Getting Started with Next.js 14 and TypeScript

Next.js 14 brings exciting new features and improvements that make building modern web applications even more powerful and efficient. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through setting up a new Next.js 14 project with TypeScript from scratch.

What's New in Next.js 14

Next.js 14 introduces several key improvements:

• Turbopack: Faster development with the new bundler
• Server Actions: Simplified server-side operations
• Improved App Router: Better performance and developer experience
• Enhanced TypeScript Support: Better type safety and IntelliSense

Setting Up Your Project

Let's start by creating a new Next.js project with TypeScript:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript --tailwind --eslint --app
cd my-app
npm run dev

Project Structure

The new App Router structure provides a more intuitive way to organize your application:

app/
  layout.tsx      # Root layout
  page.tsx        # Home page
  globals.css     # Global styles
  about/
    page.tsx      # About page

TypeScript Configuration

Next.js 14 comes with excellent TypeScript support out of the box. The tsconfig.json file is automatically configured with sensible defaults.

Key TypeScript Features

1. Automatic type inference: Next.js automatically infers types for your components
2. Built-in type checking: Get compile-time errors for type mismatches
3. IntelliSense support: Enhanced autocomplete and documentation

Best Practices

1. Use Server Components by default: They're faster and more secure
2. Implement proper error boundaries: Handle errors gracefully
3. Optimize images: Use Next.js Image component for better performance
4. Type your components: Leverage TypeScript for better development experience

Example Component

interface ButtonProps {
  children: React.ReactNode
  onClick: () => void
  variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary'
}

export function Button({ children, onClick, variant = 'primary' }: ButtonProps) {
  return (
    <button
      onClick={onClick}
      className={`px-4 py-2 rounded ${
        variant === 'primary' 
          ? 'bg-blue-500 text-white' 
          : 'bg-gray-200 text-gray-800'
      }`}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  )
}

Performance Optimizations

1. Image Optimization

import Image from 'next/image'

export function ProfileImage() {
  return (
    <Image
      src="/profile.jpg"
      alt="Profile"
      width={400}
      height={400}
      priority
    />
  )
}

2. Dynamic Imports

import dynamic from 'next/dynamic'

const DynamicComponent = dynamic(() => import('./HeavyComponent'), {
  loading: () => <p>Loading...</p>,
})

Conclusion

Next.js 14 with TypeScript provides an excellent foundation for building modern web applications. The combination of powerful features and type safety makes development both productive and enjoyable.

Start your next project with this stack and experience the benefits of type-safe, performant web development!