Next.js Going Production Checklist

Ensure your Next.js codebase is organized and follows best practices.

Use a version control system like Git to manage your codebase effectively.

Regularly commit and push changes to a remote repository to keep track of updates and facilitate collaboration.

Why?

A well-maintained codebase coupled with version control allows for easy tracking of updates, efficient collaboration among team members, and the ability to roll back changes if needed. By prioritizing codebase organization and version control, you lay the foundation for a stable and scalable Next.js application.

Configuration

Review your Next.js configuration files, such as next.config.js, and ensure they are correctly set up for production deployment.

Optimize webpack/turbopack configuration to minimize bundle sizes and improve performance.

If deploying to Vercel, check the environment variables configuration in your Vercel dashboard. Ensure that the necessary environment variables are set correctly for your production environment.

Verify environment variable settings and ensure sensitive information is properly protected. Make sure that any sensitive information, such as API keys or database credentials, are securely stored as environment variables and not hardcoded in your codebase.

Double-check that the correct environment variables are being accessed in your Next.js application during runtime and properly

Why?

Additionally, if deploying to platforms like Vercel, it's crucial to double-check environment variable settings in the deployment dashboard. This step ensures that sensitive information is protected, and the correct environment variables are accessed during runtime. By paying attention to configuration details, you can set the stage for a smooth and reliable production deployment of your Next.js application.

Performance Optimization

Leverage Next.js's built-in optimizations, such as automatic static optimization and server-side rendering, to enhance performance.

Consider implementing a caching strategy, leveraging tools like Vercel KV or Vercel Edge Config.

Why?

Prioritizing performance optimization allows for faster and more responsive user experiences, reducing bounce rates and improving user satisfaction. By focusing on performance, you can ensure that your Next.js application delivers a smooth and efficient user experience, even under heavy traffic or demanding conditions.

Security

Ensure that your Next.js application follows security best practices, such as validating user input, protecting against SQL injections, and implementing proper authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Securely handle sensitive data, such as passwords or API keys, by using environment variables or secure storage options.

Regularly update dependencies and libraries to address security vulnerabilities.

If you are using GitHub consider start using DependaBot for automated dependency scans.

Why?

By prioritizing security, you can protect user data, mitigate risks, and maintain the trust of your users while ensuring a secure environment for your Next.js application.

User Experience (UX)

Loading States: Implement loading states to provide feedback to users when requests are pending. Displaying a loading spinner or skeleton screens can help manage user expectations and improve perceived performance.

Error States: Handle error scenarios gracefully by displaying appropriate error messages and providing clear instructions for users. Consider incorporating error boundaries or global error handling to catch and display errors consistently throughout your Next.js application.

Success States: Celebrate successful interactions by providing visual cues, such as success messages or animations, to acknowledge user actions and provide positive feedback.

Form Validation: Implement client-side form validation to prevent users from submitting incorrect or incomplete data. Provide helpful error messages next to form fields to guide users in correcting any mistakes.

Accessibility (A11y): Ensure your Next.js application is accessible to users with disabilities. Use semantic HTML tags, provide descriptive alt text for images, and ensure proper keyboard navigation. Conduct accessibility audits and follow best practices outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Why?

By considering these UX considerations, you can enhance the overall user experience of your Next.js application. Thoughtfully handling loading states, error states, and success states can help users understand the application's behavior, build trust, and provide a smoother interaction flow. Additionally, prioritizing accessibility ensures that your application is inclusive and can be used by a broader range of users.

Error Handling and Monitoring

Implement proper error handling mechanisms, such as error boundaries, to provide a better user experience and prevent crashes.

Integrate logging and monitoring tools, such as Sentry or Datadog, to track errors and exceptions in your production environment.

Set up performance monitoring to identify potential bottlenecks and optimize critical areas of your application.

Why?

By implementing error boundaries, proper logging, and monitoring tools like Sentry or Datadog, you can catch and track errors, exceptions, and crashes that occur in your production environment. This proactive approach helps provide a better user experience by identifying and addressing issues promptly.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Write comprehensive unit tests to validate the functionality of your components, pages, and API endpoints.

Implement end-to-end tests using tools like Cypress or Puppeteer to ensure proper integration and functionality across different parts of your Next.js application.

Utilize linting tools, such as ESLint, to enforce code quality and maintain consistent coding standards.

Why?

By writing comprehensive unit tests, conducting end-to-end tests, and utilizing linting tools, you can validate the functionality, integration, and code quality of your application. These testing practices help identify and prevent bugs, ensure proper functionality across different components and pages, and maintain consistent coding standards.

Deployment and Scalability

Choose a suitable hosting provider or platform that supports Next.js applications.

Configure your deployment pipeline to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying your Next.js application.

Consider scalability requirements and ensure that your deployment infrastructure can handle increased traffic or load.

Why?

By choosing a suitable hosting provider or platform that supports Next.js, configuring your deployment pipeline, and ensuring scalability requirements are met, you can effectively deploy and manage your application in a production environment. Automating the build, testing, and deployment process streamlines the deployment workflow, while considering scalability ensures your application can handle increased traffic or load.

Next.js Going Production Checklist