Posts tagged with "web-development"

Next.js has become one of the go-to frameworks for fullstack web development. But is it the right choice for your project? Let's break it down in simple terms.

Pros ✅

1. Server-Side Rendering (SSR) & Static Generation (SSG)

Next.js lets you render pages on the server (SSR) or ahead of time (SSG), making your app faster and more SEO-friendly.

2. Fullstack Capabilities

With API routes, you can build both frontend and backend in the same project—no need for a separate backend service.

3. Automatic Code Splitting

Next.js automatically splits your code, so users only download what's needed for the page they're viewing. This improves performance.

4. App Router & Server Components

Next.js now uses the App Router (app/ directory) by default, leveraging React Server Components for better performance and flexibility in data fetching.

5. Great Developer Experience

Fast refresh, TypeScript support, and a huge ecosystem make developing with Next.js a breeze.

6. Easy Deployment with Vercel

Since Next.js is built by Vercel, deploying your app is as simple as pushing to GitHub and letting Vercel handle the rest.

Cons ❌

1. Learning Curve

If you're coming from vanilla React, the concepts of SSR, SSG, ISR (Incremental Static Regeneration), and Server Components might take some time to grasp.

2. Server Costs for SSR

SSR requires a server to generate pages dynamically, which can increase hosting costs compared to purely static sites.

3. Opinionated Structure

Next.js has its own way of doing things, especially around routing and data fetching. If you want full control, you might feel restricted.

4. Complex API Routes

While API routes are great for small projects, they might not scale well for larger applications. You might need a dedicated backend eventually.

5. Client-Side Navigation Quirks

Sometimes, using next/link and next/router for navigation can be tricky, especially with deep linking and query parameters.

Final Thoughts 💭

Next.js is a powerhouse for fullstack development, but it's not perfect. If you want a balance between performance, SEO, and developer experience, it's a great choice. However, if you need full backend flexibility, consider pairing it with a dedicated backend framework.

Would you use Next.js for your next project?

One of the most significant improvements in Rails 8 is the enhanced parallel testing system that now comes enabled by default. This feature dramatically reduces test suite execution time with minimal configuration.

What Changed in Rails 8

In previous Rails versions, you had to explicitly opt into parallel testing by adding configuration to your test environment. Rails 8 flips this approach - parallel testing is now enabled out of the box, automatically detecting your system's CPU count and utilizing those resources efficiently.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Here's how to leverage this feature effectively:

# config/environments/test.rb
Rails.application.configure do
  # The default is now true, but you can specify the number of workers
  config.parallel_testing.workers = :number_of_processors # or set specific number
  
  # You can also configure specific worker counts for different test types
  config.parallel_testing.workers = {
    models: 4,
    controllers: 3,
    system: 2
  }
end

Managing Database Setup

With parallel testing, each worker needs its own database. Rails 8 automatically handles this with a new task:

bin/rails parallel:setup

This creates numbered databases for each worker (like myapp_test-1, myapp_test-2).

Dealing with Shared Resources

When tests run in parallel, be careful with shared resources. Rails 8 includes helpers to manage this:

class SomeTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
  parallelize_with :processes do |worker|
    # Code that runs once per worker
    Setup.prepare_shared_resource_for_worker(worker)
  end
  
  test "something that uses isolated resources" do
    # This test can run in parallel
  end
end

When to Turn It Off

Some tests may not work well in parallel. For specific test files:

class ComplexSystemTest < ApplicationSystemTestCase
  # Disable parallelization for just this test class
  self.use_parallel = false
  
  test "a complex flow that shouldn't run in parallel" do
    # Test code here
  end
end

Enjoy the significantly faster test execution times with Rails 8's parallel testing defaults!