Jamstack 101: Getting Started with Next.js and Vercel

By Joel Varty

If you’re new to Jamstack development, you’re in for a treat. Next.js and Vercel are two powerful tools that, when used together, can supercharge your web development workflow. In this article, we’ll walk through the basics of Jamstack architecture, and then dive into how to get started with Next.js and Vercel.

What is Jamstack?

Jamstack stands for JavaScript, APIs, and Markup. It’s a modern web development architecture that focuses on delivering fast, secure, and scalable websites. Instead of relying on traditional server-side technologies, Jamstack sites are built using client-side JavaScript, pre-built Markup, and serverless APIs. This allows for faster load times, improved security, and easier scalability.

Getting Started with Next.js

Next.js is a popular framework for building Jamstack websites. It provides a powerful set of tools for creating dynamic, server-rendered React applications. With Next.js, you can easily build and deploy Jamstack sites that are optimized for performance and SEO.

Setting Up Next.js

To get started with Next.js, you’ll need to have Node.js installed on your machine. Once you have Node.js set up, you can create a new Next.js project using the following command:

$ npx create-next-app my-next-app

Deploying with Vercel

Vercel is a cloud platform for static sites and Jamstack applications. It provides a seamless deployment experience for Next.js projects, with features like automatic SSL, edge caching, and serverless functions. With Vercel, you can easily deploy your Next.js applications and manage your project settings from an intuitive dashboard.

Deploying to Vercel

To deploy your Next.js project to Vercel, first install the Vercel CLI:

$ npm install -g vercel

Then, navigate to your project directory and run the following command:

$ vercel

Follow the prompts to log in to your Vercel account and deploy your project. Once deployed, your Next.js application will be live and accessible via a unique Vercel URL.

Conclusion

Next.js and Vercel are a powerful combination for building fast, secure, and scalable Jamstack websites. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly get started with Next.js and deploy your projects with Vercel. Happy coding!