Guest John Albin Wilkins discusses integrating Next.js with Drupal, covering topics like server requirements, content updates, server-side rendering, performance, and editorial experiences. The podcast explores challenges in decoupled Drupal, GraphQL usage, evolution of Layout Builder, responsive images, and a humorous anecdote about a trivial patch award in Drupal development.
Next.js facilitates server-side rendering for improved performance and user experience.
Integration of Next.js with Drupal simplifies front-end development and offers more control over content rendering.
Next.js enables flexibility in component behavior by allowing native JavaScript implementation and reducing template complexity.
Deep dives
Integrating Next .js with Drupal and Web Forms
Next .js is discussed in the context of integrating it with Drupal, particularly in relation to web forms. The Next .js web form library, created by Laurie Timoney, is highlighted as a tool that automatically generates Next .js templates for web forms created in Drupal. This library supports over 40 web form components, allows for conditional logic, and provides frontend validation.
Benefits of Server-Side Rendering with Next .js
The podcast delves into the advantages of server-side rendering offered by Next .js. Server-side rendering involves pre-rendering content on the server to enhance performance and speed. It is emphasized that this approach not only improves performance by reducing the need to render content in the browser but also aids in search engine optimization and overall user experience.
Enhancing Front-End Development with Next .js
Next .js is highlighted for its flexibility and ease of use in front-end development compared to traditional Drupal methods. The discussion revolves around how Next .js streamlines the process by providing ready-to-use components, simplifying JavaScript integration, and offering more control over content rendering on both the server and client side. Next .js is positioned as a tool that empowers developers to create interactive and dynamic web applications seamlessly.
Benefits of Using Next.js with Drupal
Using Next.js with Drupal allows for more flexibility in changing the behavior of components as it lets you write native JavaScript for specific component behavior. Single directory components make integration easier by reducing the complexity of logic in the Twig templates, simplifying the inclusion of components.
Scalability and Performance Considerations
Next.js in conjunction with Drupal can handle large-scale websites with significant content, thanks to server-side rendering capabilities that enable pre-rendering of complex sites for improved performance. Integrating commerce modules and external APIs for commerce services into a decoupled site is seamless, offering flexibility and enhanced efficiency in managing diverse content sources.
Today we are talking about Next.js, what it is, and how to integrate it with Drupal with guest John Albin Wilkins. We’ll also cover Next.js Webform as our module of the week.
Have you ever wanted to build a webform in Drupal and have the corresponding Next.js template automatically created for you? There’s a Next.js library for that.
How old: created in Aug 2022 by Lauri Timmanee (lauriii), who listeners may know as the Drupal Core Product Manager, and one of the people leading the Starshot initiative
Versions available: 1.1.1
Maintainership
Test coverage
Documentation - Lengthy README and a tutorial on the Acquia Dev Portal
Number of open issues: 17 open issues, 3 of which are bugs
Using this library does require some setup on the Drupal side, including installing the Webform and Webform REST modules. There’s also an extra patch to install if you want to use any autocomplete fields, and some configuration needed for both the REST resources that will be used to exchange data, and the permissions for the account that will be used to retrieve and submit data
Out of the box, the library supports over 40 webform components, but you can also provide custom elements if you need something additional. The library also supports conditional logic, so fields can show or hide in the Next.js front end based on conditions defined in your Drupal backend
The library also provides front-end validation for email confirmation, date list, and datetime fields, but back end validation is also processed for every submission
There is a crowded field of headless CMS competitors, but I thought this library is a good example of the extra power and flexibility you get by using a robust, open source CMS like Drupal as the back end in your headless architecture
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