Auto-generate TOC for long articles
• Reading Time: Calculate and display estimated reading time
• Related Articles: Suggest related content based on tags

Technical Implementation Details

Article Structure

Following the existing pattern:

---
title: "Article Title"
description: "Brief description"
created: "December 18"
modified: "December 18"
tags:
  - javascript
  - react
  - tutorial
---

# Article Content

Regular markdown content with code blocks, images, etc.

URL Structure

• Article List: /tech
• Individual Article: /tech/[slug]
• Slug Format: Based on filename without .md extension

Component Hierarchy

app/tech/
├── page.tsx (Article List)
├── layout.tsx (Optional: Navigation)
└── [slug]/
    └── page.tsx (Individual Article)

Data Flow

1. Article List: getAllPages() → Filter tech articles → Render list
2. Individual Article: getMarkdownPage() → Render article content
3. Navigation: Extract titles and slugs for sidebar navigation

Design Considerations

UI/UX Design

• Consistent Styling: Match existing design system (slate/blue theme)
• Typography: Optimize for reading technical content
• Code Blocks: Enhance styling for code examples
• Responsive Design: Mobile-first approach

Performance

• Static Generation: Leverage Next.js static generation where possible
• Image Optimization: Optimize images in markdown content
• Bundle Splitting: Ensure efficient code splitting

Accessibility

• Semantic HTML: Use proper heading hierarchy
• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure keyboard accessibility
• Screen Readers: Optimize for assistive technologies

Content Strategy

Initial Articles

1. This Implementation Plan: Self-documenting approach
2. Symlink Setup Guide: Existing content about Obsidian integration

Success Metrics

Technical Metrics

• [x] All markdown files in content_root/tech/ are accessible
• [ ] Fast page load times (<2s for article pages)
• [ ] Mobile responsiveness (100% mobile compatibility)

User Experience Metrics

• [ ] Intuitive navigation between articles
• [ ] Easy content discovery through tags and search
• [x] Readable typography and code highlighting
• [ ] Fast search and filtering capabilities

[[Tech]]