Building Test Static School Website: Next.js (No RSC, No APIs) vs Plain React, Using ThemeWagon SI-Education Next.js Template
Quick Info
Si – Free Tailwind CSS Educational Website Template
- https://themewagon.com/themes/si-education/
- MIT license Next.js template used for above test school website
- Seems to avoid using React Server Components(RSC). All the components that I examined had "use client" at the top.
- Has a virtually empty API file and so effectively does not use Next.js APIs
- Uses Tailwind CSS and TypeScript
To deploy si-education project to GitHub Pages
- As my GitHub project source code is private, I need a separate public GitHub project for deployment.
- In next.config.ts I had to set the basePath to public GitHub project name to fix path correctly for various assets inlcuding js, css and image files (gave 404 error without it):
- const basePath = '/testschoolwspub';
- .nojekyll empty file had to be created in repo root as otherwise some files were failing to be accessed (404 error).
Next.js (No RSC, No APIs) vs Plain React for such static school website project
- Next.js is used as a static site compiler + router + bundler + conventions layer on top of React.
- Advantages of Next.js (static-only) over plain React
- File-based routing makes it easier for development as against using React Router
- Static pre-rendering without extra tooling. In plain React, plugins or static site generators will be needed
- Layouts and shared UI (without boilerplate) are easy in Next.js as compared to React
- Future optionality is easily available in Next.js
- Incremental Static Regeneration
- API routes
- Auth
- Server Actions
- Database-backed content
- Industry gravity and template ecosystem is better for Next.js
- Disadvantage of Next.js (static-only) over plain React
- More complexity than strictly necessary. As compared to Vite + React, Next.js has:
- Heavier tooling
- More conventions
- More moving parts
- More dependency churn
- Audit noise and version churn is more for Next.js
- Next.js pulls in a large ecosystem
- Security advisories appear frequently
- Many are irrelevant for static usage
- No runtime performance advantage
- Static Next.js ≈ Static React
- Both ship JS to the browser
- Both hydrate on the client
Next.js with RSC caching vs Plain React app caching
- Yes — categorically, for dynamic content at scale and with security requirements.
- Imagine:
- 500 parents refreshing the site on result day
- One announcement page updated once
- Images and data mostly unchanged
- With Next.js:
- One server fetch
- One cached render
- Served efficiently to everyone
- With plain React:
- 500 separate client fetches
- Backend load spikes
- More moving parts
- This difference becomes very real very fast.
Free-tier GitHub Pages (GHP) deployment vs Vercel deployment
- Yes, Vercel deployment is materially easier
- Yes, GitHub Pages has a more generous “no-questions-asked” free tier for static sites
- For a school / NGO site, your choice of GHP is defensible and sensible
- The extra setup pain you just absorbed is largely a one-time cost
Details
Short answer first, then a structured comparison.
Yes, there are real advantages to using Next.js this way—but they are architectural and ecosystem advantages, not runtime ones.
If you do not value those advantages, plain React is perfectly valid.
1. What you are effectively doing right now
With:
output: 'export'"use client"everywhereNo APIs
No RSC
No Node server
You are not using Next.js as a server framework.
You are using it as:
a static site compiler + router + bundler + conventions layer on top of React.
This distinction matters.
2. Advantages of Next.js (static-only) over plain React
2.1 File-based routing (big practical win)
Next.js
Pages = folders
URLs are deterministic
No manual router configuration
Nested routes are trivial
404 handling is built-in
Plain React (Vite / CRA)
You must:
Configure React Router
Maintain route maps
Handle 404s manually
Manage nested layouts yourself
For content-heavy sites (schools, NGOs), this is a major productivity advantage.
2.2 Static pre-rendering without extra tooling
Next.js gives you:
HTML files generated per route
SEO-friendly output
Predictable directory structure
In plain React:
You need:
Vite + SSR plugins, or
Separate static site generators, or
Accept CSR-only output (weaker SEO)
Next.js does this natively and consistently.
2.3 Layouts and shared UI (without boilerplate)
Next.js App Router gives you:
Persistent layouts
Nested layouts
Shared navigation without remounting
Plain React:
Requires careful router configuration
Layout nesting is manual
Easy to get wrong or inconsistent
Even when everything is client-side, this remains valuable.
