Generate a Pull Request of Static Content With a Simple HTML Form

Jamstack websites, often built with Static Site Generators (SSGs) and hosted on platforms like GitHub, present a unique opportunity for community contributions via pull requests. This approach, used by sites like CSS-Tricks and others, offers several advantages:

• Cost-effective and easy deployment: SSGs are typically free and simple to deploy, ideal for MVPs or proof-of-concept projects.
• Enhanced security: Serving only static files minimizes security vulnerabilities.
• Scalability: Existing hosting solutions can easily handle increased traffic.
• Community contribution: Content directly within the repository allows for easy pull requests, fostering community involvement.

However, the traditional pull request process can be daunting for non-technical contributors. This article explores a simpler method: using an HTML form to generate pull requests.

The Challenge: Streamlining Contributions

The complexity of forking, understanding content formatting, and potentially setting up local development environments can deter potential contributors. A more user-friendly approach is needed.

The Solution: GitHub Pull Requests with Query Parameters

GitHub allows pre-filling pull request information using query parameters in a specially formatted URL. This enables us to create a simple HTML form that generates this URL, streamlining the contribution process.

Building the Form and Generating the Pull Request URL

Let's consider a scenario where we want to add resources to a serverless site, similar to CSS-Tricks' Serverless site. Each resource requires:

• Title
• URL
• Author
• Tags
• Description

An HTML form can be created to collect this information:

Title
URL
Author
Tags (comma-separated)
Description
Submit

<script> // JavaScript to generate and redirect to the GitHub pull request URL (omitted for brevity, see original article for details) </script>

JavaScript is then used to:

1. Gather user input.
2. Generate a formatted string representing the new resource file.
3. URL-encode the string.
4. Construct the GitHub pull request URL with the encoded string as a query parameter.
5. Redirect the user to this URL.

Further Enhancements

This approach can be extended by:

• Pre-filling form data: Use an API (like the one mentioned in the original article) to automatically populate fields like title and description based on the provided URL. This reduces the user's input burden.
• Integrating with other services: Expand functionality by integrating with other APIs for additional data processing or validation.

Conclusion

This method provides a minimal CMS solution for static site generators, simplifying community contributions. By customizing the form and query parameters, it can adapt to various content formats and data structures. This approach lowers the barrier to entry for contributors, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment.

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