Auto-export on Saving

Define the export function§

Put this in your Emacs configuration:

(defun my/ox-zola-export-on-save ()
  "Export the current Org post with ox-zola."
  (when (derived-mode-p 'org-mode)
    (ox-zola-export-wim-to-md)))

The function uses the normal WIM rules: it exports the current post subtree when point is in one, otherwise it exports the whole file.

Enable it for a project§

Add a buffer-local hook through .dir-locals.el:

((org-mode
  . ((eval . (add-hook 'after-save-hook
                       #'my/ox-zola-export-on-save
                       nil t)))))

The final t makes the hook buffer-local, so it does not run for every Org file in Emacs.

Enable it for one file§

Add a file-local block at the end:

# Local Variables:
# eval: (add-hook 'after-save-hook #'my/ox-zola-export-on-save nil t)
# End:

To disable it for a file in an enabled project:

# Local Variables:
# eval: (remove-hook 'after-save-hook #'my/ox-zola-export-on-save t)
# End:

Live preview§

Run Zola in the site root:

zola serve

With the save hook active, saving the Org file exports the Markdown and the Zola server refreshes the preview.