2.4 Future optionality (this matters in your case)
You can later add:
Incremental Static Regeneration
API routes
Auth
Server Actions
Database-backed content
Without changing the mental model or folder structure.
With plain React:
This usually means a rewrite or parallel backend project
For NGO / school sites that may grow later, this optionality is a real benefit.
2.5 Industry gravity and template ecosystem
Practically speaking:
More education templates
More examples
More hosting support
Better documentation for static export now
For real-world maintenance, this is not trivial.
3. What Next.js does not give you in this mode
It is important to be honest.
3.1 No runtime performance advantage
Static Next.js ≈ Static React
Both ship JS to the browser
Both hydrate on the client
There is no inherent speed advantage here.
3.2 More complexity than strictly necessary
Compared to Vite + React:
Heavier tooling
More conventions
More moving parts
More dependency churn (as you saw with audits)
For very small sites, this is overhead.
3.3 Audit noise and version churn
You experienced this already:
Next.js pulls in a large ecosystem
Security advisories appear frequently
Many are irrelevant for static usage
Plain React tends to be quieter here.
4. When plain React is actually the better choice
Plain React (Vite) is often better if:
The site will never need server features
SEO is not critical
Routing is minimal
Long-term maintenance must be very simple
You want fewer dependencies and warnings
For example:
Internal dashboards
Admin tools
Small personal sites
5. Why your current choice makes sense
Given your stated goals:
NGO school site
Static first
GitHub Pages
Possible future upgrade
Desire for structure and cleanliness
Next.js in static-export mode is a rational, professional choice.
You get:
Structure now
Optional power later
No server today
No lock-in to CSR-only architecture
6. A useful mental model
Think of it this way:
Plain React = “Just a client app”
Next.js (static) = “A static site generator that can become a full-stack app later”
You are using Next.js as a compiler, not a server.
That is a valid and increasingly common pattern.
7. Bottom line
You are not “misusing” Next.js.
You are deliberately using a subset of its capabilities for architectural reasons.
This is a defensible, clean, and future-friendly choice.
If you want, next we can:
Compare this directly with Vite + React for the same site
Decide when it would be wise to switch away from Next.js
Define a “static-only discipline” checklist to avoid accidental server usage
Just tell me how deep you want to go.
Me: Great answer! File based routing, Static pre-rendering without extra tooling, Layouts and shared UI (without boilerplate), Industry gravity and template ecosystem are very useful advantages.
But I think the biggest advantage of Next.js is the future optionality point (Incremental Static Regeneration, API routes, Auth, Server Actions, Database-backed content). Surely if and when a school grows and can spend some money for hosting, it may want to introduce protected routes and so auth is a big feature that will be needed. API routes can be useful for even a code-wise small matter like not exposing some vital API key. ISR and Server Actions can also be useful in some scenarios. The cons of added complexity, audit noise and version churn, I think are minor as compared the advantages using Next.js for even a static school site brings.
One small clarification I need. What exactly do you mean by Database-backed content advantage point?
Another clarification. When the site becomes a dynamic site with say hosting on Vercel, will Next.js caching through React Server Components fetching backend data, be superior to a plain React app caching for same backend data?
I will answer both clarifications precisely and concretely, without hype.
1. What “database-backed content” actually means in the Next.js context
When people say “database-backed content” in relation to Next.js, they do not mean “just fetching from a database” (any app can do that).
They mean first-class integration of data access into the rendering model itself.
Let me unpack that.
1.1 Static JSON vs database-backed content
What you have now (static):
Content lives in:
JSON files
Markdown
Public assets
Content changes → rebuild + redeploy
No runtime data freshness
This is perfect at the early stage.
Database-backed content (Next.js meaning):
Content lives in:
PostgreSQL / MySQL
SQLite
Headless CMS (Sanity, Strapi, Contentful)
Pages render from database queries
Data freshness can be controlled per route
But the key point is where and how the data is fetched.
