In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore Template-NEXT v0.3.1, a professional-grade Next.js project generator designed to jumpstart your web development projects. This tool provides a robust foundation for building modern, efficient web applications using Next.js 15, TypeScript, TailwindCSS, and more.
What is Template-NEXT?
Template-NEXT is a sophisticated CLI tool that generates clean, minimal Next.js projects with essential dependencies and modern development practices. Unlike simple template cloners, Template-NEXT creates fresh Next.js applications and applies carefully crafted templates, ensuring you get the latest features without inherited baggage.
Key Features
1. Next.js 15 Integration
Template-NEXT is built on Next.js 15 with App Router architecture, providing you with the latest features and optimizations from the Next.js ecosystem. This ensures your project starts with cutting-edge performance and developer experience.
2. Professional CLI Interface
Built with Commander.js, Template-NEXT offers a professional command-line experience with comprehensive help, version information, and intelligent error handling that rivals industry-standard tools.
3. Current Directory Support
Initialize projects anywhere with full current directory support, matching the behavior of popular tools like create-react-app
, npm init
, and similar CLIs.
4. Intelligent Conflict Detection
Template-NEXT automatically detects existing files and provides clear warnings about potential conflicts, ensuring safe project initialization in any environment.
5. Strategic Version Pinning
Dependencies are strategically pinned for optimal stability while maintaining the option to use bleeding-edge versions with the --latest
flag.
6. TypeScript Support
With built-in TypeScript support and optimized configuration, Template-NEXT enables you to write type-safe code from day one.
7. TailwindCSS Integration
The template comes pre-configured with TailwindCSS and includes automatic Prettier integration with the Tailwind plugin for consistent code formatting.
8. Shadcn/ui Components
Template-NEXT includes pre-configured Shadcn/ui with automated installation and setup, providing a solid foundation of accessible, customizable UI components.
9. Additional Utility Libraries
- Class Variance Authority (CVA): For managing component variants with a consistent API
- Lucide React: Scalable, customizable icons for modern UIs
- clsx: Utility for constructing className strings conditionally
- tailwind-merge: Efficiently merge Tailwind CSS classes without conflicts
10. Optimized Development Environment
- ESLint: Pre-configured for Next.js best practices
- Prettier: Automated code formatting with Tailwind CSS plugin
- VSCode Settings: Optimized editor configuration included
Getting Started with Template-NEXT
Template-NEXT v0.3.1 offers flexible installation options to suit different workflows. Here's how to get started:
Option 1: Create a New Project
npx @edward-hyde/template-next my-awesome-app
This creates a new directory with your project name and sets up Template-NEXT inside it.
Option 2: Initialize in Current Directory
npx @edward-hyde/template-next .
Or use the --here
flag:
npx @edward-hyde/template-next --here
This initializes Template-NEXT in your current directory, perfect for existing project structures.
Advanced CLI Options
Template-NEXT provides several advanced options for power users:
Skip Git Initialization
npx @edward-hyde/template-next my-app --skip-git
Skip Dependency Installation
npx @edward-hyde/template-next my-app --skip-install
Use Latest Versions
npx @edward-hyde/template-next my-app --latest
Get Help
npx @edward-hyde/template-next --help
Check Version
npx @edward-hyde/template-next --version
Conflict Detection and Management
When initializing in a directory with existing files, Template-NEXT intelligently categorizes them:
Conflicting Files (Requires Confirmation)
-
package.json
next.config.js
,next.config.ts
src/
,app/
,pages/
directoriestailwind.config.js
,tailwind.config.ts
Safe Files (Automatically Preserved)
.git/
,.gitignore
-
README.md
- Environment files (
.env*
) - IDE configurations (
.vscode/
,.idea/
)
Starting Development
After installation, start your development server:
# Navigate to your project (if created in new directory)
cd my-awesome-app
# Start development server
npm run dev
# or
yarn dev
# or
pnpm dev
# or
bun dev
Open your browser and visit http://localhost:3000
to see your new Next.js project.
Project Structure
Template-NEXT v0.3.1 creates a clean, modern project structure:
your-project/
├── src/
│ ├── app/
│ │ ├── globals.css
│ │ ├── layout.tsx
│ │ └── page.tsx
│ ├── components/
│ │ └── ui/
│ │ └── button.tsx
│ └── lib/
│ └── utils.ts
├── public/
│ └── favicon.ico
├── .eslintrc.json
├── .gitignore
├── .prettierrc
├── .vscode/
│ └── settings.json
├── components.json
├── next.config.mjs
├── package.json
├── postcss.config.js
├── README.md
├── tailwind.config.ts
└── tsconfig.json
Strategic Version Pinning
Template-NEXT uses strategic version pinning for optimal stability:
- Next.js: Pinned to major version 15 for stability
- Prettier:
^3.5.0
for minor version updates with bug fixes - Prettier-Tailwind:
^0.6.0
for compatibility with Prettier
Override with --latest
to use the most recent versions.
