⚠️ Is Next.js the right tool for your project? We dissect its architectural compromises, vendor lock-in risks, and hidden complexities.
🚨 Why Next.js Falls Short on Software Engineering Principles: A Deconstruction
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📜 Preamble: The Allure & The Reality
Next.js has emerged as a dominant force in the React ecosystem, often hailed as a de-facto standard for production-ready applications. Its mantra of “Zero Config” and features like SSR (Server-Side Rendering) & SSG (Static Site Generation) offer an enticing DX (Developer Experience). However, from a rigorous Software Engineering standpoint — which prioritizes long-term maintainability (M), scalability (S), and separation of concerns (SoC) — Next.js introduces significant compromises.
This analysis deconstructs these compromises using the symbolic language of engineering.
1. ⛓️ The Illusion of “Zero Config” & The Vendor Lock-in Λ
"Zero Config" ≈ "Black Box" Λ (Vendor Lock-in)
The promise of “Zero Config” is a double-edged sword.