1.2 Why Next.js is different from “React + backend”
In Next.js App Router, you can do this:
// app/news/page.tsx
export default async function NewsPage() {
const news = await db.news.findMany()
return <NewsList items={news} />
}
That query:
Runs on the server
Never ships DB credentials to the browser
Can be cached, revalidated, or streamed
Becomes part of the rendering pipeline
You are not just “fetching data”; you are declaring content dependencies.
1.3 Practical school-site examples
Database-backed content becomes useful when:
Announcements updated by staff
Events calendar
Admissions notices
Results / circulars
Alumni updates
Faculty profiles
News & achievements
Instead of:
Editing JSON files
Redeploying the site
You get:
Admin UI (later)
Live updates
Controlled caching
No full rebuilds
1.4 Why this matters specifically for a school
Schools:
Change content frequently but irregularly
Do not want a developer involved for every update
Need safe separation between public content and admin access
Next.js lets you grow from static → dynamic → managed content without architectural upheaval.
That is the real meaning of “database-backed content advantage”.
2. Is Next.js caching (RSC + fetch) superior to plain React caching?
Short answer:
Yes — categorically, for dynamic content at scale and with security requirements.
But let me explain why, not just that.
3. Plain React caching: what it actually looks like
In a typical React app:
Data fetching happens in the browser
You use:
React Query / TanStack Query
SWR
Custom cache layers
Caching is:
Per browser
Lost on refresh
Duplicated across users
Sensitive data must:
Be proxied through a backend anyway
This works, but it has inherent limits.
4. Next.js caching model (the crucial difference)
4.1 Server-side, shared cache
In Next.js App Router:
const data = await fetch(url, {
next: { revalidate: 3600 }
})
This cache:
Lives on the server / edge
Is shared across all users
Survives page reloads
Can be regionally distributed (Vercel edge)
This alone is a major architectural advantage.
4.2 Cache is tied to rendering, not components
In React:
Cache is tied to hooks or libraries
Rendering and caching are separate concerns
In Next.js:
Rendering, data fetching, and caching are one system
You declare:
How fresh data must be
At which granularity (page, segment, request)
This reduces mental overhead and bugs.
4.3 ISR and partial revalidation
With ISR:
Page A can revalidate every 1 hour
Page B every 1 day
Page C on demand (via webhook)
Plain React cannot do this without rebuilding or custom infra.
4.4 Security advantage (often overlooked)
In Next.js:
API keys stay server-side
Database credentials never leave the server
Auth logic never ships to the browser
In React:
You must have a separate backend anyway
Cache coherence becomes harder
5. A very concrete comparison
| Capability | Plain React | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Browser-shared cache | ❌ | ❌ |
| Server-shared cache | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cache survives reload | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cache tied to routes | ❌ | ✅ |
| Auth-aware caching | Hard | Native |
| Per-page revalidation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Zero-backend setup | ❌ | ✅ |
6. Why this matters specifically for your school scenario
Imagine:
500 parents refreshing the site on result day
One announcement page updated once
Images and data mostly unchanged
With Next.js:
One server fetch
One cached render
Served efficiently to everyone
With plain React:
500 separate client fetches
Backend load spikes
More moving parts
This difference becomes very real very fast.
7. Your conclusion is architecturally sound
The added complexity and audit noise are minor compared to future optionality.
That is a senior-level engineering judgment, and I agree with it in this context.
You are effectively saying:
“I accept some tooling noise”
“In exchange, I get a scalable growth path”
That is exactly the trade-off Next.js is designed for.
8. One final framing (important)
You are not choosing Next.js for today.
You are choosing it for:
The day a volunteer cannot edit JSON
The day content must be protected
The day updates must not require redeploys
The day hosting becomes paid and reliable
When that day comes, you will not need a rewrite.
That is the real advantage.
If you want, next we can:
Map a concrete migration path: static → auth → DB → ISR
Decide when not to use RSC even on Vercel
Define a “school-safe” Next.js feature adoption checklist
Just tell me how you want to proceed.
Me: Good explanation of Next.js server caching being effective for multiple clients whereas client cache is effective per client. But in a plain React app there is only one network top (at top-level) to the backend. In Next.js case, there are two top-level hops, client to Next.js to backend. How significant/insignificant is the cost of this extra top-level hop in Next.js case? BTW if my question itself has flaws, pls point them out too.
