Next.js hands-on tutorial: from zero to your first runnable project
Step-by-step walkthrough of Next.js with copy-paste commands, directory layout, and a first runnable artifact.
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Quick answer
Which config enables Next.js static export?
Use output:export. Export behavior changes across Next majors — check the export limitations list before upgrading.
Machine-readable page data: /data/nextjs-tutorial.json
In-depth analysis
Next.js is the dominant React meta-framework. output:export produces pure static output, but the core engine here is still Astro — Next pages exist here only for comparison and traffic capture. Going from zero to a first runnable project is about locking in the smallest end-to-end loop before you scale.
// next.config.mjs — pure static export (no server functions)
const nextConfig = { output: 'export', images: { unoptimized: true } };
export default nextConfig;
// Build: next build && next exportNext.js Hands-on Tutorial · Key takeaways
- Project initialized with the official scaffold
- Dependencies pinned to a single pnpm lockfile
- Local dev server starts and first paint is reachable
- First runnable commit pushed
FAQ & pitfalls
Why does Next output:export fail to build?
Server-side data fetching on dynamic routes or middleware is not allowed. Images must be set to unoptimized, or the export aborts.
Explore the hub
See all 5 guides in Next.jsSame category as this article, sorted across the codebase.
Next.js architecture: layered patterns for high-concurrency edge apps
The edge-delivery view of Next.js's layering and data flow.
Next.js best practices: engineering conventions for production
Field-tested Next.js practices from production, avoiding the common anti-patterns.
Next.js deployment guide: zero-ops edge publishing with Cloudflare Pages
Git-driven Next.js deployment in practice: commit to build, atomic publish to every edge node.
Next.js performance tuning: push first paint and edge response to the limit
Around Next.js's real bottlenecks, an actionable LCP / INP / CLS checklist.
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What readers are asking
Questions that keep coming back in reader feedback, already answered.
- 01
How do I fix a failing Next.js output: export build?
Server-side data fetching in dynamic routes, and middleware, both break the export; next/image also needs unoptimized or the export aborts.
See the full guide → - 02
Why is my Astro component's interactivity not working?
Components ship as zero-JS HTML by default, so an interactive one needs a client:* directive (client:load, client:visible, …). Without it the script is never bundled into the page.
See the full guide → - 03
Why is my custom Tailwind v4 brand colour not applied?
Colours must be declared in @theme (for example --color-brand). A missing @tailwindcss/vite plugin, or a leftover v3 config, makes bg-brand silently render nothing.
See the full guide →