# A statically generated blog example using Next.js and DatoCMS This example showcases Next.js's [Static Generation](https://nextjs.org/docs/basic-features/pages) feature using [DatoCMS](https://www.datocms.com/) as the data source. ## Demo [https://next-blog-datocms.vercel.app/](https://next-blog-datocms.vercel.app/) ### Related examples - [AgilityCMS](/examples/cms-agilitycms) - [Builder.io](/examples/cms-builder-io) - [ButterCMS](/examples/cms-buttercms) - [Contentful](/examples/cms-contentful) - [Cosmic](/examples/cms-cosmic) - [DatoCMS](/examples/cms-datocms) - [DotCMS](/examples/cms-dotcms) - [Drupal](/examples/cms-drupal) - [Enterspeed](/examples/cms-enterspeed) - [Ghost](/examples/cms-ghost) - [GraphCMS](/examples/cms-graphcms) - [Kontent.ai](/examples/cms-kontent-ai) - [MakeSwift](/examples/cms-makeswift) - [Payload](/examples/cms-payload) - [Plasmic](/examples/cms-plasmic) - [Prepr](/examples/cms-prepr) - [Prismic](/examples/cms-prismic) - [Sanity](/examples/cms-sanity) - [Sitecore XM Cloud](/examples/cms-sitecore-xmcloud) - [Sitefinity](/examples/cms-sitefinity) - [Storyblok](/examples/cms-storyblok) - [TakeShape](/examples/cms-takeshape) - [Tina](/examples/cms-tina) - [Umbraco](/examples/cms-umbraco) - [Umbraco heartcore](/examples/cms-umbraco-heartcore) - [Webiny](/examples/cms-webiny) - [WordPress](/examples/cms-wordpress) - [Blog Starter](/examples/blog-starter) ## Deploy your own Once you have access to [the environment variables you'll need](#step-5-set-up-environment-variables), deploy the example using [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example). [![Deploy with Vercel](https://vercel.com/button)](https://vercel.com/new/clone?repository-url=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-datocms&project-name=cms-datocms&repository-name=cms-datocms&env=DATOCMS_API_TOKEN,DATOCMS_PREVIEW_SECRET&envDescription=Required%20to%20connect%20the%20app%20with%20DatoCMS&envLink=https://vercel.link/cms-datocms-env) ## How to use Execute [`create-next-app`](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/packages/create-next-app) with [npm](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/init), [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/lang/en/docs/cli/create/), or [pnpm](https://pnpm.io) to bootstrap the example: ```bash npx create-next-app --example cms-datocms cms-datocms-app ``` ```bash yarn create next-app --example cms-datocms cms-datocms-app ``` ```bash pnpm create next-app --example cms-datocms cms-datocms-app ``` ## Configuration ### Step 1. Create an account and a project on DatoCMS First, [create an account on DatoCMS](https://datocms.com). After creating an account, create a **new project** from the dashboard. You can select a **Blank Project**. ### Step 2. Create an `Author` model From the project setting page, create a new **Model**. - The name should be `Author`. Next, add these fields (you don't have to modify the settings): - `Name` - **Text** field (**Single-line String**) - `Picture` - **Media** field (**Single asset**) ### Step 3. Create a `Post` model From the project setting page, create a new **Model**: - The name should be `Post`. - **Important:** From the "Additional Settings" tab, turn on **Enable draft/published system.** This lets you preview the content. Next, add these fields (you don't have to modify the settings unless specified): - `Title` - **Text** field (**Single-line String**) - `Content` - **Text** field (**Multiple-paragraph Text**) - `Excerpt` - **Text** field (**Single-line String**) - `Cover Image` - **Media** field (**Single asset**) - `Date` - **Date and time** field (**Date**) - `Author` - **Links** field (**Single link**) , and from the "Validations" tab under "Accept only specified model", select **Author**. - `Slug` - **SEO** field (**Slug**), and from the "Validations" tab under "Reference field" select **Title**. ### Step 4. Populate Content From the **Content** menu at the top, select **Author** and create a new record. - You just need **1 Author record**. - Use dummy data for the text. - For the image, you can download one from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/). Next, select **Post** and create a new record. - We recommend creating at least **2 Post records**. - Use dummy data for the text. - You can write markdown for the **Content** field. - For the images, you can download ones from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/). - Pick the **Author** you created earlier. **Important:** For each post record, you need to click **Publish** after saving. If not, the post will be in the draft state. ### Step 5. Set up environment variables Go to the **Settings** menu at the top and click **API tokens**. Then click **Read-only API token** and copy the token. Next, copy the `.env.local.example` file in this directory to `.env.local` (which will be ignored by Git): ```bash cp .env.local.example .env.local ``` Then set each variable on `.env.local`: - `DATOCMS_API_TOKEN` should be the API token you just copied. - `DATOCMS_PREVIEW_SECRET` can be any random string (but avoid spaces), like `MY_SECRET` - this is used for [the Preview Mode](https://nextjs.org/docs/advanced-features/preview-mode). Your `.env.local` file should look like this: ```bash DATOCMS_API_TOKEN=... DATOCMS_PREVIEW_SECRET=... ``` ### Step 6. Run Next.js in development mode ```bash npm install npm run dev # or yarn install yarn dev ``` Your blog should be up and running on [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)! If it doesn't work, post on [GitHub discussions](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/discussions). ### Step 7. Try preview mode On DatoCMS, go to one of the posts you've created and: - **Update the title**. For example, you can add `[Draft]` in front of the title. - Click **Save**, but **DO NOT** click **Publish**. By doing this, the post will be in the draft state. (If it doesn't become draft, you need to go to the model settings for `Post`, go to **Additional Settings**, and turn on **Enable draft/published system**.) Now, if you go to the post page on localhost, you won't see the updated title. However, if you use the **Preview Mode**, you'll be able to see the change ([Documentation](https://nextjs.org/docs/advanced-features/preview-mode)). To enable the Preview Mode, go to this URL: ``` http://localhost:3000/api/preview?secret=&slug= ``` - `` should be the string you entered for `DATOCMS_PREVIEW_SECRET`. - `` should be the post's `slug` attribute (you can check on DatoCMS). You should now be able to see the updated title. To exit the preview mode, you can click **Click here to exit preview mode** at the top. ### Step 8. Deploy on Vercel You can deploy this app to the cloud with [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example) ([Documentation](https://nextjs.org/docs/deployment)). #### Deploy Your Local Project To deploy your local project to Vercel, push it to GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket and [import to Vercel](https://vercel.com/new?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example). **Important**: When you import your project on Vercel, make sure to click on **Environment Variables** and set them to match your `.env.local` file. #### Deploy from Our Template Alternatively, you can deploy using our template by clicking on the Deploy button below. [![Deploy with Vercel](https://vercel.com/button)](https://vercel.com/new/clone?repository-url=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-datocms&project-name=cms-datocms&repository-name=cms-datocms&env=DATOCMS_API_TOKEN,DATOCMS_PREVIEW_SECRET&envDescription=Required%20to%20connect%20the%20app%20with%20DatoCMS&envLink=https://vercel.link/cms-datocms-env)