Getting Started with Next.js 16

Next.js 16 introduces a refined developer experience while maintaining the power and flexibility that makes it one of the most popular React frameworks.

Why Next.js?

Next.js provides a complete framework for building web applications with React, including routing, data fetching, and built-in optimizations for performance and SEO.

Key Features

• App Router — A modern routing system built on React Server Components
• Static Exports — Generate fully static HTML for any hosting provider
• Automatic Code Splitting — Only load what's needed for each page

Setting Up

Creating a new project is straightforward:

npx create-next-app@latest my-portfolio
cd my-portfolio

The default template includes TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and ESLint out of the box. You can customise these options during setup.

Static Export Configuration

For a portfolio site, you'll want to enable static export in your next.config.ts:

const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
  output: "export",
};

This generates a fully static out/ directory on build that you can deploy to any static hosting service.

Conclusion

Next.js 16 makes it easy to build fast, modern web applications. Whether you're building a portfolio, a blog, or a full-scale application, it provides the tools you need to succeed.