Quick and easy Next.js boilerplate with TypeScript to jumpstart your project

When you want to start a new React project quickly, the right Next.js starter template with TypeScript can help you skip the setup hassle and focus on building features right away.

Content

• What's Included in This Next.js Starter Template
• Getting Started with This Next.js Boilerplate
• Future Enhancements for This React Starter Template
• Conclusion: A Complete Next.js TypeScript Development Setup
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is included in this Next.js boilerplate?
  • How long does it take to set up a new project with this template?
  • Is this Next.js starter template suitable for production applications?
  • How does this compare to Create React App?
  • Can I use this for both personal and commercial projects?

What's Included in This Next.js Starter Template

When I started building this React boilerplate, I had specific requirements for a modern frontend development setup.

The foundation of this starter kit is a React framework with server-side rendering (SSR) capabilities. Next.js was the obvious choice for creating a high-performance SSR React application with an excellent developer experience.

For type safety and improved development experience, I integrated TypeScript into the Next.js setup. TypeScript provides powerful static typing that helps catch errors during development rather than at runtime, which is essential for any serious React project setup.

For styling, this boilerplate implements a modern CSS-in-JS approach. Styled Components provides a seamless integration with React components and enables dynamic styling based on props, theming support, and automatic vendor prefixing - all critical features for a robust frontend project template.

For test-driven development, I included Jest as the testing framework from day one. Having unit testing capabilities integrated into your Next.js development environment ensures you can build with confidence and maintain code quality throughout your project lifecycle.

To complete the React development tools setup, I configured ESLint and Prettier for code quality enforcement and consistent formatting. These tools are essential for any Next.js TypeScript project to maintain high code standards, especially in team environments.

Getting Started with This Next.js Boilerplate

I've published this complete Next.js setup in a GitHub repository here. The repo includes several pre-configured NPM scripts to streamline your development workflow. To set up your development environment, first install the dependencies:

npm i

As a standard in any JavaScript (and TypeScript) repo these days, you have:

npm run dev // runs development environment
npm run lint // runs the linter
npm run test // runs the tests

Beyond these basic commands, this Next.js TypeScript boilerplate includes several additional scripts to enhance your development workflow:

npm test:coverage // runs tests with coverage report
npm run build // creates production build
npm start // runs the production build
npm run start:prod // builds and starts in one command for CI/CD pipelines

These commands facilitate a complete development workflow from local development to testing and deployment, making this starter kit particularly suitable for both rapid prototyping and production-ready applications.

Future Enhancements for This React Starter Template

This Next.js development environment provides everything needed for a bare-bones project to start building features quickly. With this setup, you can have a new project up and running in about a minute (depending on your internet connection speed for the npm i command).

As I continue evolving this SSR React framework boilerplate, I plan to incorporate:

1. React Testing Library for more comprehensive component testing
2. Cypress for end-to-end (E2E) testing
3. Pre-configured state management solutions (Redux/Context API)
4. Enhanced accessibility features
5. Performance optimization templates

These additions will make this starter kit even more valuable for developers looking to build production-ready Next.js applications with TypeScript.

Conclusion: A Complete Next.js TypeScript Development Setup

This lightweight React boilerplate removes the hassle of tooling configuration while providing all essential features for modern web development. This Next.js starter template with TypeScript is designed specifically for developers who want to "install and start coding right away" without compromising on development best practices or build performance.

Key benefits of this boilerplate:

• Development speed: Get past configuration and start building features immediately
• Type safety: Built-in TypeScript for robust code quality
• Modern styling: CSS-in-JS with Styled Components
• Code quality: Pre-configured ESLint and Prettier
• Testing ready: Jest setup for TDD approach
• SSR capabilities: Next.js for improved performance and SEO

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this Next.js boilerplate?

This boilerplate includes Next.js with TypeScript, Styled Components for styling, ESLint and Prettier for code quality, and Jest for testing. It's a complete setup for modern React development with server-side rendering capabilities.

How long does it take to set up a new project with this template?

The setup takes about a minute, depending on your internet connection speed for installing dependencies with npm i. After that, you can immediately start coding your features.

Is this Next.js starter template suitable for production applications?

Yes, this boilerplate is designed for both quick prototyping and production-ready applications. It includes testing capabilities, linting, and optimized build processes suitable for real-world projects.

How does this compare to Create React App?

Unlike Create React App, this Next.js boilerplate provides server-side rendering capabilities, which improves performance and SEO. It also comes pre-configured with TypeScript, Styled Components, and testing tools in a cohesive package.

Can I use this for both personal and commercial projects?

Yes, the boilerplate is available on GitHub and can be used for both personal and commercial projects without restrictions.

What do you think? Would you add any other features to make this Next.js TypeScript boilerplate even better?