author

Gonçalo Fonseca • Data Engineer

23/08/2023

How to Build Static Websites with NextJs 13 and CloudFront - Part 1

The digital landscape is in a constant state of evolution, and web development is at the forefront of this transformation. The emergence of cutting-edge frameworks like Next.js has reshaped the way we construct web applications. With the advent of Next.js 13, developers have been equipped with an even more potent toolkit, allowing them to craft high-performance static websites that offer unparalleled user experiences. In this comprehensive guide, we will embark on a journey to explore the multifaceted capabilities of Next.js 13, unravel the intricacies of static website generation, and leverage the might of Amazon CloudFront to seamlessly deliver content on a global scale

The Next.js Approach

Central to Next.js is the notion of simplicity. It abstracts away much of the complex configuration and setup that can burden developers in other frameworks. By offering built-in routing and SSR capabilities, Next.js lets developers focus on what truly matters: building exceptional user interfaces and engaging experiences.

Comparing Next.js, Gatsby, and React

While Next.js shines brightly in the realm of static website generation, it's important to note that it's not the only contender. Gatsby, another prominent player, has carved its niche with its focus on performance and ease of use. Both Next.js and Gatsby have their strengths, but Next.js particularly excels in its seamless routing and SSR integration.

What truly sets Next.js apart is its deep integration with React. React, the foundation of both Next.js and Gatsby, is renowned for its component-based approach to building UIs. However, Next.js takes this a step further by providing routing and SSR out of the box, which eliminates a significant portion of the setup process.

Benefits of Next.js 13

The evolution of Next.js brings us to version 13, a release that introduces a host of new features and optimizations. The advent of automatic static optimization, enhanced data fetching strategies, and refined development server capabilities make Next.js 13 a force to be reckoned with in the world of web development.

With these enhancements, developers can create dynamic, content-rich websites while maintaining optimal performance. The synergy between Next.js 13 and CloudFront unlocks opportunities for unparalleled performance and scalability, ensuring your websites are not just fast, but globally accessible.

Next, let's delve into the fundamental concept of static website generation and its pivotal role in the modern web development landscape.

Static Website Generation

In the ever-evolving world of web development, static website generation has emerged as a game-changing concept that challenges traditional approaches to building websites. Unlike traditional server-rendered or single-page applications, static websites offer a unique blend of performance, security, and simplicity.

The Concept of Static Site Generation

Static site generation involves pre-rendering web pages during the build process, resulting in a set of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files that can be directly served to users. This approach eliminates the need for server-side rendering during runtime, leading to faster load times and improved user experiences.

One of the key advantages of static site generation is its compatibility with content management systems (CMS). Content can be created and edited through a CMS, and the static site can then be rebuilt to reflect the changes, ensuring that content remains up-to-date while maintaining the benefits of static hosting.

Advantages of Static Websites

Static websites bring forth a multitude of advantages that align perfectly with the demands of modern web development:

Speed and Performance

Since static sites are pre-rendered and served directly to users, they load incredibly quickly. This leads to reduced bounce rates and higher user engagement

Security

With no database interactions or server-side processing, the attack surface of static websites is significantly reduced, enhancing overall security

Scalability

Static sites can be easily scaled by leveraging content delivery networks (CDNs), such as Amazon CloudFront, to distribute content globally.

SEO Benefits

Static sites are inherently search engine-friendly due to their quick loading times and minimal server-side interactions

SEO Implications

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a pivotal aspect of modern web development. The structure and architecture of a website can significantly impact its visibility on search engines like Google.

Static websites, with their minimalistic approach and fast load times, are inherently optimized for search engines. Faster loading pages lead to improved user experiences, which in turn positively affects search engine rankings. Additionally, static sites often boast clean and structured HTML, enhancing their crawlability by search engine bots.

In the next section, we'll delve into the nitty-gritty of getting started with Next.js 13 and building a static website that harnesses the power of this revolutionary approach to web development.

Harnessing the Power of getStaticProps

As you embark on your journey of building static websites with Next.js 13, one of the key features you'll frequently encounter is the getStaticProps function. This function plays a pivotal role in fetching and rendering dynamic data on static pages, enabling you to offer personalized and engaging content to your users.

Introduction to getStaticProps

getStaticProps is a powerful function that allows you to fetch data during the build process and inject it into your static pages. This pre-rendering strategy ensures that your pages are generated with the latest data, resulting in content-rich and up-to-date static websites.

When a page is pre-rendered using getStaticProps, Next.js generates a static HTML file with the fetched data embedded within it. This file is then served to users, providing a fast and seamless browsing experience.