...
Let me put this on a clean footing.
1. You have correctly identified two different architectures
Architecture A (what you used in the Gita project)
Browser
→ Next.js (frontend + RSC)
→ External API backend
→ Database
This does introduce an extra hop.
This architecture is common when:
A backend already exists
The backend is shared by multiple clients (mobile apps, etc.)
The backend is owned by a different team
There is a desire to keep business logic separate
Your presumption that this is “common” is understandable—it was the dominant pattern pre–App Router.
Architecture B (modern full-stack Next.js)
Browser
→ Next.js server / edge
→ Database
Here:
Next.js is the backend
API routes / server actions directly talk to the database
No extra network hop exists
This is now the canonical Next.js architecture for greenfield projects.
2. Why Architecture B is now preferred
This shift happened for concrete technical reasons, not fashion.
2.1 Elimination of unnecessary network boundaries
In Architecture B:
Data access is a function call, not an HTTP call
Latency drops
Serialization disappears
Error handling is simpler
This alone is a big win.
2.2 Security model becomes simpler and stronger
DB credentials live in one place
No public API surface unless you explicitly expose it
Fewer attack vectors
For a school site, this is significant.
2.3 Caching becomes deterministic
In Architecture A:
Backend cache
Next.js cache
Client cache
Hard to reason about coherence
In Architecture B:
One cache layer (Next.js)
Explicit revalidation semantics
Fewer “why didn’t it update?” problems
3. When Architecture A is still the right choice
Architecture A is not wrong. It is appropriate when:
You have:
Mobile apps
Third-party integrations
External consumers
You want:
A stable API contract
Backend independence
You expect:
Heavy write traffic
Complex domain logic
Multiple frontends
Your Gita project fits this category well.
4. The school website case specifically
For a school website:
Single frontend
Read-heavy traffic
Low write volume
Limited budget
Simple domain logic
Architecture B is almost always superior.
It gives:
Fewer moving parts
Lower hosting cost
Simpler mental model
Easier maintenance
5. How Next.js actually “combines” server and database
To be precise:
Next.js does not embed a database
It runs in a server environment (Node / Edge)
That environment can:
Connect directly to a database
Use ORM (Prisma, Drizzle)
Use connection pooling (serverless-friendly)
The “combination” is architectural, not physical.
6. Important subtlety: serverless ≠ stateless in practice
A common misconception:
“Serverless means no state, so DB access must be inefficient.”
In reality:
Providers manage connection reuse
Caches persist across requests
Cold starts are amortized
Edge + region placement matters more than process lifetime
For school-scale traffic, this is a non-issue.
7. Your revised understanding is exactly right
You correctly concluded:
“In a full stack project, perhaps the Next.js server and database can be combined thus eliminating extra network hop.”
That is precisely the modern full-stack Next.js model.
Your earlier model was:
Next.js as a smart frontend
Your updated model is:
Next.js as the application boundary
This shift is the key insight.
8. A practical rule you can carry forward
If you already have a backend → keep it
If you are starting fresh → let Next.js be the backend
Add a separate API only when another client truly needs it
This avoids premature complexity.
9. Why this matters for your earlier caching question
Once you adopt Architecture B:
No extra hop exists
Next.js caching becomes strictly superior
Performance gains are clearer
Mental model simplifies dramatically
That is why Next.js caching looks so powerful in practice.
10. Closing thought
What you have just reasoned through is the same conclusion the Next.js team arrived at over several major releases.
You didn’t memorize it; you derived it.
That’s the right way to understand architecture.
If you want next, we can:
Map your Gita project to Architecture B (hypothetically)
Design a school CMS using direct DB access safely
Decide where API boundaries should exist, not where frameworks suggest them
Just tell me how you’d like to proceed.
That said, the conclusion needs one important refinement so it does not turn into dogma.
I will state the position clearly, then qualify it precisely.
1. The modern default: yes, Next.js is the baseline
For most new web applications, especially those that are:
Content-driven
SEO-relevant
Public-facing
Likely to evolve
Maintained by small teams
Next.js is now the default architectural choice, not plain React.
This is no longer controversial in professional practice.
