How to create a Next.js blog with Graphite's stacking workflow

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create and deploy a personal blog using Next.js and manage your codebase effectively with Graphite's CLI and stacked changes workflow. This approach will help maintain a clean and organized code structure, making your development process more efficient.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, make sure to have:

• Graphite CLI installed: Use brew install withgraphite/tap/graphite on macOS/Linux or npm install -g @withgraphite/graphite-cli@stable for npm installations.

• Your CLI authenticated with GitHub: This enables Graphite to interact with your GitHub repositories for pull request management​​.

• An understanding of Graphite's stacks: These are sequences of dependent branches for incremental development​.

• gt initialized in your repository where the blog will be hosted​.

Step 1: Initialize Your Next.js Project

Begin by setting up your Next.js project environment:

bashCopy code
npx create-next-app@latest my-blog
cd my-blog

This command creates a new directory named my-blog, which is the starting point for your blogging platform.

Step 2: Installing and Authenticating Graphite

Install the Graphite CLI and authenticate it with your GitHub account:

brew install withgraphite/tap/graphite
gt auth

Authenticating with GitHub allows Graphite to create and update pull requests on your behalf.

Step 3: Starting with Graphite's CLI

Create the base branch for your blog using Graphite:

gt trunk
gt add -A
gt create -m "Initialize personal blog project"

This sets up the main branch from which all future features and posts will branch off.

Step 4: Developing Your Blog Features

Develop your blog by adding new features and content, each on a separate branch:

gt add -A
gt create -m "Add blog post feature"

Keep your branches focused on single features or posts to maintain an organized codebase.

Step 5: Code Reviews and Collaboration

Collaborate with others and submit your branches for review:

gt stack submit

This allows for efficient code reviews and collaboration through GitHub pull requests.

Step 6: Merging Your Code

Once your branches have been reviewed and are ready to go live, merge them into the main branch:

gt stack merge

Graphite manages branch dependencies and ensures a smooth integration process.

Step 7: Deploying Your Blog

Deploy your blog to make it accessible online. If you're using Vercel, simply link your GitHub repository and deploy:

vercel

Your personal blog is now live and can be accessed by users worldwide.

Conclusion:

By following this guide, you've set up a Next.js personal blog with an optimized code management system using Graphite's CLI and stacked changes workflow. This method ensures a well-organized codebase, facilitating easier maintenance and scaling of your blogging platform.