Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Structuring Your Next.js Application for Optimal Performance

Welcome to another installment of our tutorial series on Next.js 14! Today, we're diving into the essentials of getting started with a Next.js application using the powerful App Router. Our comprehensive guide will walk you through the installation process and show you how to structure your application for optimal performance.

This tutorial caters to readers with varied skill levels, so if you're new to Next.js or looking to polish your skills, you're in the right place.

System Requirements

Before you get started, ensure that your development environment meets the following prerequisites:

• Node.js: Version 18.17 or later
• Operating System: Compatible with macOS, Windows (including WSL), and Linux

Automatic Installation

Step 1: Creating Your Project

One of the easiest ways to start your Next.js application is by using the create-next-app command, which automates the setup process. Open your terminal and run:

npx create-next-app@latest

You will be prompted with a series of questions to customize your application setup:

What is your project named? my-app
Would you like to use TypeScript? No / Yes
Would you like to use ESLint? No / Yes
Would you like to use Tailwind CSS? No / Yes
Would you like to use `src/` directory? No / Yes
Would you like to use App Router? (recommended) No / Yes
Would you like to customize the default import alias (@/*)? No / Yes
What import alias would you like configured? @/*

Step 2: Directory Structure

After completing the prompts, create-next-app will generate your project folder and install the necessary dependencies. If you opt to use the App Router, the following basic structure will appear in your application:

- my-app/
  - app/
    - layout.tsx
    - page.tsx
  - public/
  - package.json
  - tsconfig.json
  - next.config.js

Manual Installation

If prefer a manual setup or look to understand the internals, follow these steps:

Step 1: Project Initialization

First, create a project directory and initialize it:

mkdir my-next-app
cd my-next-app
npm init -y

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Next, install the necessary packages:

npm install next@latest react@latest react-dom@latest

Step 3: Script Configuration

Add the following scripts to your package.json file to manage different stages of your application’s development:

{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "next dev",
    "build": "next build",
    "start": "next start",
    "lint": "next lint"
  }
}

These are important to understand:

• dev: Starts Next.js in development mode.
• build: Builds the application for production.
• start: Starts a Next.js production server.
• lint: Lints your code using ESLint.

Creating Directories

The App Directory

The App Router is the preferred routing model for new applications. It provides access to the latest React features and is a more flexible way to structure your application.

Create an app folder and include layout.tsx and page.tsx files:

// app/layout.tsx
export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return (
    <div>
      {children}
    </div>
  );
}
 
// app/page.tsx
export default function Page() {
  return (
    <h1>Hello, Next.js!</h1>
  );
}

Structuring Your Application

Root Layout

Your layout.tsx should include the core structure of your application. This Root Layout will contain rendered child components.

Home Page

The page.tsx operates as your default homepage, rendering content when the user navigates to the root path (/).

Running the Development Server

Once you’ve set up your directory structure and files, you can start your application with:

npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser to see your Next.js application live. You can edit app/page.tsx (or pages/index.tsx) to work with it immediately.

Conclusion

In this guide, we've covered how to install and configure a Next.js 14 application with the new App Router. This setup is designed to provide optimal performance while keeping your codebase organized and manageable.

Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll dive deeper into building and structuring your application. We'll explore best practices and advanced techniques to make your Next.js application shine.

References:

Source: Next.js Documentation