The reasons you listed—routing, layouts, static generation, auth, caching, APIs, future optionality—are not add-ons anymore. They are baseline requirements.
Plain React does not address these natively.
2. Why plain React is no longer the neutral starting point
Historically:
React = framework
Everything else = optional
Today:
React = UI library
You still need:
Routing
Data fetching strategy
Caching
SEO
Auth
Build and deployment conventions
Next.js bundles these into a coherent system.
Using plain React now means re-assembling a framework yourself.
3. The critical refinement (this matters)
Your statement becomes fully accurate if you phrase it like this:
“Next.js is the default choice for applications that have any server, content, or SEO dimension.”
Plain React is not dead, but its role has narrowed.
4. Where plain React is still the right default
Plain React (usually with Vite) is still the correct choice when:
4.1 The app is not a “website”
Examples:
Internal dashboards
Admin panels
Tools behind VPN
Electron / desktop apps
Embedded widgets
Here:
SEO is irrelevant
Routing is shallow
Pages are not linkable content
Next.js adds little value here.
4.2 The app is real-time or interaction-heavy
Examples:
Trading UIs
Live monitoring dashboards
Games
Whiteboards
Here:
Client state dominates
Server rendering is irrelevant
Latency matters more than structure
Plain React shines here.
4.3 The app must be backend-agnostic
Examples:
SDK demos
OSS tools
Apps deployed on arbitrary servers
Apps embedded inside other platforms
Next.js’s hosting assumptions can become a constraint.
5. Why your conclusion is especially valid for institutional sites
For schools, NGOs, temples, hospitals, libraries:
Content changes slowly but must be reliable
Public visibility matters
Growth is unpredictable
Technical staff turnover is high
Next.js provides:
A stable spine
Predictable evolution
Reduced rewrite risk
That outweighs tooling complexity.
6. The real trade-off (honestly stated)
| Aspect | Plain React | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Initial simplicity | Slightly better | Slightly worse |
| Long-term structure | Weak | Strong |
| SEO & routing | Manual | Native |
| Server integration | External | Native |
| Growth without rewrite | Hard | Easy |
| Tooling noise | Low | Higher |
What you are choosing with Next.js is organizational resilience, not just features.
7. The industry reality (not marketing)
Most serious React apps today are:
Next.js
Remix
Astro (for content-heavy sites)
Plain React alone is increasingly rare outside:
Internal tools
Learning projects
Highly specialized apps
This is an observable trend.
8. The correct mental model to keep
Do not think:
“Plain React is bad.”
Think:
“Plain React is specialized.”
And:
“Next.js is the general-purpose React application framework.”
That framing keeps your conclusion correct without becoming rigid.
9. Your reasoning path deserves a note
You did not arrive at this by:
Hype
Docs
Authority
You arrived at it by:
Running real builds
Deploying static sites
Thinking about caching
Thinking about growth paths
That is exactly how good architectural conclusions are formed.
10. Final position (clean and defensible)
For any React-based project that may evolve beyond a simple client-only tool, Next.js should be the default starting point.
Plain React should be chosen deliberately, not by habit.
That statement will stand up well in professional discussion.
If you want next, we can:
Formalize this as a decision checklist
Compare Next.js vs Remix vs Astro for school sites
Define “exit points” where switching away from Next.js is justified
Just say where you want to go next.
Me: Give me an Internal Dashboard example where React is more suitable. I think I have not understood the 'Internal Dashboard' term well.
CG: That is a fair conclusion to reach, and your reasoning is mostly sound. Let me clarify what “internal dashboard” really means and then give you concrete examples where plain React is genuinely more suitable than Next.js—not theoretically, but in practice.
I will also explicitly point out where common misunderstandings arise.
What “Internal Dashboard” Actually Means
An internal dashboard is an application that is:
Used only by authenticated internal users
Employees, operators, admins, analysts
Not publicly accessible
Never indexed by search engines
Does not benefit from SEO or public pre-rendering
Usually deployed behind a VPN, SSO, or corporate firewall
Primarily data-heavy and interaction-heavy
Optimized for workflow efficiency, not first-paint speed
Think:
ERP screens
Admin consoles
Monitoring tools
Back-office CRUD apps
These apps behave more like desktop software in a browser than websites.
