Building a Rhyming Dictionary with NextJS and Payload CMS

In this live coding session, we'll dive into building a rhyming dictionary application using NextJS, Payload CMS, and TailwindCSS. This project will cover essential aspects of full-stack development, including authentication and user-specific features.

What You'll Learn

• Setting Up NextJS: Learn how to initialize and configure a NextJS project for optimal performance and development experience.
• Integrating Payload CMS: Understand how to set up and use Payload CMS as a headless CMS for managing your application's content and data.
• Styling with TailwindCSS: Discover how to quickly and efficiently style your application using TailwindCSS.
• Authentication: Implement customer and admin authentication to secure your application and provide personalized experiences.
• Favorite Words Functionality: Add a feature that allows users to save their favorite words, enhancing user engagement and personalization.

Why Payload CMS?

Payload CMS is a powerful, open-source headless CMS that provides a flexible and customizable backend for your applications. It is particularly well-suited for projects that require a robust content management system without the overhead of traditional CMS platforms. By using Payload CMS, you can:

• Customize Your Backend: Tailor your backend to meet the specific needs of your project.
• Manage Content Efficiently: Use a user-friendly interface to manage your application's content.
• Enhance Security: Implement robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to protect your data.

  npx create-next-app@latest
  cd your-project-name

  bash

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up NextJS

To get started, you'll need to set up a NextJS project. You can do this by running the following commands:

This will create a new NextJS project and navigate into the project directory.

2. Integrating Payload CMS

Next, you'll need to integrate Payload CMS into your project. Follow these steps:

1. Install Payload CMS:
2. Configure Payload CMS by creating a payload.config.js file in your project root and setting up your collections and fields.

3. Styling with TailwindCSS

To style your application, you'll use TailwindCSS. Install TailwindCSS by running:

Then, configure your tailwind.config.js file and include TailwindCSS in your project.

4. Implementing Authentication

Authentication is crucial for securing your application. You'll implement authentication for both customers and admins. This involves setting up user collections in Payload CMS and creating authentication routes in NextJS.

5. Adding Favorite Words Functionality

Finally, you'll add a feature that allows users to save their favorite words. This involves creating a new collection in Payload CMS for favorite words and implementing the necessary API routes and frontend components in NextJS.

Conclusion

By the end of this session, you'll have a fully functional rhyming dictionary application with authentication and favorite words functionality. This project will enhance your full-stack development skills and provide a solid foundation for future projects using NextJS, Payload CMS, and TailwindCSS.