Getting Started with Next.js 15

Next.js 15 introduces powerful new features and improvements that make building modern web applications even easier. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the key features and show you how to get started.

What's New in Next.js 15

Next.js 15 brings several exciting improvements:

• Improved App Router: Enhanced routing with better performance
• Turbopack Integration: Faster development builds
• Enhanced Server Components: Better server-side rendering capabilities
• Improved TypeScript Support: Better type inference and error messages

Getting Started

First, let's create a new Next.js project:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript --tailwind --eslint
cd my-app
npm run dev

This will create a new Next.js project with TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and ESLint configured.

App Router

The App Router is now the recommended way to build Next.js applications. It provides:

1. Nested Layouts: Share UI between routes
2. Server Components: Render components on the server by default
3. Streaming: Progressive rendering for better performance

Creating Pages

Pages are created by adding files to the app directory:

app/
├── layout.tsx        # Root layout
├── page.tsx          # Home page
└── about/
    └── page.tsx      # About page

Server Components vs Client Components

By default, all components in the app directory are Server Components:

• Rendered on the server
• Have access to server-only APIs
• Reduce client-side JavaScript bundle

Use Client Components when you need:

• Interactive features (event handlers, state)
• Browser-only APIs
• React hooks

'use client'; // This makes it a Client Component

import { useState } from 'react';

export default function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
      Count: {count}
    </button>
  );
}

Styling with Tailwind CSS

Next.js 15 works seamlessly with Tailwind CSS:

export default function Card() {
  return (
    <div className="max-w-sm mx-auto bg-white rounded-xl shadow-lg overflow-hidden">
      <div className="px-6 py-4">
        <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold text-gray-900">Card Title</h3>
        <p className="text-gray-600 mt-2">Card description goes here.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Conclusion

Next.js 15 provides an excellent foundation for building modern web applications. The combination of the App Router, Server Components, and excellent TypeScript support makes it a great choice for your next project.

Ready to start building? Check out the Next.js documentation for more detailed information.