A recent client casually tossed me a question: “Ever heard of Contentful.com for building and managing websites?“ Admittedly, I was a novice in this territory. So, like any curious developer, I went on an investigative journey. What I discovered was a powerful platform that, when united with some of my favorite tools, made web development an absolute delight.
1. Starting Point: Contentful.com
I began with the Contentful starter template, which made the setup process a breeze. For those unfamiliar, Contentful is a content infrastructure platform. In simpler terms? It’s a CMS that’s designed to work seamlessly with modern frameworks.
2. The Power Duo: Next.js + TypeScript
My love for Next.js knows no bounds, and Next.js with TypeScript? That’s a match made in developer heaven. The dynamic duo enabled me to build a server-rendered React app that’s both fast and type-safe. If you’re new to this combination, I highly recommend this Next.js with TypeScript tutorial.
3. Deployment Magic: Vercel
Having crafted my masterpiece, the next step was to showcase it to the world. Enter Vercel, a platform tailor-made for Next.js projects. With a swift integration to my GitHub repository, the deployment process was smoother than my morning cup of latte.
4. The Cherry on Top: A Custom Domain
Nothing says ‘professional’ quite like a custom domain. Thankfully, Vercel makes this task straightforward. Need guidance? Here’s a handy guide on custom domains with Vercel.
In Retrospect…
This project was not just a learning curve but a roller coaster of fun, challenges, and ‘Aha!’ moments. If you’re considering diving into a similar venture, my advice? Dive right in! The water’s warm and the tech stack’s cool.
