content-management-with-kontent

Kontent.ai Content Management System in React Next.js

wiktor-plagaWiktor Plaga
March 25, 20237 min reading time

Kontent.ai Content Management System in React Next.js

In today's digital age, content is king. With the rise of online businesses and the increasing demand for digital content, it has become more important than ever to have an efficient and effective content management system (CMS). Kontent.ai is a powerful CMS that allows businesses to manage their content seamlessly. In this tutorial, we will explore how to build a Kontent.ai CMS using React Next.js.

React Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered React applications. It provides a robust set of tools and features that make it easy to build complex web applications. By combining the power of Kontent.ai with the flexibility of React Next.js, we can create a CMS that is both powerful and easy to use. In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of building a Kontent.ai CMS using React Next.js. We will start by setting up our development environment and then move on to building the core functionality of our CMS. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid understanding of how to build a Kontent.ai CMS using React Next.js, and you will be ready to start building your own custom CMS.

What is Kontent.ai?

Kontent.ai is a cloud-based content management system (CMS) that allows businesses to manage their digital content easily. It provides a centralized platform for creating, managing, and publishing content across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and social media. With Kontent.ai, businesses can streamline their content creation process, collaborate with team members, and ensure that their content is consistent and up-to-date.

Kontent.ai offers a range of features, including content modeling, versioning, and localization. It also provides integrations with popular tools and platforms, such as WordPress, Salesforce, and HubSpot. With its intuitive user interface and powerful API, Kontent.ai is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes that need a reliable and scalable CMS solution.

Why use Kontent.ai for Content Management System in React Next.js application?

Kontent.ai is a powerful and flexible content management system that offers a range of benefits for businesses of all sizes. One of the main advantages of Kontent.ai is its ease of use. With its intuitive user interface and drag-and-drop content modeling, businesses can quickly create and manage their digital content without the need for extensive technical knowledge.

Another key benefit of Kontent.ai is its scalability. As businesses grow and their content needs evolve, Kontent.ai can easily scale to meet those needs. With its cloud-based infrastructure and powerful API, Kontent.ai can handle large volumes of content and support multiple channels and platforms.

Other benefits of Kontent.ai include:

  • Collaboration: Kontent.ai allows teams to collaborate on content creation and management, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goals and objectives.
  • Localization: With support for multiple languages and regions, Kontent.ai makes it easy to create and manage content for global audiences.
  • Integration: Kontent.ai integrates with a range of popular tools and platforms, including WordPress, Salesforce, and HubSpot, making it easy to incorporate content into existing workflows and processes.

Overall, Kontent.ai is an excellent choice for businesses that need a reliable and scalable content management system that is easy to use and offers a range of powerful features and benefits.

Prerequisites

To complete the "Kontent.ai Content Management System in React Next.js" tutorial, you will need the following prerequisites:

  • Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • Familiarity with React and Next.js
  • Node.js and npm installed on your machine
  • A Kontent.ai account and project set up
  • A text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) such as Visual Studio Code
  • A modern web browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox

It is also recommended that you have some experience with server-side rendering and API integration, as these concepts will be covered in the tutorial. With these prerequisites in place, you will be ready to start building your own custom Kontent.ai CMS using React Next.js.

React Next.js Kontent.ai step by step setup and configuration

Integrating Kontent.ai into a React Next.js project is a straightforward process that involves setting up the Kontent.ai SDK and configuring it to work with your project. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Install the Kontent.ai SDK: The first step is to install the Kontent.ai SDK using npm. Open your terminal or command prompt and run the following command:
npm install --save @kentico/kontent-delivery
  1. Configure the SDK: Next, you need to configure the SDK to work with your Kontent.ai project. Create a new file called kontent.js in your project's root directory and add the following code:
import { DeliveryClient } from '@kentico/kontent-delivery';

const deliveryClient = new DeliveryClient({
  projectId: 'YOUR_PROJECT_ID',
  typeResolvers: [],
});

export default deliveryClient;

Replace YOUR_PROJECT_ID with your Kontent.ai project ID, which can be found in the Kontent.ai management interface.

  1. Fetch content from Kontent.ai: With the SDK configured, you can now fetch content from your Kontent.ai project. In your React component, import the kontent.js file and use the deliveryClient object to fetch content. Here's an example:
import deliveryClient from '../kontent';

function MyComponent() {
  const [content, setContent] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    deliveryClient
      .items()
      .type('article')
      .get()
      .then((response) => {
        setContent(response.items);
      });
  }, []);

  return (
    <div>
      {content && content.map((item) => <div key={item.system.id}>{item.elements.title.value}</div>)}
    </div>
  );
}

export default MyComponent;

This code fetches all items of type article from your Kontent.ai project and displays their titles in a list.

  1. Server-side rendering: Finally, to enable server-side rendering of your Kontent.ai content, you need to modify your Next.js configuration. In your next.config.js file, add the following code:
module.exports = {
  async rewrites() {
    return [
      {
        source: '/kontent',
        destination: 'https://deliver.kontent.ai/YOUR_PROJECT_ID/items',
      },
    ];
  },
};

Replace YOUR_PROJECT_ID with your Kontent.ai project ID. This code sets up a rewrite rule that proxies requests to /kontent to the Kontent.ai delivery API. With this in place, your Next.js app will be able to render Kontent.ai content on the server.

By following these steps, you can easily integrate Kontent.ai into your React Next.js project and start fetching and rendering content from your Kontent.ai project.

Kontent.ai configuration options in React Next.js

Here are the Kontent.ai configuration options for React Next.js integration:

  • projectId: The ID of your Kontent.ai project.
  • typeResolvers: An array of type resolvers that map Kontent.ai content types to JavaScript classes or interfaces. This is useful for type checking and code completion.
  • globalQueryConfig: A set of global query configuration options that apply to all requests made with the SDK. This includes options such as caching and retry policies.
  • previewApiKey: An API key that allows you to preview unpublished content in your Kontent.ai project.
  • baseUrl: The base URL of the Kontent.ai delivery API. This can be useful if you need to proxy requests through a custom server or CDN.
  • retryStrategy: A function that determines how the SDK should handle failed requests. This can be used to implement custom retry logic or error handling.

By configuring these options, you can customize the behavior of the Kontent.ai SDK to suit your specific needs and requirements. For example, you can enable preview mode to preview unpublished content, or set up custom caching and retry policies to optimize performance and reliability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building a Kontent.ai content management system using React Next.js is a powerful way to manage and publish digital content across multiple channels. With the Kontent.ai SDK and the flexibility of React Next.js, you can create a custom CMS that meets your specific needs and requirements.

Throughout this tutorial, we covered the basics of integrating Kontent.ai into a React Next.js project, including setting up the SDK, fetching content, and enabling server-side rendering. We also explored some of the benefits of using Kontent.ai, such as its ease of use, scalability, and integration capabilities.

By following the steps outlined in this tutorial and experimenting with the Kontent.ai SDK and React Next.js, you can create a powerful and flexible content management system that streamlines your content creation and management process. Whether you're building a simple blog or a complex e-commerce platform, Kontent.ai and React Next.js provide the tools and features you need to succeed in today's digital landscape.

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