8 Creating a Next.js Project with create-next-app

Next.js is a popular React framework known for its simplicity and efficiency in developing modern web applications. One of the quickest ways to start a new Next.js project is by using create-next-app, an official Next.js tool that simplifies the setup of a new project. This article will guide you through the steps to create a Next.js project using create-next-app.

8.1 Prerequisites

Ensure that Node.js is installed on your system, as create-next-app requires Node.js.

8.2 Step-by-Step Guide

8.2.1 Step 1: Run create-next-app

To start a new Next.js project, open your terminal and execute the following command:

npx create-next-app my-next-project

This command creates a new directory named my-next-project and installs all necessary dependencies.

8.2.2 Step 2: Navigate to the Project Directory

After installation, navigate to the project directory:

cd my-next-project

8.2.3 Step 3: Start the Development Server

Start the development server with:

npm run dev

or, if you are using yarn:

yarn dev

Once the server is running, you can visit your new Next.js application at http://localhost:3000 in your web browser.

8.2.4 Step 4: Explore the Project Structure

create-next-app creates a standard project structure for you:

• pages/: Contains your page components. Each file in this directory becomes a route in your application.
• public/: For static files like images.
• styles/: Place your CSS files here.

8.2.5 Step 5: Develop and Customize

From here, you can further develop and customize your project. Add new pages, edit the existing ones, and add your business logic.

8.3 Exercise: Using “src” Directory in Create-Next-App

8.3.1 Objective:

Create a Next.js project using create-next-app and utilize the new feature where it asks if a “src” directory should be used. This feature organizes your project files within a src directory, promoting a cleaner project structure.

8.3.2 Task:

1. Run the create-next-app command to create a new Next.js project.
2. When prompted, choose to use the “src” directory.
3. Move the automatically created pages, styles, and any other directories or files into the src directory.
4. Ensure the application runs successfully after restructuring.

8.3.3 Requirements:

• Node.js and npm must be installed on your machine.
• Basic understanding of command line operations and file structure.