Getting Started with Next.js 14
Welcome to the world of Next.js! This post will walk you through the essentials of creating a new Next.js 14 application. We'll cover:
- Initializing a new project
- Understanding the App Router
- Integrating Tailwind CSS for styling
- Basic component creation
Project Initialization
To start, ensure you have Node.js (version 18.17 or later) installed. Then, run the following command in your terminal:
npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
Follow the prompts, selecting options like TypeScript, ESLint, and Tailwind CSS.
App Router Explained
The App Router, introduced in Next.js 13, offers a new paradigm for building applications with React Server Components and nested layouts. Key features include:
app
directory for routinglayout.tsx
for shared UIpage.tsx
for unique UI per route- Server Components by default for better performance
Tailwind CSS Integration
If you selected Tailwind CSS during setup, tailwind.config.ts
and globals.css
will be pre-configured. You can start using Tailwind utility classes immediately.
<h1 class="text-3xl font-bold underline">
Hello world!
</h1>
Tune In 🎶
Here's a little something to listen to while you code:
This is just the beginning. Next.js offers powerful features like Server Actions, Route Handlers, and advanced image optimization. Dive in and explore!
Here's a meme for your troubles:
And a screenshot of some code: