Seeking Advice on Learning Path: React and NextJS for Web Development
Unanswered
West African Lion posted this in #help-forum
West African LionOP
Hi all,
I want to learn NextJS, but before that, I want to know how much React is needed to start learning NextJS. I'm following the "Learn" section on the NextJS documentation, and the React chapters are pretty basic. I have completed those chapters and understood everything in them.
Is the knowledge of React provided by the NextJS documentation enough, or do I need to learn more? Also, if I'm new to both React and NextJS, what path should I follow? Should I learn React extensively first and then shift to NextJS, or can I directly follow the path provided on the NextJS website (i.e., follow the React learning material provided on NextJS Learn and directly start learning NextJS from there)?
I've been in a dilemma about this for a long time. I want to develop a couple of web apps, and I do not want to make mistakes along the way. NextJS looks very exciting because I can do both frontend and backend development, whereas, if I use pure React with Vite, I will need to develop the backend separately.
I also want to know if extensive learning of React is recommended before starting with NextJS. If so, what are the best resources for this? I am visually impaired and therefore prefer textual content over video tutorials.
Also, if NextJS is the best way nowadays compared to learning and developing in pure React, another question pops up in my mind: why would someone prefer learning pure React in these cases? Lastly, if I write both my backend and frontend in NextJS, can I use that backend with other apps too, such as my Android app developed in Kotlin? Can I use that backend with other NextJS apps as well?
Please help me.
I want to learn NextJS, but before that, I want to know how much React is needed to start learning NextJS. I'm following the "Learn" section on the NextJS documentation, and the React chapters are pretty basic. I have completed those chapters and understood everything in them.
Is the knowledge of React provided by the NextJS documentation enough, or do I need to learn more? Also, if I'm new to both React and NextJS, what path should I follow? Should I learn React extensively first and then shift to NextJS, or can I directly follow the path provided on the NextJS website (i.e., follow the React learning material provided on NextJS Learn and directly start learning NextJS from there)?
I've been in a dilemma about this for a long time. I want to develop a couple of web apps, and I do not want to make mistakes along the way. NextJS looks very exciting because I can do both frontend and backend development, whereas, if I use pure React with Vite, I will need to develop the backend separately.
I also want to know if extensive learning of React is recommended before starting with NextJS. If so, what are the best resources for this? I am visually impaired and therefore prefer textual content over video tutorials.
Also, if NextJS is the best way nowadays compared to learning and developing in pure React, another question pops up in my mind: why would someone prefer learning pure React in these cases? Lastly, if I write both my backend and frontend in NextJS, can I use that backend with other apps too, such as my Android app developed in Kotlin? Can I use that backend with other NextJS apps as well?
Please help me.
3 Replies
@West African Lion Hi all,
I want to learn NextJS, but before that, I want to know how much React is needed to start learning NextJS. I'm following the "Learn" section on the NextJS documentation, and the React chapters are pretty basic. I have completed those chapters and understood everything in them.
Is the knowledge of React provided by the NextJS documentation enough, or do I need to learn more? Also, if I'm new to both React and NextJS, what path should I follow? Should I learn React extensively first and then shift to NextJS, or can I directly follow the path provided on the NextJS website (i.e., follow the React learning material provided on NextJS Learn and directly start learning NextJS from there)?
I've been in a dilemma about this for a long time. I want to develop a couple of web apps, and I do not want to make mistakes along the way. NextJS looks very exciting because I can do both frontend and backend development, whereas, if I use pure React with Vite, I will need to develop the backend separately.
I also want to know if extensive learning of React is recommended before starting with NextJS. If so, what are the best resources for this? I am visually impaired and therefore prefer textual content over video tutorials.
Also, if NextJS is the best way nowadays compared to learning and developing in pure React, another question pops up in my mind: why would someone prefer learning pure React in these cases? Lastly, if I write both my backend and frontend in NextJS, can I use that backend with other apps too, such as my Android app developed in Kotlin? Can I use that backend with other NextJS apps as well?
