Understanding the Project Structure

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 79 views

As we embark on our project, it's essential to establish a solid foundation. In this article, we'll delve into the process of setting up our project using Create-Next-App, a popular tool for building Next.js applications. We'll cover the initial folder and file structure, removing default files, and adding the necessary dependencies. This is a critical step, as it will enable us to focus on the UI layout in the subsequent sprints.

Understanding the Project Structure

Before we begin, let's take a look at the project structure we'll be working with. The following image illustrates the basic structure of a Next.js project:

For a more detailed understanding, you can refer to the official Next.js documentation on project structure: https://nextjs.org/docs/app/getting-started/project-structure

Removing Default Files and Adding Initial Folder and File Structure

Now that we have a basic understanding of the project structure, let's move on to removing the default files and adding the initial folder and file structure. This is a crucial step, as it will allow us to start building our application from scratch.

To begin, we'll need to create empty files for the following components:

Buttons: We'll create separate files for each button size (e.g., Button.js, ButtonSmall.js, ButtonMedium.js, ButtonLarge.js, ButtonRound.js, etc.)
Input Field: We'll create a single file for the input field component (InputField.js)
Scroll: We'll create a single file for the scroll component (Scroll.js)
Breadcrumbs: We'll create a single file for the breadcrumbs component (Breadcrumbs.js)
Layout: We'll create separate files for each layout section (e.g., LayoutSmall.js, LayoutMedium.js, LayoutLarge.js, etc.)
Header: We'll create a single file for the header component (Header.js)
Footer: We'll create a single file for the footer component (Footer.js)
Navigation: We'll create a single file for the navigation component (Navigation.js)
Tests: We'll create a single file for the tests component (Tests.js)
Hero Section: We'll create a single file for the hero section component (HeroSection.js)
FAQs: We'll create a single file for the FAQs component (FAQs.js)
Error Page: We'll create a single file for the error page component (ErrorPage.js)
Loading: We'll create a single file for the loading component (Loading.js)
Landing Page: We'll create a single file for the landing page component (LandingPage.js)
Prompt Input Page: We'll create a single file for the prompt input page component (PromptInputPage.js)

Here's an example of what the initial folder and file structure might look like:

components/
  Buttons/
    Button.js
    ButtonSmall.js
    ButtonMedium.js
    ButtonLarge.js
    ButtonRound.js
  InputField.js
  Scroll.js
  Breadcrumbs.js
  Layout/
    LayoutSmall.js
    LayoutMedium.js
    LayoutLarge.js
  Header.js
  Footer.js
  Navigation.js
  Tests.js
  HeroSection.js
  FAQs.js
  ErrorPage.js
  Loading.js
  LandingPage.js
  PromptInputPage.js

Adding Dependencies and Running Scripts

Now that we have our initial folder and file structure in place, let's add the necessary dependencies to our package.json file. We'll need to include the following dependencies:

Next.js
Tailwind

Here's an example of what the updated package.json file might look like:

{
  "name": "my-app",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "next",
    "build": "next build",
    "start": "next start"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "next": "^12.2.3",
    "tailwindcss": "^3.0.5"
  }
}

Once we've added the dependencies, let's run each script to verify that everything is working as expected:

npm run dev
npm run build
npm run start

Sanity Check Checklist

To ensure that we've completed all the necessary steps, let's go through the following sanity check checklist:

[ ] Please open your package.json file and make sure the dependencies needed for our tech stack are included.
[ ] Run each script to verify that everything is working as expected.
[ ] Create the necessary folders and files for our components.

As we've established a solid foundation for our project using Create-Next-App, we've received several questions from our team members. In this article, we'll address some of the most frequently asked questions and provide additional guidance on how to work with Create-Next-App.

Q: What is Create-Next-App?

A: Create-Next-App is a popular tool for building Next.js applications. It provides a simple and efficient way to create a new Next.js project, complete with a basic folder and file structure.

Q: Why do I need to remove the default files?

A: The default files provided by Create-Next-App are a good starting point, but they may not meet the specific needs of our project. By removing them and creating our own custom files, we can ensure that our project is tailored to our specific requirements.

Q: What is the purpose of the `components` folder?

A: The components folder is where we'll store all of our reusable UI components. This includes buttons, input fields, scroll bars, breadcrumbs, and more. By organizing our components in a single folder, we can easily access and reuse them throughout our project.

Q: How do I add new components to the `components` folder?

A: To add a new component to the components folder, simply create a new file with a .js extension (e.g., Button.js) and add the necessary code to define the component. You can then import the component into your pages or other components as needed.

Q: What is the difference between a `Button` component and a `ButtonSmall` component?

A: The Button component is a generic button component that can be used in a variety of situations. The ButtonSmall component, on the other hand, is a smaller version of the button component that is specifically designed for use in situations where a smaller button is needed.

Q: How do I customize the appearance of my components?

A: To customize the appearance of your components, you can use a variety of techniques, including CSS, Tailwind, and other styling libraries. You can also use a component library like Material-UI or Bootstrap to provide pre-built components with customizable styles.

Q: What is the purpose of the `pages` folder?

A: The pages folder is where we'll store all of our page components. This includes the landing page, prompt input page, and other pages that make up our application.

Q: How do I add a new page to the `pages` folder?

A: To add a new page to the pages folder, simply create a new file with a .js extension (e.g., LandingPage.js) and add the necessary code to define the page component. You can then import the page into your application as needed.

Q: What is the difference between a `page` component and a `component` component?

A: A page component is a special type of component that is designed to be used as a standalone page in our application. A component component, on the other hand, is a reusable UI component that can be used in a variety of situations.

Q: How do I test my components?

A: To test your components, you can use a testing library like Jest or Mocha. You can also use a tool like Cypress to test the functionality of your components in a more comprehensive way.

Q: What is the purpose of the `tests` folder?

A: The tests folder is where we'll store all of our test files. This includes unit tests, integration tests, and other types of tests that help ensure the quality and reliability of our application.

By following these guidelines and best practices, we can ensure that our project is well-organized, maintainable, and scalable.