Deploying Next.js Applications to Vercel

As a final step in this Next.js project is to deploy our application to Vercel. This process is straightforward and leverages Vercel's seamless integration with Next.js.

Why Choose Vercel?

Next.js is a project by Vercel, making Vercel the optimal choice for deploying Next.js applications. It simplifies the deployment process and ensures compatibility.

While other platforms like Netlify are popular, deploying Next.js on them can be cumbersome. Vercel offers a streamlined experience for Next.js projects.

Getting Started with Vercel

If you don't have a Vercel account, pause here and sign up for a free account. Once registered, your Vercel dashboard should look like this:

First, we need to set up a GitHub repository for our project. Make sure your environment variables (.env) are included in your .gitignore file to prevent them from being shared.

Setting Up the GitHub Repository

1. Create a new repository on GitHub. Name it something meaningful, like "Next.js Tutorial on Production".
2. Initialize a new git repository in your project folder and add all files:

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

3. Push the repository to GitHub:

git remote add origin <your-repo-url>
git push -u origin main

Deploying to Vercel

Now, navigate to Vercel, link your GitHub account if you haven't already, and import the newly created repository. Vercel will automatically detect your Next.js project and set it up for deployment.

Setting Environment Variables

Before the first build, you need to configure environment variables in Vercel. This step is crucial as missing variables will cause the build to fail.

Vercel allows you to paste multiple environment variables in a key-value format directly:

KEY1=VALUE1
KEY2=VALUE2

Vercel will automatically parse these into the correct format.

Build and Deployment

With the environment variables set, you can proceed with the build. Vercel provides detailed logs during the build process, which can help troubleshoot any issues:

Accessing Your Deployed Application

Once the build completes, your application will be available at a default Vercel URL ending in .vercel.app. You can also configure a custom domain later if needed.

Congratulations! Your Next.js application is now live on Vercel. This deployment ensures optimal performance and reliability.

Conclusion

Deploying a Next.js application to Vercel is efficient and straightforward. By following these steps, you can ensure your application is live and running smoothly, leveraging Vercel's robust infrastructure.