Getting Started with Next.js and Markdown

Building a blog with Next.js and Markdown is a great way to create a fast, SEO-friendly website with minimal overhead. In this post, we'll explore how to set up a blog using these technologies.

Why Next.js?

Next.js provides several benefits for building blogs:

  • Server-side rendering for better SEO
  • Built-in routing
  • API routes for backend functionality
  • Excellent developer experience

Why Markdown?

Markdown is perfect for blog content because:

  • It's easy to write and read
  • Can be version controlled
  • Supports frontmatter for metadata
  • Converts cleanly to HTML

Getting Started

To create your own blog:

  1. Set up a Next.js project
  2. Create a posts directory
  3. Write your content in Markdown
  4. Use gray-matter to parse frontmatter
  5. Convert Markdown to HTML with remark

Conclusion

Building a blog with Next.js and Markdown is straightforward and provides a great foundation for content-focused websites. The combination of server-side rendering and static content makes for an excellent user experience.