Deploy to Vercel

Vercel deploys Project Broadsheet from a GitHub repository with a zero-configuration setup. Fast global CDN, preview deploys for every pull request, and a simple dashboard.

Vercel is a third major option for hosting Project Broadsheet, alongside Cloudflare Pages and Netlify. It's best known for Next.js but handles any static site equally well. The free tier covers hobby and personal publications.

Connect the repo

1. Sign in at https://vercel.com.
2. Click Add New, then Project.
3. Import your Project Broadsheet repository from GitHub.

Build settings

Vercel auto-detects Eleventy. If prompted:

• Framework preset: Eleventy
• Build command: npm run build
• Output directory: _site
• Install command: npm install

Click Deploy. First build takes about 60 seconds.

Custom domain

Project settings → Domains → Add. Vercel issues HTTPS automatically. If the domain is on Cloudflare DNS, you can point a CNAME at Vercel's endpoint; if it's elsewhere, Vercel gives explicit DNS instructions.

Preview deploys

Every pull request gets a unique preview URL. Push commits to a branch, and Vercel rebuilds the preview in under a minute. Share the URL with editors or reviewers.

Environment variables

Project settings → Environment Variables. Define keys for production, preview, or local development independently. Common entries for Project Broadsheet:

• SITE_URL (for canonical URLs during build)
• Anything referenced in meta.js that you prefer to keep out of git.

vercel.json (optional)

If you want config in the repo:

{
  "buildCommand": "npm run build",
  "outputDirectory": "_site"
}

Redirects

Vercel's equivalent of _redirects lives in vercel.json:

{
  "redirects": [
    { "source": "/old-path", "destination": "/new-path", "permanent": true }
  ]
}

When to pick Vercel

Vercel's strengths are fast preview builds, a clean dashboard, and excellent Next.js support. For a pure Eleventy static site, Cloudflare Pages and Netlify are equally capable. Pick Vercel if you already use it for other projects, or if you prefer their developer experience.

What to do next

• Cloudflare Pages for the default recommended host.
• Netlify for the third option.
• Custom domain for DNS setup.