{"id":2552206,"date":"2023-07-18T13:51:32","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T17:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platoai.gbaglobal.org\/platowire\/how-to-build-a-blog-using-next-js-and-buttercms\/"},"modified":"2023-07-18T13:51:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T17:51:32","slug":"how-to-build-a-blog-using-next-js-and-buttercms","status":"publish","type":"platowire","link":"https:\/\/platoai.gbaglobal.org\/platowire\/how-to-build-a-blog-using-next-js-and-buttercms\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Blog using Next.js and ButterCMS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered React applications, and ButterCMS is a headless content management system that provides an easy way to manage content for your website or blog. In this article, we will explore how to build a blog using Next.js and ButterCMS.<\/p>\n

Before we dive into the technical details, let’s understand why Next.js and ButterCMS make a great combination for building a blog. Next.js provides server-side rendering out of the box, which means your blog posts will load quickly and be easily discoverable by search engines. ButterCMS, on the other hand, offers a user-friendly interface for managing your blog content, including features like drafts, scheduled publishing, and content versioning.<\/p>\n

Now, let’s get started with the technical implementation.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Set up a Next.js project<\/p>\n

To begin, make sure you have Node.js installed on your machine. Open your terminal and run the following command to create a new Next.js project:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

npx create-next-app my-blog<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

This will create a new directory called “my-blog” with a basic Next.js project structure.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Install ButterCMS package<\/p>\n

Next, navigate to your project directory and install the ButterCMS package by running the following command:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

npm install buttercms<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Step 3: Configure ButterCMS<\/p>\n

To use ButterCMS in your Next.js project, you need to configure it with your API key. If you don’t have an API key yet, sign up for a free account on ButterCMS’s website.<\/p>\n

Create a new file called `buttercms.js` in the root of your project directory and add the following code:<\/p>\n

“`javascript<\/p>\n

import Butter from ‘buttercms’;<\/p>\n

const butter = Butter(‘YOUR_API_KEY’);<\/p>\n

export default butter;<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Replace `’YOUR_API_KEY’` with your actual API key.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Create a blog page<\/p>\n

Next, let’s create a page to display our blog posts. In the `pages` directory, create a new file called `blog.js` and add the following code:<\/p>\n

“`javascript<\/p>\n

import React from ‘react’;<\/p>\n

import butter from ‘..\/buttercms’;<\/p>\n

const Blog = ({ posts }) => {<\/p>\n

return (<\/p>\n

\n

My Blog<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n

{posts.map((post) => (<\/p>\n

\n

{post.title}<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

{post.summary}<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

))}<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

);<\/p>\n

};<\/p>\n

export async function getStaticProps() {<\/p>\n

const response = await butter.post.list();<\/p>\n

const posts = response.data.data;<\/p>\n

return {<\/p>\n

props: {<\/p>\n

posts,<\/p>\n

},<\/p>\n

};<\/p>\n

}<\/p>\n

export default Blog;<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

This code defines a functional component called `Blog` that receives an array of blog posts as a prop. The `getStaticProps` function is a special Next.js function that fetches the blog posts from ButterCMS and passes them as props to the component.<\/p>\n

Step 5: Add a link to the blog page<\/p>\n

To navigate to the blog page, let’s add a link in the `pages\/index.js` file. Open the file and modify it as follows:<\/p>\n

“`javascript<\/p>\n

import Link from ‘next\/link’;<\/p>\n

const Home = () => {<\/p>\n

return (<\/p>\n

\n

Welcome to my website<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n

Go to Blog<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

);<\/p>\n

};<\/p>\n

export default Home;<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Step 6: Start the development server<\/p>\n

Finally, start the Next.js development server by running the following command in your terminal:<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

npm run dev<\/p>\n

“`<\/p>\n

Visit `http:\/\/localhost:3000` in your browser, and you should see the homepage with a link to the blog page. Clicking on the link will take you to the blog page, where you can see a list of blog posts fetched from ButterCMS.<\/p>\n

Congratulations! You have successfully built a blog using Next.js and ButterCMS. From here, you can further customize the blog page, add pagination, implement search functionality, and more.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Next.js and ButterCMS provide a powerful combination for building a blog. Next.js offers server-side rendering for fast loading and SEO benefits, while ButterCMS simplifies content management with its user-friendly interface. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily create a fully functional blog using these technologies. Happy blogging!<\/p>\n