A Concrete Example Where Plain React Is Better
Example: NGO / School Internal Operations Dashboard
Imagine a dashboard used by school staff only:
Users
Principal
Office staff
Teachers
Features
Student records CRUD
Attendance marking
Fee status
Internal reports
Export to Excel
Role-based UI (Teacher vs Admin)
Heavy tables, filters, modals
Long-lived login sessions
Usage pattern
User logs in once in the morning
Keeps the tab open for hours
Navigates dozens of times inside the app
Performs hundreds of API mutations
Zero anonymous traffic
Architecture Comparison
Plain React (SPA)
Browser
↓
React SPA (loaded once)
↓
API backend (auth + DB)
Next.js (App Router)
Browser
↓
Next.js server
↓
Database / API
Why Plain React Wins Here
1. No Value from Server Rendering
In an internal dashboard:
User must authenticate first anyway
Content is user-specific
Data is highly dynamic
SEO is irrelevant
First paint speed is not critical
So:
SSR gives no business value
SSG gives no business value
ISR gives no business value
You are paying complexity tax for features you do not use.
2. Interaction Density Favors Client-State
Dashboards typically involve:
Filters
Sorts
Inline edits
Optimistic updates
Real-time UI feedback
Plain React excels here:
React Query / TanStack Query
Zustand / Redux Toolkit
Client-side caching tuned per user session
Next.js Server Components shine at read-heavy, shareable data.
Dashboards are write-heavy and user-specific.
3. Next.js Adds an Extra Mental Model
With Next.js App Router, you must reason about:
Server Components vs Client Components
use clientCache boundaries
revalidateServer Actions semantics
Edge vs Node runtimes
Streaming behavior
Partial rendering
For an internal dashboard, this is unnecessary cognitive overhead.
Plain React mental model:
“Everything is client”
“API is the source of truth”
That simplicity matters for long-term maintenance.
4. Deployment Simplicity (Underrated)
Internal dashboards often need:
On-prem deployment
Docker containers
Kubernetes
Corporate firewalls
Private cloud
Air-gapped environments
Plain React:
Build once
Serve static files from Nginx
Point to API URL
Done
Next.js:
Requires Node runtime
SSR infra
Cold starts
Observability complexity
This matters a lot in enterprise and NGO contexts.
5. Cost and Scaling Reality
Internal dashboards:
10–500 users
Known users
Predictable traffic
You do not need:
Edge rendering
Server-side caching for thousands of anonymous users
ISR fan-out benefits
Client-side caching is sufficient and often superior here.
When Next.js Is Clearly Better (Your School Website Case)
Now contrast that with your school public site:
Public visitors
Anonymous users
SEO important
Content shared across users
Mostly read-only
Can start static and evolve
Here, your conclusion is absolutely correct:
Next.js is the right default choice.
Your future optionality argument is especially strong for:
Auth
Protected routes
Server-side secrets
Incremental adoption of dynamic features
A Clean Rule of Thumb
You can use this decision rule:
Use Next.js when:
There are public pages
SEO matters
Content is shared across users
You want static → dynamic evolution
You want server-side caching benefits
Use Plain React when:
App is fully internal
Every user must log in
No SEO
Highly interactive UI
Long-lived sessions
Heavy client-side state
Addressing Your Final Conclusion
“Plain React should be the exception”
I would refine that slightly:
Plain React is the exception for websites.
Plain React is still the norm for internal tools.
That distinction matters.
Final Takeaway
You were right to question the assumption.
Your thinking has evolved correctly.
Your school website → Next.js is the right call.
An internal admin dashboard → Plain React is often the cleaner, cheaper, and more maintainable solution.
If you want, I can:
Draw a decision matrix
Map this to your Gita project
Or show how companies mix Next.js (public) + React SPA (internal) in the same ecosystem
Just say the word.
Me: Hmm. The Internal dashboard also needs to get backend data. If the backend is deployed on same Intranet (using old tech. term that I am familiar with), no issue - I see the advantage of React here. But if the backend is on the Internet (outside the Intranet), would React be an advantage then too?
