Introduction

If you want to make your resume stand out or just want to try out new technologies, you should work on innovative projects. As an experienced JavaScript developer, I've seen directly how Next.js' powerful features, such as server-side rendering and static site generation, can make web development better. This post has five fun Next.js project ideas that will help you learn more about the framework and get better at developing it. Let's dive in!

Body

1. Build a Personal Blog with Static Generation

One of the coolest features of Next.js is Static Site Generation (SSG). Building a personal blog is an excellent way to get hands-on experience with SSG.

Why This Project?

• SEO Benefits: Static pages are great for search engine optimization.
• Performance: Faster load times since pages are pre-rendered.
• Learning Opportunity: Understand how Next.js handles data fetching at build time.

Getting Started:

• Create New Next.js App:

  npx create-next-app my-blog

• Implement getStaticProps:

Fetch your blog posts during the build process.

  export async function getStaticProps() {
    const posts = await fetchPostsFromCMS();
    return { props: { posts } };
  }

• Dynamic Routing for Posts:

Use [slug].js in your pages directory to create dynamic routes for each post.

2. Create an E-commerce Store with Server-Side Rendering

Take on the challenge of building an e-commerce platform to learn about Server-Side Rendering (SSR) in Next.js.

Why This Project?

• Dynamic Content: Products and inventory levels change frequently.
• SEO-Friendly: SSR helps with indexing dynamic pages.
• Complex State Management: Good practice for handling global state.

Getting Started:

• Set Up SSR:

  export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
    const products = await fetchProductsFromAPI();
    return { props: { products } };
  }

3. Develop a Real-time Chat Application

Push your boundaries by creating a chat app that uses Next.js API routes and WebSockets.

Why This Project?

• Real-Time Communication: Learn about WebSockets and real-time data.
• API Routes: Utilize Next.js' built-in API routes for backend logic.
• Authentication: Implement user login and sessions.

Getting Started:

• Set Up WebSocket Server:

You can use libraries like socket.io or ws.

• Create API Routes:

Handle incoming messages and broadcast them to connected clients.

  // pages/api/socket.js
  import { Server } from 'socket.io';

  export default function SocketHandler(req, res) {
    if (!res.socket.server.io) {
      const io = new Server(res.socket.server);
      res.socket.server.io = io;
    }
    res.end();
  }

• Client-Side Setup:

Create a Custom Hook for Socket Connection

Creating a custom React hook will help manage the socket connection and keep your components clean.

// hooks/useSocket.js
import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import io from 'socket.io-client';

export default function useSocket() {
  const [socket, setSocket] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    // Initialize socket connection
    const socketIo = io();

    setSocket(socketIo);

    function cleanup() {
      socketIo.disconnect();
    }
    return cleanup;
  }, []);

  return socket;
}

Implement the Chat Component

Now, create a Chat component that uses this hook to send and receive messages.

// components/Chat.js
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import useSocket from '../hooks/useSocket';

function Chat() {
  const socket = useSocket();
  const [input, setInput] = useState('');
  const [messages, setMessages] = useState([]);

  // Listen for incoming messages
  useEffect(() => {
    if (socket) {
      socket.on('message', (message) => {
        setMessages((prevMessages) => [...prevMessages, message]);
      });
    }
  }, [socket]);

  // Handle sending messages
  const sendMessage = (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    if (input.trim() && socket) {
      socket.emit('message', input);
      setInput('');
    }
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>Real-time Chat</h2>
      <div style={{ border: '1px solid #ccc', height: '300px', overflowY: 'scroll' }}>
        {messages.map((msg, index) => (
          <div key={index}>
            <strong>{msg.user}:</strong> {msg.text}
          </div>
        ))}
      </div>
      <form onSubmit={sendMessage}>
        <input
          type="text"
          placeholder="Enter message..."
          value={input}
          onChange={(e) => setInput(e.target.value)}
          style={{ width: '80%' }}
        />
        <button type="submit">Send</button>
      </form>
    </div>
  );
}

export default Chat;

4. Implement Authentication with NextAuth.js

Security is crucial. Learn how to add authentication to your Next.js app using NextAuth.js.

Why This Project?

• User Management: Handle user sign-up, login, and sessions.
• Third-Party Auth Providers: Integrate with Google, GitHub, etc.
• Protected Routes: Learn to secure pages and API routes.

Getting Started:

• Install NextAuth.js:

  npm install next-auth

• Create Auth API Route:

  // pages/api/auth/[...nextauth].js
  import NextAuth from 'next-auth';
  import Providers from 'next-auth/providers';

  export default NextAuth({
    providers: [
      Providers.GitHub({
        clientId: process.env.GITHUB_ID,
        clientSecret: process.env.GITHUB_SECRET,
      }),
    ],
  });

• Protect Pages:

Use getSession to check if a user is authenticated.

  import { getSession } from 'next-auth/client';

  export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
    const session = await getSession(context);
    if (!session) {
      return {
        redirect: {
          destination: '/api/auth/signin',
          permanent: false,
        },
      };
    }
    return { props: { session } };
  }

Personal Insight:

Implementing authentication was simpler than I thought, thanks to NextAuth.js. It abstracts away many complexities, letting me focus on building features.

5. Build a Progressive Web App (PWA) with Offline Support

Combine Next.js with PWA features to create an app that works offline and provides a native app experience.

Why This Project?

• Enhanced User Experience: Faster load times and offline capabilities.
• Service Workers: Learn how to cache assets and API responses.
• App Manifest: Enable "Add to Home Screen" functionality.

Getting Started:

• Install Dependencies:

  npm install next-pwa

• Configure next-pwa:

// next.config.js
const withPWA = require('next-pwa')({
  dest: 'public'
})

module.exports = withPWA({
  // next.js config
})

• Create a Manifest File:

Add manifest.json in your public directory with app details.

• Test Offline Capabilities:

Use Chrome DevTools to simulate offline mode.

Conclusion

Jumping into these Next.js projects will not only enhance your skills but also give you tangible additions to your portfolio. Whether it's mastering data fetching methods, handling authentication, or making your app work offline, each project offers valuable learning experiences. So, pick a project that excites you and start coding! Who knows? You might just build the next big thing. Happy coding! 🚀