Customizing Your Project
Modifying the Landing Page
The landing page (src/app/page.tsx
) showcases Template-NEXT branding. Customize it to create your application's main interface:
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
import Link from "next/link";
export default function Home() {
return (
<main className="container mx-auto px-4 py-16">
<div className="text-center space-y-8">
<h1 className="text-4xl font-bold">My Amazing App</h1>
<p className="text-xl text-muted-foreground">
Built with Template-NEXT
</p>
<Button asChild>
<Link href="/dashboard">Get Started</Link>
</Button>
</div>
</main>
);
}
Adding New Components
Create new components in the src/components
directory:
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
export function Header() {
return (
<header className="border-b">
<div className="container mx-auto px-4 py-4">
<nav className="flex items-center justify-between">
<h1 className="text-xl font-bold">My App</h1>
<Button variant="outline">Sign In</Button>
</nav>
</div>
</header>
);
}
Working with Shadcn/ui Components
Shadcn/ui components are pre-installed and ready to use:
import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
export default function MyComponent() {
return (
<div className="space-y-4">
<Button>Default Button</Button>
<Button variant="destructive">Destructive</Button>
<Button variant="outline" size="lg">
Large Outline
</Button>
<Button variant="ghost" size="sm">
Small Ghost
</Button>
</div>
);
}
Styling with TailwindCSS
Template-NEXT includes optimized Tailwind configuration and pre-configured Shadcn/ui styles in src/app/globals.css
. The globals.css file contains all the necessary CSS variables and base styles for Shadcn/ui components to work seamlessly with your design system.
@tailwind base;
@tailwind components;
@tailwind utilities;
@layer base {
:root {
--background: 0 0% 100%;
--foreground: 240 10% 3.9%;
--card: 0 0% 100%;
--card-foreground: 240 10% 3.9%;
--popover: 0 0% 100%;
--popover-foreground: 240 10% 3.9%;
--primary: 240 9% 17%;
--primary-foreground: 0 0% 98%;
/* Additional Shadcn/ui CSS variables... */
}
.dark {
--background: 240 10% 3.9%;
--foreground: 0 0% 98%;
/* Dark mode variables... */
}
}
@layer base {
* {
@apply border-border;
}
body {
@apply bg-background text-foreground;
}
}
Customize your design system by modifying the Tailwind configuration:
import type { Config } from "tailwindcss"
const config: Config = {
darkMode: ["class"],
content: [
'./pages/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
'./components/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
'./app/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
'./src/**/*.{ts,tsx}',
],
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
// Customize Shadcn/ui color variables
border: "hsl(var(--border))",
background: "hsl(var(--background))",
foreground: "hsl(var(--foreground))",
// Add your custom colors
brand: {
50: '#eff6ff',
500: '#3b82f6',
900: '#1e3a8a',
}
},
},
},
plugins: [require("tailwindcss-animate")],
}
export default config
The pre-configured globals.css ensures that all Shadcn/ui components work perfectly out of the box with consistent theming, dark mode support, and proper CSS variable integration.
Best Practices
- Leverage TypeScript: Use the pre-configured TypeScript setup for type safety
- Component Architecture: Build reusable components in the
src/components
directory - Utility-First CSS: Use TailwindCSS classes for consistent styling
- Performance: Utilize Next.js 15 features like Server Components and App Router
- Accessibility: Build on Shadcn/ui's accessible foundation
- Code Quality: Use the included ESLint and Prettier configuration
Migration from v0.2.x
If you're upgrading from Template-NEXT v0.2.x:
- Installation remains the same:
npx @edward-hyde/template-next
- Fresh approach: Projects are now created fresh instead of cloned
- Enhanced stability: Strategic version pinning prevents breaking changes
- New features: Current directory support, conflict detection, and professional CLI
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
-
Permission Errors: Ensure you have write permissions in the target directory.
-
Network Issues: Check your internet connection for package downloads.
-
Conflicting Files: Use the conflict detection prompts to safely handle existing files.
-
Outdated Node.js: Ensure you're using Node.js 18 or later.
Conclusion
Template-NEXT v0.3.1 represents a significant evolution in Next.js project generation, offering professional-grade features with the simplicity developers love. From current directory support to intelligent conflict detection, every feature is designed to enhance your development workflow.
The combination of Next.js 15, strategic version pinning, and a carefully curated set of tools ensures your projects start with a solid, maintainable foundation that can scale with your needs.
Start your next project with Template-NEXT and experience the difference a professional project generator can make:
npx @edward-hyde/template-next my-next-project
For the latest updates and improvements, always refer to the current documentation and consider upgrading to benefit from continuous improvements and new features. Happy coding!