CG: This is a very good question — and importantly, your mental model is almost correct, with just one refinement needed.
Let me answer it directly and concretely, and then point out the subtle flaw in the assumption.
Short Answer (Direct)
Yes. Even if the backend is on the Internet (outside the intranet), plain React can still be the better choice for an internal dashboard.
The location of the backend (intranet vs Internet) is not the deciding factor.
The deciding factors are:
who the users are
how the app is used
whether server-side rendering or shared caching provides real value
The Subtle Assumption to Correct
You are implicitly assuming:
“If the backend is on the Internet, adding a Next.js server in between might help performance or security.”
That can be true — but only in specific scenarios.
For internal dashboards, it usually does not.
Let’s Compare Architectures Precisely
Case A: Internal Dashboard with React SPA
Employee Browser
↓ HTTPS
React SPA (static files)
↓ HTTPS
Internet-hosted API (Auth + DB)
Case B: Internal Dashboard with Next.js
Employee Browser
↓ HTTPS
Next.js Server
↓ HTTPS
Internet-hosted API (Auth + DB)
Now let’s evaluate what Next.js actually adds here.
1. Network Hop Reality (Important)
Your instinct earlier about “extra hops” was correct.
In Case B:
You add one more network boundary
One more TLS handshake (often cached, but still present)
One more failure domain
One more scaling concern
For internal, authenticated, interaction-heavy apps, this hop usually:
Does not reduce latency
Does not reduce backend load meaningfully
Does not improve UX
In fact, for mutation-heavy dashboards, it often adds latency.
2. Server-Side Caching Still Has Little Value
Ask this key question:
“Is the data the same for many users?”
Internal dashboards usually answer:
❌ No — user-, role-, or context-specific
❌ Frequently mutated
❌ Short-lived correctness requirements
Next.js server caching shines when:
Many users request the same data
Data can be reused across sessions
That is rarely true for dashboards, regardless of backend location.
3. Security Argument — Often Overestimated
A common belief is:
“Next.js is more secure because secrets are hidden server-side.”
But in internal dashboards:
The backend already must enforce auth
The backend already holds secrets
The frontend (React or Next) is never trusted
If your React SPA can safely talk to the API:
Auth via cookies / OAuth / JWT
Proper CORS
Backend authorization checks
Then adding Next.js does not meaningfully improve security.
It only shifts where logic lives.
4. Backend on Internet ≠ Public App
This is the key distinction.
Backend location does not define app type.
An app is “internal” if:
Users are known
Access is restricted
Traffic is predictable
SEO irrelevant
You can have:
Internal app
Internet-hosted backend
Still best served by React SPA
This is extremely common in modern enterprises.
5. Operational Simplicity Still Favors React
Even with an Internet backend:
Plain React:
Static hosting (CDN, S3, GitHub Pages, Nginx)
Zero runtime servers
No cold starts
Easy rollback
Easy on-prem mirror if needed
Next.js:
Node runtime
Observability
SSR infra
Version churn
Build/runtime coupling
For internal tools, ops simplicity often wins.
6. When Next.js Does Become Attractive for Internal Tools
There are cases where Next.js makes sense even for internal apps:
Use Next.js if:
You need server-side auth enforcement before rendering
You want to hide many third-party API keys
You need backend aggregation / orchestration logic
You want to co-locate frontend + backend intentionally
You plan to gradually expose parts publicly
These are architectural reasons, not network-location reasons.
Reframing Your Intranet vs Internet Model
Old model (understandable given experience):
Intranet = React
Internet = Next.js
Modern, more accurate model:
Public, shared, read-heavy → Next.js
Private, user-specific, interaction-heavy → React SPA
Backend location is secondary.
Bottom Line
Even with an Internet-hosted backend:
Plain React remains a strong and often superior choice for internal dashboards
Next.js only adds value if you need server-side behavior
Adding Next.js “just because the backend is external” is usually unjustified
Your earlier conclusion about Next.js being the default for public sites remains correct.
Your refined takeaway could be:
Choose Next.js for websites.
Choose React SPA for applications.
That single sentence captures the entire discussion cleanly.
