Create a new repository for your website then open up a terminal and follow along. If you plan to host your site on Github Pages for a user or organization, make sure the repository is named your_username.github.com or your_organization.github.com.

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mkdir my_octopress_site
cd my_octopress_site
git init
git remote add octopress git://github.com/imathis/octopress.git
git pull octopress master
git remote add origin your/repository/url
git push origin master

Next, if you’re using Github Pages to host a site for your user or organization, create a source branch and push to origin source. If you’re using Github project pages, or hosting the site in a different way, skip this step.

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git checkout -b source
git push origin source

The source branch is created to have somewhere to store the source for your site. GitHub user/organization pages expects the generated site to be pushed to the master branch of your GitHub repository so that branch needs to stay clean. In Deploying Octopress we’ll setup the master branch for deployment.

Next, setup an RVM and install dependencies.

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rvm rvmrc trust
rvm reload
gem install bundler
gem install rake
bundle install

Install the default Octopress theme,

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rake install

What to Commit?

With rake install you’ve setup the default Octopress theme in the source and sass directories. Add them to your git repository, commit and push. Remember if you’re hosting with Github user/organization pages, you’ll want to commit these to the source branch.

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git add .
git commit -m 'Installed Octopress theme'
git push

Whenever you write a new post, or make changes to your blog, be sure to commit and push those changes.

See also Configuring Octopress, Blogging with Octopress and Deploying Octopress