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From Webflow to Next.js: Building a High-Performance Blog Without CMS

2024-11-066 min

From Web Enthusiast to Next.js: My Journey as a Non-Developer

My Vision, My Web Journey

The Limitations of Traditional CMS

My story with traditional CMS probably looks like yours. At first, WordPress seemed like the obvious solution. After all, that's what everyone uses, right? But quickly, frustrations pile up:

WordPress:

Plugins that slow down the site
Constant updates
Recurring security issues
Heavy database

Webflow:

Beautiful but limiting interface
Rapidly increasing costs
Impossible advanced features
Limited code control

The Next.js Revelation

This is where Next.js comes in. I still remember the moment I understood this framework's potential. No complex SQL database, no plugins to manage, just clean and efficient code.

An Architecture That Makes Sense

tsx
// Project structure
src/
├── app/
│   ├── articles/
│   │   ├── [slug]/
│   │   └── page.tsx
│   └── layout.tsx
├── components/
│   ├── ui/
│   └── articles/
└── lib/
    └── utils/

This organization isn't just beautiful to look at; it's functional. Each folder has its role, each file its purpose.

Simple Article Management

tsx
// lib/articles.ts
export async function getArticles() {
  const files = await fs.readdir(articlesPath)

  const articles = await Promise.all(
    files.map(async (file) => {
      const content = await fs.readFile(
        path.join(articlesPath, file),
        'utf8'
      )
      // Simple and efficient!
      return processArticleContent(content)
    })
  )

  return sortByDate(articles)
}

Performance, At Last!

Let's talk about performance, because this is where the difference is most striking. With WordPress or Webflow, every optimization was a battle. With Next.js, performance is built-in from the start.

Image Optimization

tsx
import Image from 'next/image'

export function ArticleImage({ src, alt }) {
  return (
    <Image
      src={src}
      alt={alt}
      width={800}
      height={400}
      placeholder="blur"
      priority={true}
    />
  )
}

SEO Without Compromise

SEO management becomes child's play:

tsx
// app/articles/[slug]/page.tsx
export const generateMetadata = async ({ params }) => {
  const article = await getArticle(params.slug)

  return {
    title: article.title,
    description: article.excerpt,
    openGraph: {
      title: article.title,
      description: article.excerpt,
      type: 'article'
    }
  }
}

The Future is Exciting

The best part of this adventure? It's only the beginning. Each week, I add new features to my blog. An advanced search system? Done. A member area? In progress. Even better performance? Always.

And unlike my previous experiences with CMS, each new feature is a learning opportunity, not a technical headache.

For Those Still Hesitating

If you're like me, a perfectionist eager to control your platform, I can only encourage you to explore Next.js. Yes, there will be a learning curve. Yes, you'll spend evenings debugging. But the satisfaction of creating something truly custom is priceless.

Start small, learn progressively, and above all, don't be afraid to experiment. The Next.js community is incredibly welcoming, and learning resources are abundant.

Key Technical Aspects

Performance

SSR (Server-Side Rendering) for optimal SEO
ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration) for always-fresh content
Automatically optimized images

Features

Smart tag system
Full-text search
Efficient pagination
Metadata management

Deployment

Automated CI/CD
Performance monitoring

A Personal Reflection

Looking back on my journey, from WordPress to Webflow then to Next.js, I realize each step was necessary. Frustrations with traditional CMS pushed me to look for better solutions. Webflow's limitations motivated me to dive into development, and above all, the freedom to create without limits!

Today, my app isn't just a place where I publish content. It's a living project, constantly evolving, perfectly reflecting my vision and ambitions.

The Adventure Continues

The coming months look exciting. I have an endless list of features to implement, optimizations to make, and experiments to try. And for the first time, I know that the only limits are those of my imagination.

PS: For those curious to see what's next, you can find additional information directly on Github, and soon it will be accessible in real-time on my site. 🚀

Next.jsTypeScriptWebflow