A few years ago, when I started in web development, I had the opportunity to work closely with different technologies. But without a doubt, the one that has impressed me the most — both for its potential and for how quickly it has evolved — is Next.js.
Next.js is a framework that simplifies the creation of websites and online applications. Think of it as a "construction kit" that helps developers build modern, efficient, and dynamic sites with ease.
Ease of Use
Next.js makes it easier and faster to build modern websites — like assembling furniture with clear instructions and the right tools provided.
Speed and Performance
Websites built with Next.js are typically very fast and efficient, loading quickly and performing smoothly even under heavy traffic.
Advanced Features
It includes advanced capabilities like automatic page updates without full reloads, improving the overall user experience.
Flexibility
Next.js can be used for everything from simple informational pages to fully dynamic, interactive web applications.
If Next.js were a house-painting app, it wouldn’t just hand you a brush and paint — it would also give you a ladder, templates, and techniques to help you achieve a professional finish without being an expert painter.
Like any technology, Next.js isn’t perfect. Some of its drawbacks for developers include:
Learning Curve
While Next.js simplifies a lot of tasks, understanding its structure and the core concepts like Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG) can be challenging for developers coming from a traditional React background.
Build and Deployment
The build phase can be slower compared to standard React applications due to static generation and pre-rendering. This may become an issue for very large projects.
For a web application specifically, I’d often consider using something like Vite instead of Next.js. Some developers suggest running Next.js with SSR disabled — but in that case, it’s not really the right tool. Next.js delivers incredible features for building websites, but for pure web applications, much of its feature set won’t be as helpful. A simpler Vite + React setup might make more sense depending on your goals.
As with all technologies, it’s seldom wise to commit blindly to one framework. The key is understanding your project’s needs and choosing the solution that best fits your resources and objectives.
Next.js remains a powerful and exciting framework — but like any good tool, it shines brightest when used for the right job.