From Static to Dynamic: Next.js Rendering Patterns with Drupal CMS.
Modern frontend frameworks give developers exciting new tools—but also new decisions. With the arrival of Next.js App Router, we now have multiple rendering options: Server-Side Rendering (SSR), Static Site Generation (SSG), and Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR). But how do these strategies map to a backend like Drupal, with its rich editorial workflows and flexible content model?
In this session, we’ll explore how to effectively use Drupal as a headless CMS with the Next.js App Router. We’ll walk through how to connect to Drupal via JSON:API or GraphQL, and use the right rendering strategy for different use cases.
What You'll Learn:
- - The practical differences between SSR, SSG, ISR, and dynamic rendering in the App Router
- - How to integrate Drupal content using the Next-Drupal client.
- - When and how to use functions like generateStaticParams, generateMetadata, and revalidatePath
- - Tips for building SEO-friendly decoupled sites.
- - Performance tuning and architecture patterns for decoupled apps.
We'll wrap it up with a live demo that shows a single Drupal node rendered three different ways, plus a breakdown of trade-offs in performance, freshness, and complexity.
Whether you're a Drupal developer curious about headless frontends, or a Next.js fan looking to work with Drupal content, this talk will equip you with the tools and understanding you need to build smarter, faster, and more flexible web experiences.