Please help me.
In developement you can't just start by watching a youtube video and follow every step the guy in the video does. That works, until you get an error, but the person in the video not. So start by learning the basics and then one after another.
Start with the basics: Javascript, CSS, HTML. Then go in the advanced direction: JSX, React, important Libraries. And then go in the OP stuff like: NextJs and Typescript.
I learned all these stuff from this guy: [Codevolution](https://www.youtube.com/@Codevolution)
Very much recommended.
For the beginning I recommend you, you using his crash course, for the topics I wrote down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8YMl4Ezp4g&list=PLC3y8-rFHvwhuX4qGvFx-wPy_MEi6Jdp7
Please do it, else you won't make it that long in programming
After this playlist you know the basics of webdevelopement and can start such big projects like a ecommerce store.
Enjoy the developement journey and best of luck ^^
Start with the basics: Javascript, CSS, HTML. Then go in the advanced direction: JSX, React, important Libraries. And then go in the OP stuff like: NextJs and Typescript.
I learned all these stuff from this guy: [Codevolution](https://www.youtube.com/@Codevolution)
Very much recommended.
For the beginning I recommend you, you using his crash course, for the topics I wrote down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8YMl4Ezp4g&list=PLC3y8-rFHvwhuX4qGvFx-wPy_MEi6Jdp7
Please do it, else you won't make it that long in programming
After this playlist you know the basics of webdevelopement and can start such big projects like a ecommerce store.
Enjoy the developement journey and best of luck ^^
Is the knowledge of React provided by the NextJS documentation enoughyes
if I'm new to both React and NextJS, what path should I followfinish the nextjs.org/learn tutorial in its entirety and you will get the basic. after that just make your own apps and you will learn the advanced stuff on the way. project-based learning. avoid tutorials. tutorial hells are no fun.
no need to be an expert in react before starting learning next.
I do not want to make mistakesthis is, by itself, a big mistake. i will be brutally honest here: you will make mistakes. just make apps, don't be too sensitive on trying to be perfect because it won't be perfect.
I also want to know if extensive learning of React is recommended before starting with NextJS.no.
Also, if NextJS is the best way nowadays compared to learning and developing in pure React, another question pops up in my mind: why would someone prefer learning pure React in these cases?nextjs is not necessarily the best way, there are other good frameworks too.
as for why someone would want to learn react, well because you need to know react to use it, whether you use frameworks like nextjs or not use any frameworks at all.
can I use that backend with other apps too, such as my Android app developed in Kotlin? Can I use that backend with other NextJS apps as well?yes
@joulev > Is the knowledge of React provided by the NextJS documentation enough
yes
> if I'm new to both React and NextJS, what path should I follow
finish the nextjs.org/learn tutorial in its entirety and you will get the basic. after that just make your own apps and you will learn the advanced stuff on the way. project-based learning. avoid tutorials. tutorial hells are no fun.
no need to be an expert in react before starting learning next.
> I do not want to make mistakes
this is, by itself, a big mistake. i will be brutally honest here: you *will* make mistakes. just make apps, don't be too sensitive on trying to be perfect because it won't be perfect.
> I also want to know if extensive learning of React is recommended before starting with NextJS.
no.
> Also, if NextJS is the best way nowadays compared to learning and developing in pure React, another question pops up in my mind: why would someone prefer learning pure React in these cases?
nextjs is not necessarily *the best* way, there are other good frameworks too.
as for why someone would want to learn react, well because you need to know react to use it, whether you use frameworks like nextjs or not use any frameworks at all.
> can I use that backend with other apps too, such as my Android app developed in Kotlin? Can I use that backend with other NextJS apps as well?
yes
West African LionOP
Thank you so much. really useful and insightful answers. Ok, so I'll start learning from nextjs.org/learn and will start developing couple of apps without fearing the mistakes. I'll keep on learning advance react concepts gradually so that I have good insights about it as well. really, thanks so much