# Build

To build your documentation site, run `zensical build`.

## Usage

```sh
zensical build [OPTIONS]
```

This will generate the static site in the configured [`site_dir`](<https://zensical.org/docs/setup/basics/#site_dir>), with the default being `site`.

Files matched by [`exclude_docs`](<https://zensical.org/docs/setup/basics/#exclude_docs>) or [`draft_docs`](<https://zensical.org/docs/setup/basics/#draft_docs>) are excluded from the generated site. Draft files can be included during [preview](<https://zensical.org/docs/usage/preview/index.md>).

## Options

You can run `zensical build --help` to get command-line help for the `build` command. It supports the following options:

| Option | Short | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `--config-file` | `-f` | Path to the config file to use. |
| `--clean` | `-c` | Clean cache. |
| `--strict` | `-s` | Enable [strict mode](<https://zensical.org/docs/setup/validation/#strict-mode>). |
| `--help` |  | Show a help message and exit. |

## Troubleshooting

If a build produces unexpected output, particularly after upgrading Zensical, run a clean build:

```sh
zensical build --clean
```

This clears the build cache before rebuilding the site. Zensical's architecture is still evolving, and we're fixing the behaviors that can leave stale build state, so clean builds should no longer be necessary in the near term.

If the problem recurs after a clean build, please [create an issue](<https://zensical.org/contributing/bug-reports/>).