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Next.js vs Nuxt: What are the differences?
Next.js and Nuxt are both popular frameworks used for building server-side rendered (SSR) applications with JavaScript. Let's explore the key differences between them.
Routing Approach: Next.js uses a file-based routing system, where each page is represented by a separate file in the pages directory. On the other hand, Nuxt uses a folder-based routing system, where each page is represented by a folder that contains an index.vue file. This allows for more flexibility in organizing the application structure in Nuxt.
Built-in Features: Next.js, being built on top of React, provides features like automatic code splitting, server-side rendering, and static site generation out of the box. Nuxt, on the other hand, is built on top of Vue.js and provides features like automatic code splitting, server-side rendering, and static site generation as well. However, Nuxt also includes additional features like Vuex store integration, Vue Router integration, and module-based architecture.
Pages Organization: The way pages are organized in the two frameworks is another difference. In Next.js, each page component is placed in the pages directory and can be accessed directly through its file name. In Nuxt, each page is placed in a dedicated directory within the pages directory and must be accessed through its directory name and the route parameters as well. This allows for more granular control over page-specific files and configurations in Nuxt.
Development Environment: Next.js and Nuxt have different approaches to the development environment. Next.js provides a built-in development server that hot-reloads the application and updates the changes instantly. It also supports custom server logic for more advanced use cases. Nuxt, on the other hand, provides a development server with similar capabilities but also includes a built-in middleware system that allows developers to add custom logic to the server and modify the request/response cycle.
Configuration Options: Another difference lies in the configuration options of Next.js and Nuxt. Next.js follows a convention-over-configuration approach, where many configuration options are predefined and require less configuration. Nuxt, on the other hand, provides more configuration options and allows for more customization. This can be seen in the nuxt.config.js file, where various settings can be adjusted to suit the application's needs.
Community and Ecosystem: Next.js and Nuxt have vibrant communities and ecosystems, but they differ in terms of the libraries, plugins, and themes available. Next.js has a larger community and a wider range of libraries and plugins built specifically for React. Nuxt, being based on Vue, also has a strong community with many Vue-specific libraries and plugins available. The choice between the two frameworks may depend on the existing ecosystem and community support for the preferred JavaScript framework.
In summary, while Next.js is primarily focused on React, offering features like automatic code splitting, server-side rendering, and static site generation, Nuxt.js is tailored for Vue.js, providing similar features such as server-side rendering, static site generation, and module-based architecture.
Next.js is probably the most enjoyable React framework our team could have picked. The development is an extremely smooth process, the file structure is beautiful and organized, and the speed is no joke. Our work with Next.js comes out much faster than if it was built on pure React or frameworks alike. We were previously developing all of our projects in Meteor before making the switch. We left Meteor due to the slow compiler and website speed. We deploy all of our Next.js projects on Vercel.
Hey guys,
My backend set up is Prisma / GraphQL-Yoga at the moment, and I love it. It's so intuitive to learn and is really neat on the frontend too, however, there were a few gotchas when I was learning! Especially around understanding how it all pieces together (the stack). There isn't a great deal of information out there on exactly how to put into production my set up, which is a backend set up on a Digital Ocean droplet with Prisma/GraphQL Yoga in a Docker Container using Next & Apollo Client on the frontend somewhere else. It's such a niche subject, so I bet only a few hundred people have got a website with this stack in production. Anyway, I wrote a blog post to help those who might need help understanding it. Here it is, hope it helps!
Pros of Next.js
- Automatic server rendering and code splitting50
- Built with React43
- Easy setup33
- TypeScript26
- Universal JavaScript24
- Zero setup22
- Static site generator21
- Simple deployment12
- Just JavaScript12
- Incremental static regeneration12
- Filesystem as an API10
- Frictionless development10
- Everything is a function9
- Well Documented9
- Has many examples and integrations8
- Testing8
- Isomorphic React applications7
- File based routing + hooks built in4
- Deployment2
- SEO1
Pros of Nuxt.js
- SSR60
- Automatic routes46
- Middleware32
- Hot code reloading28
- Easy setup, easy to use, great community, FRENCH TOUCH22
- SPA21
- Static Websites21
- Code splitting for every page20
- Plugins19
- Custom layouts18
- Automatic transpilation and bundling (with webpack and15
- Modules ecosystem13
- Easy setup13
- Vibrant and helpful community11
- Amazing Developer Experience11
- Pages directory11
- Its Great for Team Development5
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Cons of Next.js
- Structure is weak compared to Angular(2+)9