How to Deploy a Next.js App on AWS

Deploying Your Next.js App on AWS

Deploying a Next.js application to AWS provides a scalable and robust environment for hosting your web application. AWS offers several services such as EC2, S3, and Amplify, each suited for different hosting needs. This guide will walk you through deploying your Next.js app on AWS using AWS Amplify, one of the easiest and most efficient methods.

---

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A Next.js application ready for deployment.
• An AWS account.
• AWS CLI installed and configured.
• Git installed on your local machine.

---

Step 1: Initialize Your Next.js App

If you don’t already have a Next.js app, create one by running:

npx create-next-app@latest my-next-app
cd my-next-app

After building your application, test it locally with:

npm run dev
Ensure your app is working correctly before proceeding.

Step 2: Prepare for Deployment

Next.js applications need to be optimized for production before deployment. Build your app with:

npm run build

This command generates a .next folder containing all the optimized files necessary for deployment.

Step 3: Set Up AWS Amplify

AWS Amplify simplifies deployment with its user-friendly interface and automatic CI/CD setup.

• Sign in to AWS Amplify Console: Navigate to the AWS Amplify Console and click on “Get Started.”
• Connect Your Repository:
  • Choose your Git provider (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, etc.).
  • Authenticate and select the repository containing your Next.js app.
  • Choose the branch you want to deploy.
• Configure Build Settings: Amplify automatically detects your app type. Verify the build settings, which should look like this:

version: 1
frontend:
  phases:
    preBuild:
      commands:
        - npm install
    build:
      commands:
        - npm run build
  artifacts:
    baseDirectory: .next
    files:
      - '**/*'
  cache:
    paths:
      - node_modules/**/*

Deploy Your App: Click “Save and Deploy.” Amplify will provision resources, build your app, and deploy it to a live URL.

Step 4: Verify and Test Your Deployment

Once the deployment is complete, Amplify provides a live URL for your app. Test the URL to ensure everything is working correctly. If there are issues, revisit the build logs in the Amplify Console for debugging.

Step 5: Configure Custom Domain (Optional)

To use a custom domain for your Next.js app:

• Go to the “Domain Management” section in the Amplify Console.
• Add your custom domain and follow the steps to configure DNS settings with your domain provider.
• Amplify automatically provisions an SSL certificate for secure HTTPS access.

Conclusion

-Deploying a Next.js app on AWS using Amplify is straightforward and efficient. This method handles CI/CD, hosting, and scaling with minimal configuration. Whether you’re deploying a personal project or a production-grade application, AWS Amplify ensures your app is fast, secure, and scalable.

Start deploying your Next.js applications on AWS today and leverage the full power of cloud hosting!