Next.js is a React-based framework, developed and maintained by Vercel. It is open-sourced and an effective tool for building web applications with server-side rendering and static rendering. As a result, it has grown massively in popularity in recent years. Nevertheless, project managers need more than technical leadership in Next.js to ensure the project goes as smoothly as possible. Project managers need strategic thinking, effective communication, and a strong focus on team collaboration to solve the common Next.js development challenges.
In this blog, we will go over the common Next.js development issues and also explain their solutions. This blog aims to make your website development process efficient and untroubled.
A] Common Next.js Development Issues and Their Solutions
1. Project Setup Confusion
The initial setup of a Next.js project can be a confusing task due to misunderstandings about directory structure, TypeScript integration, environment configuration, and routing. This could be extremely frustrating, and new and inexperienced team members often feel overwhelmed. Errors too are bound to occur.
A clear documentation process and a starter template that includes the preferred configuration, dependencies, and folder structure are the simplest ways to mitigate these issues. Next.js development teams must also provide step-by-step instructions and a brief technical overview during onboarding. A combination of these solutions for Next.js project management can ensure consistency, reduce ramp-up time, and avoid repeated confusion.
Also Read: Top Next.js Templates
2. Uneven Team Dynamics
Uneven team dynamics can hinder the progress of the development process. When only a few people in the team have critical information, the process can come to a halt if they are not available. This significantly affects the productivity, efficiency, and morale of the team. Communication gaps, knowledge silos, and unclear expectations can all lead to fragmented collaboration.
Team managers need to proactively address these issues by implementing team bonding and knowledge-sharing practices. A shared repository with architectural decisions, coding standards, and onboarding materials reduced knowledge silos. This makes all team members feel valued and important. Meanwhile, the project continues even if some members are not available.
3. API, Slug-Related, and CORS Errors
Working with APIs and dynamic routes in Next.js often leads to errors, particularly when handling slugs, query parameters, or cross-origin requests. Developers may face broken routes, unexpected behaviour in dynamic pages, or fetch failures due to improper server configurations. CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) issues are particularly common when integrating third-party APIs or microservices.
Team leads must enforce strict and consistent route naming and slug-handling conventions from the start. Use Next.js API routes or set up a dedicated proxy server for better CORS handling. Additionally, employing runtime logging and network debugging tools can significantly help developers pinpoint and fix such issues faster.
4. Data Fetching Complexity
A common problem that developers run into during server-side rendering is data fetching due to its complexity. Asynchronous data fetching, caching, and error handling make it difficult to fetch and pass data before rendering. Selecting the wrong method can lead to slow loading times, SEO problems, or mismatched data. Furthermore, if data fetching is not consistent between the server and client, it can severely affect user experience.
Team leads have to dedicate time to optimise server-side data fetching using libraries like SWR or React Query. Component-level state management, dynamic imports, code splitting, and error handling mechanisms are necessary for making data fetching flawless.
Also Read: Next.js Vs React
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5. Balancing Business and Technical Needs
Every Next.js developer has to face the dichotomy of business needs and technical health at least once in their career. Stakeholders often need new and unique features on their web applications in a quick order to stay ahead of the competition. However, this can often be detrimental to the technical health of the application in the long run. Fast releases can hinder bug testing, leading to fragile systems and costly maintenance.
Developers must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders about how it could affect long-term progress. They must also be able to trade off business and technical needs effectively to find a balance.
6. Environment Variables and Secrets
Environment variables are dynamically named values that affect how your application runs. They are meant for configuration settings like API keys and database URLs. Secrets are specialised variables that include sensitive pieces of information like passwords or authentication tokens. Mismanaging this information can risk leaking this sensitive data. Incorrect variable usage can also lead to unpredictable application behaviour across environments.
The solution lies in following a strict naming convention and maintaining separate .env files for each environment (development, staging, production). Use .env.local for private variables and ensure .env files are never committed to version control.
7. Missed Optimisation Opportunities
A large number of developers struggle with bottlenecks in code reviews, slow load speed, and unexpected bugs. This is because a large number of development teams do not use the full capabilities of the Next.js framework. Unoptimised scripts, images, and other elements can slow down the web application, making web application development costly and inefficient. Overlooking such optimisation opportunities that the framework offers not only affects user experience but also business revenue.
Continuous learning and training are one of the key methods for using the Next.js framework to its full potential. Finding out the potential for optimisation from time to time and fixing issues is also vital.
8. Lack of Built-in State Management
State management features are critical for managing and updating the application’s data and UI based on user interactions. This integral feature is missing from Next.js, which means developers have to rely on external libraries like Redux, Context API, or MobX for state management. While this method is widely used amongst developers, it makes the process more complicated and raises performance concerns.
Next.js team leaders have to choose the right external library that fits their needs. Next, they must set clear guidelines across the team to maintain strong collaboration values. They must also regularly check in with the team to ensure the chosen state management approach is correct.
Also Read: Next.js Web App Development: Frequently Asked Questions
B] Conclusion
Leading a Next.js development team can be a rewarding yet challenging experience. While Next.js is one of the most popular frameworks right now, team leads can face several challenges while heading a project, including project setup confusion, uneven team dynamics, data fetching complexity, and much more. However, each problem can be solved by applying the right technical knowledge and leadership skills.
Siddhatech is a leading software development company in India, offering bespoke Next.js solutions for a wide range of industries. If you, too, are looking for a Next.js web application for your business, reach out to us today.