Fetching Data During Build Time

To demonstrate the usage of getStaticProps, let's consider an example scenario. Imagine you're building a blog website, and you want to populate your blog posts with content fetched from an external API.

Start by creating a new directory inside the "app" directory, such as "blog" and create a "page.js" within it. Inside this file, define the getStaticProps function. Inside the function, use standard JavaScript fetch or any other data-fetching method to retrieve the blog post content from the API.

    
        import React from 'react';

        const Blog = ({ posts }) => {
        // Render blog posts using the fetched data
        };

        export async function getStaticProps() {
        // Fetch data from an external API
        const response = await fetch('');
        const posts = await response.json();

        return {
            props: {
            posts,
            },
        };
        }

        export default Blog;
    

Dynamic Data Rendering

With the fetched data now available as a prop, you can dynamically render the blog posts within your component. This seamless integration of data fetching and rendering empowers you to create content-rich static pages that feel anything but static to the user.

The versatility of getStaticProps extends beyond fetching data from APIs. You can also leverage it to interact with databases, CMSs, or any other data source to curate personalized experiences for your users.

In the next section, we'll explore another crucial aspect of dynamic content creation in Next.js 13: generating dynamic routes using the getStaticPaths function.

Creating Dynamic Routes with getStaticPaths

Building on the foundation laid by getStaticProps, Next.js 13 introduces another powerhouse function: getStaticPaths. This function enables you to generate dynamic routes for your static pages, facilitating the creation of personalized and context-rich content.

Dynamic Routes in Next.js

In the realm of static website generation, the term "dynamic routes" might seem contradictory. However, Next.js defies this notion by allowing you to generate static pages for dynamic content. This means you can create pages that follow a common template but display different data based on dynamic parameters.

Consider a scenario where you're developing an e-commerce website. Each product page has a unique identifier, and you want to generate static pages for each product with its respective details. This is where getStaticPaths shines.

Utilizing getStaticPaths for Dynamic Content

The getStaticPaths function plays a pivotal role in generating paths for dynamic routes. By defining this function within your page component, you instruct Next.js on which paths to generate and how to populate them with dynamic content.

Let's revisit our e-commerce example. Suppose each product has a unique ID, and you want to generate a product page for each ID. Here's how you can use getStaticPaths to achieve this:

    
        import React from 'react';

        const ProductDetail = ({ product }) => {
        // Render product details using the fetched data
        };

        export async function getStaticPaths() {
        // Fetch product IDs from an external source
        const response = await fetch('');
        const productIds = await response.json();

        // Generate paths based on product IDs
        const paths = productIds.map(id => ({
            params: { productId: id },
        }));

        return {
            paths,
            fallback: false, // Or 'blocking' for incremental static regeneration
        };
        }

        export async function getStaticProps({ params }) {
        // Fetch product details based on the parameter
        const response = await fetch(`https://api.example.com/products/${params.productId}`);
        const product = await response.json();

        return {
            props: {
            product,
            },
        };
        }

        export default ProductDetail;

    

Generating Paths and Parameters

In the example above, getStaticPaths fetches a list of product IDs from an external source and generates paths for each product page. The paths are defined using the params object, where the parameter name matches the parameter used in the page's filename.

The fallback option in the return object specifies whether to use "blocking" or "false" for incremental static regeneration. This controls how Next.js handles requests to paths that were not generated at build time.

With getStaticPaths in your toolkit, you have the means to create dynamic and personalized content within the realm of static websites. In the subsequent sections, we'll dive deeper into addressing challenges that can arise in static websites, including the notorious 404 error on refreshed routed pages, and how Amazon CloudFront functions come to the rescue.

Conclusion and a sneak peak ahead

Our exploration is not yet complete. The critical topic of "Adding 'index.html' to Each Page Request with a CloudFront Lambda Function" awaits us in the next segment. We'll unveil the code that ensures the correct content is served even when users directly request routed pages. Additionally, we'll emphasize the significance of using "trailingSlash: true" in your next.config.js file, creating a harmonious experience that aligns your Next.js app with CloudFront's functionality.

Join us as we delve into the technical intricacies and best practices of this essential step. In the upcoming segment, we'll navigate the process of deploying your Next.js 13 app with Amazon CloudFront. We will also and unveil the magic of CloudFront Lambda functions in tackling the challenge of 404 errors on refreshed routed pages.

Stay tuned for the continuation of this tutorial, where we'll take you deeper into the realms of CloudFront hosting and SEO optimization, ensuring your web development endeavors are equipped to stand out in a sea of digital experiences.

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