Why We Migrated to Next.js: A Step Towards the Future

We Are Now Using Next.js: Why We Made the Switch

In the digital age, standing still is the enemy of innovation. As providers of modern websites and web apps, our goal is to always use the best tools and technologies to deliver maximum performance and flexibility to our clients. That’s why we decided to migrate our entire architecture from Gatsby.js to Next.js. This blog post explains why we made this move and the benefits it brings to us and our clients.

Why Switch from Gatsby to Next.js?

Gatsby’s Acquisition by Netlify

Since Netlify’s acquisition of Gatsby.js, its development has slowed significantly. Aside from some security updates and maintenance pull requests, little progress has been made. This stagnation led us to evaluate an alternative that would better meet our long-term needs. Next.js proved to be the right choice.

Speed Through Incremental Server Rendering (ISR)

A key reason for the switch was the support for Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR) in Next.js. ISR allows content to be updated within seconds—a huge advantage for our clients who manage their website content via WordPress. Instead of waiting several minutes for builds, changes can now be deployed almost in real-time.

Community and Popularity

The numbers speak for themselves: Next.js boasts over 7.5 million weekly downloads, making it one of the most popular React-based frameworks worldwide. In comparison, Gatsby sees around 238,000 monthly downloads. This gap reflects not only Next.js’ popularity but also its active community, which continually enhances the framework. A strong community means better support, more plugins, and faster updates.

Hosting and Netlify Compatibility

Since we continue to use Netlify as our preferred hosting solution, it was essential for us that Next.js is fully supported by Netlify. With optimized deployments and features like Deploy Previews, Netlify Forms, and the growing plugin ecosystem, we seamlessly migrated to Next.js while improving our workflow.

Benefits of Next.js for Our Clients

🌬️ Faster Loading Times

Next.js combines the advantages of static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR). This allows us to deliver dynamic content with high performance while improving search engine optimization (SEO). This is crucial for modern websites.

🔒 Enhanced Security

Next.js’ architecture minimizes security risks. Content is efficiently delivered without exposing vulnerabilities typically associated with traditional dynamic websites.

🌎 Seamless Internationalization

Next.js makes it easier than ever to create multilingual websites. This is especially important for businesses that operate globally and want to target their audiences effectively.

🌱 Sustainable Development

Next.js is actively developed by Vercel and benefits from continuous updates. This ensures the framework remains future-proof—an advantage that benefits our clients in the long run.

Beyond Gatsby vs. Next.js

Modern Web Design with Headless WordPress

We remain committed to using WordPress as a headless CMS. Plugins like Advanced Custom Fields PRO, WPGraphQL, and WPGraphQL for Advanced Custom Fields continue to ensure that content is structured and flexible. Combining Next.js with headless WordPress offers our clients the best of both worlds: a user-friendly backend and a high-performance, modern frontend architecture.

Automation Through CI/CD

Our Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines continue to rely on GitHub Actions. These automate tests, linting, and deployments to ensure the highest quality. Next.js integrates seamlessly into this workflow, allowing us to work efficiently and error-free.

Efficient Hosting

In addition to Netlify, we continue to use a German hosting provider for WordPress Multisite to ensure that all data is processed in compliance with GDPR. Backups, updates, and security checks are centrally managed—a real benefit for our clients.

Our Conclusion

The decision to switch from Gatsby to Next.js was not made lightly. But it was the right one. With Next.js, we’re adopting a framework that not only meets our current needs but is also future-ready. We look forward to leveraging the advantages of this modern architecture with our clients.

If you want to learn more about how we can improve your website with Next.js and Headless WordPress, feel free to contact us! Together, we’ll take your digital presence to the next level.