Build and deploy a pkgdown documentation site for an R package to GitHub Pages. Covers _pkgdown.yml configuration, theming, article organization, reference index customization, and deployment methods. Use when creating a documentation site for a new or existing package, customizing layout or navigation, fixing 404 errors on a deployed site, or migrating between branch-based and GitHub Actions deployment methods.
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
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---
name: build-pkgdown-site
locale: wenyan-ultra
source_locale: en
source_commit: 82c77053
fence_basis_commit: 82c77053
translator: "Julius Brussee homage — caveman"
translation_date: "2026-04-19"
description: >
Build and deploy a pkgdown documentation site for an R package to
GitHub Pages. Covers _pkgdown.yml configuration, theming, article
organization, reference index customization, and deployment methods.
Use when creating a documentation site for a new or existing package,
customizing layout or navigation, fixing 404 errors on a deployed site,
or migrating between branch-based and GitHub Actions deployment methods.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash Grep Glob
metadata:
author: Philipp Thoss
version: "1.0"
domain: r-packages
complexity: intermediate
language: R
tags: r, pkgdown, documentation, github-pages, website
---
# 建 pkgdown 站
配發 R 包之 pkgdown 文站。
## 用
- 為 R 包造文站
- 客 pkgdown 布、題、導
- 修已發 pkgdown 站之 404 誤
- 移發法
## 入
- **必**:含 roxygen2 文之 R 包
- **必**:GitHub 庫
- **可**:客題或品牌
- **可**:涵為篇之 vignette
## 行
### 一:初 pkgdown
```r
usethis::use_pkgdown()
```
此造 `_pkgdown.yml` 且加 pkgdown 至 `.Rbuildignore`。
**得:** `_pkgdown.yml` 存案根。`.Rbuildignore` 含 pkgdown 相條。
**敗:** 以 `install.packages("pkgdown")` 裝 pkgdown。若 `_pkgdown.yml` 已存→函更 `.Rbuildignore` 而不覆配。
### 二:配 `_pkgdown.yml`
```yaml
url: https://username.github.io/packagename/
development:
mode: release
template:
bootstrap: 5
bootswatch: flatly
navbar:
structure:
left: [intro, reference, articles, news]
right: [search, github]
components:
github:
icon: fa-github
href: https://github.com/username/packagename
reference:
- title: Core Functions
desc: Primary package functionality
contents:
- main_function
- helper_function
- title: Utilities
desc: Helper and utility functions
contents:
- starts_with("util_")
articles:
- title: Getting Started
contents:
- getting-started
- title: Advanced Usage
contents:
- advanced-features
- customization
```
**要**:設 `development: mode: release`。默 `mode: auto` 致 GitHub Pages 之 404,因附 `/dev/` 於 URL。
**得:** `_pkgdown.yml` 含有效 YAML 附 `url`、`template`、`navbar`、`reference`、`articles` 段合包。
**敗:** 以網上 YAML 解器驗法。確 `reference.contents` 之諸函名合實導函。
### 三:本地構
```r
pkgdown::build_site()
```
**得:** `docs/` 目已造附全站含 `index.html`、函引頁、篇。
**敗:** 常題:pandoc 缺(於 `.Renviron` 設 `RSTUDIO_PANDOC`)、vignette 依缺(裝薦包)、例破(修或以 `\dontrun{}` 包)。
### 四:預覽站
```r
pkgdown::preview_site()
```
驗導、函引、篇、搜正。
**得:** 站於 localhost 開於瀏。諸導連行、函引頁渲、搜返結。
**敗:** 預覽不開→手開 `docs/index.html`。頁缺→察 `devtools::document()` 構前已行。
### 五:發至 GitHub Pages
**法 A:GitHub Actions(薦)**
詳 `setup-github-actions-ci` 技之 pkgdown 流。
**法 B:手枝發**
```bash
# Build site
Rscript -e "pkgdown::build_site()"
# Create gh-pages branch if it doesn't exist
git checkout --orphan gh-pages
git rm -rf .
cp -r docs/* .
git add .
git commit -m "Deploy pkgdown site"
git push origin gh-pages
# Switch back to main
git checkout main
```
**得:** `gh-pages` 枝存於遠附站檔於根級。
**敗:** 推拒→確有庫書權。若用 GitHub Actions 發→略此步而從 `setup-github-actions-ci`。
### 六:配 GitHub Pages
1. 至庫 Settings > Pages
2. 設 Source 為「Deploy from a branch」
3. 擇 `gh-pages` 枝、`/ (root)` 目
4. 存
**得:** 站於數分內於 `https://username.github.io/packagename/` 可達。
**敗:** 站返 404→驗 Pages 源合發法(枝發需「Deploy from a branch」)。察 `_pkgdown.yml` 設 `development: mode: release`。
### 七:加 URL 至 DESCRIPTION
```text
URL: https://username.github.io/packagename/, https://github.com/username/packagename
```
**得:** DESCRIPTION `URL` 欄含 pkgdown 站 URL 與 GitHub 庫 URL,逗分。
**敗:** `R CMD check` 警 URL 無效→先驗 pkgdown 站實發且可達而後加 URL。
## 驗
- [ ] 站於本地無誤構
- [ ] 諸函引頁正渲
- [ ] 篇/vignette 可達且正渲
- [ ] 搜功行
- [ ] 導連正
- [ ] 站成發至 GitHub Pages
- [ ] 已發站無 404 誤
- [ ] `_pkgdown.yml` 設 `development: mode: release`
## 忌
- **發後 404 誤**:幾皆因 `development: mode: auto`(默)。改 `mode: release`。
- **函引頁缺**:函必導出且錄。先行 `devtools::document()`。
- **vignette 連破**:交引中用 `vignette("name")` 法,非檔徑。
- **標誌不現**:標誌置 `man/figures/logo.png` 且於 `_pkgdown.yml` 引。
- **搜不行**:需 `_pkgdown.yml` 之 `url` 欄正設。
- **混系 R 執誤**:WSL/Docker 上 `Rscript` 或解為跨平包裝非原 R。察 `which Rscript && Rscript --version`。宜用原 R(如 Linux/WSL `/usr/local/bin/Rscript`)以穩。詳 [Setting Up Your Environment](../../guides/setting-up-your-environment.md)。
## 參
- `setup-github-actions-ci` — 自動 pkgdown 發流
- `write-roxygen-docs` — 現於站之函文
- `write-vignette` — 現於站導之篇
- `release-package-version` — 發時觸站重構
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