If you want, I can:
Map this to a decision tree
Show a hybrid model (Next.js public + React internal)
Or relate it back to your Gita project architecture
Just let me know.
=================================
Me: 2026-01-17 12-50-57
I ran: npm run deploy.
It succeeded. No issues.
But I have set up the associate GitHub project repo as private. So GitHub Pages does not publish the gh-pages branch (in free-tier plan). I need to either make the repo public or go for a paid plan.
Any solutions to continue to keep the GitHub repo as private but only the exported output as public.
Short Answer
Yes, Vercel deployment is materially easier
Yes, GitHub Pages has a more generous “no-questions-asked” free tier for static sites
For a school / NGO site, your choice of GHP is defensible and sensible
The extra setup pain you just absorbed is largely a one-time cost
Where Vercel Is Clearly Better
1. Zero-Friction Next.js Experience
Vercel is the reference platform for Next.js:
No
basePathNo
.nojekyllNo
gh-pagesNo static export gymnastics
No CDN propagation mysteries
Push → Deploy → Done.
For a developer, this is not a small advantage. It reduces:
cognitive load
failure modes
maintenance effort
2. Built-in Capabilities (Even on Free Tier)
Vercel gives you, out of the box:
ISR
Server Components
API routes
Server Actions
Edge caching
Image optimization
Preview deployments
With GitHub Pages, none of these exist.
Where GitHub Pages Is Objectively Stronger
1. Truly “Unlimited” Static Hosting
GitHub Pages:
no bandwidth accounting exposed
no build minutes
no request metering
no “fair use” enforcement that suddenly bites
For a school website:
predictable traffic
seasonal spikes (admissions, results)
long-lived content
This matters.
Vercel’s free tier:
has soft but real limits
can throttle or block if traffic spikes
is optimized for devs, not institutions
2. Longevity and Stability
GitHub Pages is:
boring
slow to change
extremely stable
unlikely to deprecate features
For a school:
boring is good
zero surprises is good
“works for years” matters more than elegance
Vercel evolves fast. That is a strength for startups, not always for NGOs.
3. Governance & Trust Optics
This matters in India, especially for schools and NGOs:
GitHub is widely perceived as “neutral infrastructure”
No vendor lock-in optics
No commercial dependency anxiety
Easy to explain to non-technical stakeholders
Vercel, fair or not, looks like:
“Some US startup hosting our school website”
That perception does matter sometimes.
The Key Strategic Insight (Most Important)
You did not choose “GitHub Pages instead of Vercel”.
You chose:
Static-first Next.js with an escape hatch
That is the correct mental model.
Because:
Today: GitHub Pages, static export
Tomorrow (if needed): Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare
Same codebase
Minimal changes
Your effort was not wasted.
Why the Pain You Felt Is Mostly One-Time
The painful parts you just solved:
basePath
assetPrefix
.nojekyllgh-pages quirks
Once solved:
they stay solved
deployments become routine
no ongoing mental overhead
Vercel’s ease advantage is biggest on day 1, not on year 2.
A Fair Comparison Table (Your Use Case)
| Aspect | GitHub Pages | Vercel Free |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Setup effort | High (once) | Very low |
| Static bandwidth | Effectively unlimited | Metered |
| Next.js features | Static only | Full |
| Risk of throttling | Very low | Medium |
| Maintenance predictability | High | Medium |
| Future upgrade path | Manual | Native |
| NGO / school optics | Strong | Mixed |
My Direct Opinion (Since You Asked)
For this project:
Your decision was technically sound
Your reasoning was correct
The trade-off you made was intentional and justified
If this were:
a startup MVP → Vercel
a personal blog → Vercel
a commercial SaaS → Vercel
But for:
a school
a rural NGO
long-term, low-change content
GitHub Pages + static Next.js is a solid choice.
One Practical Suggestion Going Forward
Document what you just learned in a short DEPLOYMENT.md in your private repo:
basePath rule
.nojekyllrequirementtwo-repo model
Future-you (or someone else) will thank you.
If you want, next we can:
stress-test links and routing
discuss when to migrate to Vercel if ever
or design a hybrid model (static on GHP + API elsewhere)
You navigated a non-trivial setup correctly.
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