React to Next.js Transition

1. Why I Started with React

I began my development journey with React because it offered component-based architecture, fast updates with Virtual DOM, and a huge community.
I built several projects with React like e-commerce sites, social media apps, and portfolio websites.

2. Why I Felt the Need for Next.js

As my projects grew bigger, I started facing challenges:

• SEO issues (React apps are client-side rendered).

• Longer initial load times.

• Complex folder structure as apps became larger.

I heard about Next.js offering Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and better performance, so I decided to explore it!

3. Key Differences I Experienced

4. First Impressions of Next.js

• Routing: It felt magical! Just create a file inside /pages, and boom — you have a route.

• Image Optimization: Next.js Image component auto-optimizes images.

• Built-in API routes: No need to set up separate Express servers for small APIs.

• Performance: Lighthouse scores shot up 🚀

5. Challenges I Faced

• Understanding getStaticProps, getServerSideProps initially was a little tricky.

• Deployment flow was slightly different.

• Learning SSR/SSG/ISR took some time but now feels very logical.

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Conclusion

Moving from React to Next.js was one of the best decisions I made in my developer journey.
If you love React, you will love Next.js even more. It makes your apps faster, SEO-friendly, and production-ready with much less effort.
Excited to dive even deeper into advanced topics like authentication, serverless APIs, and middleware with Next.js! 🚀

Connect With Me!

Twitter: @shubhampawar484
GitHub: @shubhampawar4841