Convex Nextjs A Comprehensive Guide

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Convex Nextjs is a powerful framework that allows developers to build fast, scalable, and maintainable applications. It's a game-changer for Nextjs developers.

Convex Nextjs is built on top of Nextjs and provides a set of tools and libraries to help you build robust and efficient applications. It's designed to help you focus on writing code, not managing infrastructure.

Convex Nextjs is particularly useful for building real-time applications, such as live updates, collaborative editing, and push notifications. This is because it provides a robust and scalable architecture that can handle high traffic and concurrent user interactions.

With Convex Nextjs, you can build applications that are highly scalable, performant, and maintainable, making it an ideal choice for complex and data-intensive applications.

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Getting Started

To get started with Convex and Next.js, you'll first need to install the Convex package using npm. Run the command `npm i convex` in your project directory to do this.

Convex provides a JavaScript SDK that you can use in your project. To set it up, you'll need to run a few commands in sequence. Here's what you need to do:

  1. Run `npm i convex` to install the Convex package.
  2. Run `npx convex login` to log into Convex using your GitHub account.
  3. Run `npx convex init` to initialize the Convex project with a `convex.json` and `.env.local` for configuration.

After initializing your Convex project, you'll need to update your `pages/_app.tsx` file to add the ConvexProvider to the complete application. This will allow you to use React hooks provided by Convex across the application.

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What Is?

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Convex is a developer-first platform that provides a full-stack solution for global state management.

Its serverless approach makes for a highly scalable platform, which is efficient and ideal for handling large amounts of data.

Convex has a reactive architecture that aligns well with React, making it a great choice for developers who use this popular framework.

The Convex SDK also supports features like optimistic updates and subscriptions, which can be incredibly useful for building complex applications.

Convex's SDK is built to handle data storage, retrieval, and mutations, all in one place, making it a convenient and streamlined solution for developers.

Set Up

Setting up Convex is a straightforward process. You can start by running the command `npm i convex` to install the Convex package in your project.

To log into Convex, run `npx convex login` inside your project. This will open a page in the browser to log in using your GitHub account.

You'll need to provide a project name when prompted.

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The `npx convex init` command will initialize your Convex project with a `convex.json` file and a `.env.local` file for configuration. It will also create a `convex/` directory to write functions into.

To add Convex to your application, update the `pages/_app.tsx` file to include the ConvexProvider. This will allow you to use React hooks provided by Convex across the application.

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State Management

State Management is a crucial aspect of building robust applications. With Convex set up in the project, it’s time to create a data model and connect the frontend with the database.

You'll need to establish a data model that efficiently manages and stores data.

Convex is designed to simplify this process, ensuring seamless integration with your frontend.

To get started, focus on creating a data model that aligns with your application's needs.

A different take: Nextjs Frontend Components

Functions and Logic

In Convex NextJS, functions are a crucial part of the application, allowing for database interactions.

These functions are exported from files within the convex directory and are deployed as serverless functions.

Credit: youtube.com, A quick start guide for using Convex with Next.js

To read available posts, a new file convex/getPosts.ts is created, which exports a query function that returns all available posts from the database.

A new file convex/addPost.ts is also created, exporting a mutation function to allow users to add a new post to the database.

This function accepts a post object as an argument and can be deployed using the command npx convex push.

Secure the Application

Securing your Convex application is a top priority, and fortunately, Convex makes it easy to protect your data using identity providers. Convex comes with first-class support for Auth0 out of the box, which means you can set it up in no time.

You can use Auth0 to secure your mutation function, which will reject any unauthenticated requests. This ensures that only authorized users can access your application's sensitive data.

To take it a step further, you can update your frontend code to use the logged-in user's name as the author field. This adds an extra layer of security and also provides a more personalized experience for your users.

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Deployment

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To deploy your Convex Next.js application, you'll need to push your code to a GitHub repository and link it to your Vercel account.

First, replace the build command in your project with `npx convex push && next build`, which will push the latest functions to Convex while deploying.

Next, add the `CONVEX_ADMIN_KEY` environment variable from your `.env.local` file.

Once your application is deployed, copy the deployment URL from Vercel, which will be in the format `.vercel.app`.

Finally, add this URL to the Allowed Callback URLs list in your Auth0 application settings, alongside `http://localhost:3000`.

For another approach, see: Nextjs by Vercel Meaning

Next.js Features

Next.js is a popular React-based framework for building server-rendered and statically generated websites and applications.

One of its key features is server-side rendering, which allows for faster page loads and improved SEO.

Next.js also includes built-in support for internationalization and localization, making it easy to create multilingual websites.

With Next.js, you can also create static sites using the Next export feature, which generates a static HTML file for each page.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Static Nextjs Site

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Next.js has a built-in API route feature that allows you to create API routes without having to set up a separate API server.

The framework also includes a built-in internationalization feature that allows you to easily add support for multiple languages.

Next.js has a large community of developers who contribute to its ecosystem and provide a wide range of plugins and tools.

You can also use Next.js with Convex, a serverless database, to create fast and scalable applications.

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Environment and Configuration

Environment and Configuration is a crucial step in setting up your Convex Next.js project. You'll need to follow the steps outlined in the Get Started guide to get started.

To set up environment variables, follow the first three steps from the Get Started guide. This will lay the foundation for your project's configuration.

You'll need to add an environment variable CLERK_JWT_ISSUER_DOMAIN with your Issuer URL to your Deployment Settings on the Convex dashboard.

Credit: youtube.com, How To Setup: NextJS + Convex + ShadCN + Stripe + Tailwind CSS + Typescript + React | Explained

In addition to this, you'll need to add a variable NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY with your Publishable Key in your .env.local file.

Here are the specific steps to follow:

  1. Follow the first 3 steps from the Get Started guide for Clerk.
  2. Instead of pasting your Issuer URL to the config file add an environment variable CLERK_JWT_ISSUER_DOMAIN with the Issuer URL to your Deployment Settings on the Convex dashboard
  3. In your .env.local file add a variable NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY with your Publishable Key (see step 7 of the Get Started guide)

Thomas Goodwin

Lead Writer

Thomas Goodwin is a seasoned writer with a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and business. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex concepts, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech industry. Thomas's writing portfolio spans a range of topics, including Azure Virtual Desktop and Cloud Computing Costs.

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