Vercel Enhances Next.js with Dynamic Features

Next.js 12 Launched by Vercel with New Middleware Capabilities

Vercel, the company funding the widely-used Next.js React framework, has announced the release of Next.js 12. The announcement was made during a keynote presentation at the company’s yearly conference.

Focus on Dynamic Content and Enhanced Features

Traditionally, Next.js has been primarily utilized for the creation of static websites. However, Next.js 12 introduces a feature called “middleware” designed to simplify the process of delivering personalized content to users.

Vercel positions Next.js 12 as “the SDK for the Web,” and it incorporates support for ES modules and URL imports. Furthermore, it offers instant Hot Module Replacement (HMR) and builds, alongside improvements to developer workflows and collaboration.

Addressing the Limitations of Static Workloads

According to Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, the rise of Jamstack and static sites empowered front-end developers by enabling edge deployment. However, he noted that while developers and users appreciated the speed of pre-rendered content, they were often limited by the constraints of static workloads.

These constraints specifically impacted areas such as user personalization, feature flags, and A/B testing. The new features aim to overcome these limitations.

Dynamic Functionality at Static Speed

Vercel’s Edge Functions, coupled with enhancements to the Next.js framework, now provide customers with “the power of dynamic at the speed of static,” as stated by Rauch. The integration of Middleware, a new API, and Vercel’s Edge Functions allows developers to deploy code globally with minimal configuration during deployment.

Improved A/B Testing Performance

Kevin Van Gundy, Vercel’s CRO, explained that prior to Middleware, A/B testing involved carrying the complete weight of both test variations. With Middleware, decisions can be made before a request is served.

This allows for the selective delivery of test variations – A, B, or C – resulting in significantly improved performance for A/B experiments. The system can efficiently serve only the relevant test version to each user.