Next.js Vercel Deployment Template

Next.js, deployed the Vercel way

Zero‑config where it matters, control where you need it. This template aligns with Vercel’s platform primitives—Edge Functions, Serverless Functions, ISR, and caching—to ship fast and scale globally.

Platform fit

• Edge‑first routing with smart fallbacks to Serverless Functions
• ISR & caching tuned for fast TTFB and reliable revalidation
• Env & secrets managed via Vercel projects and environments
• Observability through logs, metrics, and request tracing

One‑minute setup

Performance defaults

• Set cache headers for static assets and API responses where safe
• Use edge for latency‑sensitive reads; serverless for heavier writes
• Preload critical resources and enable image optimization

Production workflow

• Preview deployments for every PR with shareable URLs
• Promote to production after checks pass; roll back instantly if needed
• Track build artifacts and link releases to commits for auditing

Architecture overview

Design routes with intent:

• Public, cacheable pages → static/ISR at the edge
• Personalized reads → edge with cookies/session validation
• Heavy writes/integrations → serverless region close to databases
• Long tasks → background jobs triggered from API routes

Routing strategies

• Use middleware for auth, localization, and A/B routing.
• Prefer edge for geo‑aware content and fast checks.
• Keep write endpoints in serverless with short timeouts.

Data access

• Use HTTP caches for GET endpoints with explicit Cache‑Control.
• Revalidate pages on mutations using tags or path revalidation.
• Stream partial responses for fast TTFB on long lists.

SEO & web vitals

• Ensure titles, meta descriptions, and canonical tags per route.
• Add structured data (JSON‑LD) for product, article, and FAQ pages.
• Monitor LCP/INP/CLS via RUM and fix regressions per deploy.

Caching guide

• Static assets: immutable with long max‑age
• API GET: public, s‑maxage with stale‑while‑revalidate where safe
• HTML pages: ISR with conservative revalidation windows

Observability

• Emit request IDs and include them in logs, traces, and error reports.
• Correlate deploys with performance metrics and SEO changes.
• Capture edge vs serverless execution metrics separately.

Security

• Set strict CSP, Referrer‑Policy, and frame protections.
• Sign cookies, rotate keys, and scope tokens by environment.
• Validate input with schemas; fail closed on malformed requests.

CI/CD on Vercel

• Preview deployments for every branch and PR.
• Run lint, type checks, and E2E tests before auto‑promoting.
• Protect main with required checks; enable instant rollback.

Progressive enhancement

• Server‑render critical content; hydrate progressively where needed.
• Defer noncritical scripts and use priority hints for important assets.
• Provide accessible fallbacks for JS‑disabled scenarios.

Internationalization

• Localize routes and generate hreflang tags.
• Store language preference in cookies; auto‑detect as a hint.
• Translate SEO metadata and alt text consistently.

Accessibility checklist

• Semantic headings in order (h1 → h2 → h3)
• Focus states and keyboard navigation for all interactive elements
• Color contrast that meets WCAG AA at minimum

Performance checklist

• Preload above‑the‑fold images and critical fonts
• Optimize images with next/image and AVIF/WebP
• Split bundles and avoid large client dependencies

Troubleshooting

FAQs

• Can I mix edge and serverless in one app? Yes—choose per route.
• Do I need a CDN? Vercel provides a global CDN; use custom domains as needed.
• How do I handle secrets? Store them per environment in Vercel and rotate.
• Can I run background jobs? Use a queue/worker or third‑party scheduler.