Github Website with a Custom Domain & SSL

step 0: buy a domain name

For these instructions use the (Namecheap)[https://www.namecheap.com/] service to buy your Domain.

step 1: point your domain name at: username.github.io (optional)

This takes quite a steps and disables https (more steps follow to renable ssl). This article got me oriented: https://dev.to/rightfrombasics/connecting-namecheap-domain-with-github-pages-3nn6

1. log into Namecheap
2. On the left is a sidebar with Dashboard and the top. Click on the Domain List
3. Find your domain name and click the manage button on the far right.
4. Along the top click on Advanced DNS
5. Add your A records to the DNS config. I typed: dig btihen.github.io (of course replace with your github website name) and got:

; <<>> DiG 9.10.6 <<>> btihen.github.io
;; global options: +cmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 28239
;; flags: qr rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 4, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 1

;; OPT PSEUDOSECTION:
; EDNS: version: 0, flags:; udp: 512
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;btihen.github.io.		IN	A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
btihen.github.io.	3600	IN	A	185.199.110.153
btihen.github.io.	3600	IN	A	185.199.109.153
btihen.github.io.	3600	IN	A	185.199.108.153
btihen.github.io.	3600	IN	A	185.199.111.153

So created the following A Records:

type          Host  Value             TTL
A Record      @     185.199.110.153   Automatic
A Record      @     185.199.109.153   Automatic
A Record      @     185.199.108.153   Automatic
A Record      @     185.199.111.153   Automatic

6. Then I created a CNAME record:

type          Host  Value             TTL
CNAME Record  www   btihen.github.io  Automatic

step 2: configure you github site to accept the domain

You need to make a file called CNAME in the root of your username.github.io repo and it contents must be your new domain name.

For example I used:

cd public
touch CNAME
echo 'btihen.me' >> CNAME
git add .
git commit -m 'accept the domain name: btihen.me'
git push

step 3: stop and check

NOW: http://your-domain-name.com should work

step 4: Free ssl for the domain

following the advice from: https://dev.to/rightfrombasics/adding-ssl-to-your-site-free-1fa7

1. create a cloudflare account.
2. choose the dns feature
3. allow cloudflare to scan your dns records (it should get the same results as when you do: dig username.github.io)
4. Continue through the cloudflare process & cloudflare will eventually give you 2 nameservers to use.
5. Now you can have cloudflare take over your dns – log into Namecheap
6. On the left is a sidebar with Dashboard and the top. Click on the Domain List
7. Find your domain name and click the manage button on the far right.
8. On the top bar choose Domain
9. Find the Nameservers section
10. Choose Custom DNS
11. Add the tow servers given to you by Cloudflare and save.
12. Go back to cloudflare and choose Full end to end encryption
13. Choose Always Use HTTPS
14. Save and click the Re-check now button.

Unfortunately, now you need to wait for a 1/2 hour or morefor the dns service to transfer from Namecheap to Cloudflare. Theoretically up to 48 hours (but a 1/2 hour is much more typical).