# A statically generated blog example using Next.js and Kontent
This example showcases Next.js's [Static Generation](https://nextjs.org/docs/basic-features/pages) feature using [Kentico Kontent](https://kontent.ai) as the data source.
Once you have access to [the environment variables you'll need](#step-3-set-up-environment-variables), deploy the example using [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example):
[](https://vercel.com/new/git/external?repository-url=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-kontent&project-name=cms-kontent&repository-name=cms-kontent&env=KONTENT_PROJECT_ID,KONTENT_PREVIEW_API_KEY,KONTENT_PREVIEW_SECRET&envDescription=Required%20to%20connect%20the%20app%20with%20Kontent&envLink=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-kontent%23step-3-set-up-environment-variables)
Execute [`create-next-app`](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/packages/create-next-app) with [npm](https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/init), [Yarn](https://yarnpkg.com/lang/en/docs/cli/create/), or [pnpm](https://pnpm.io) to bootstrap the example:
> The link above will provide you with the 90-days trial. Once you finish the trial, or even during the trial period, you could switch to the [**developer plan**](https://kontent.ai/developer-plan) which is **free of charge** and offers all the features you'll need to test out the example capabilities.
After signing up, [create an empty project](https://docs.kontent.ai/tutorials/set-up-kontent/projects/manage-projects#a-creating-projects).
### Step 2. Create the content models and fill them with data
The [content model](https://docs.kontent.ai/tutorials/set-up-kontent/content-modeling/what-is-content-modeling) defines the data structures of your application/websites. The structures are flexible and you can tailor them to your needs.
For this example you need to create a content model that defines an `author` and a `post` content type. **You can import these automatically or by doing it manually** to familiarize yourself with the Kontent user interface.
To import the content models with their data follow the next steps:
1. Enter [Kontent application](https://app.kontent.ai)
1. Go to "Project Settings", select API keys
1. Activate Management API
1. Copy `Project ID` and `Management API` key
1. Install [Kontent Backup Manager](https://github.com/Kentico/kontent-backup-manager-js) and import data to newly created project from kontent-backup.zip file (place appropriate values for apiKey and projectId arguments):
1. Go to your Kontent project and publish all the imported items.
> You could deactivate Management API key, it is not necessary any more.
### Step 2.1. Optionally create the content models manually
You can safely ignore this step if you already imported the content models in Step 2.
#### Create an `Author` content type
From your Kontent project, go to **Content models** and add a new `Content type`:
> you don't have to modify the element configuration unless specified
- Content type name: `Author`
- Add the following content elements
-`Name` - **Text** element
-`Picture` - **Asset** element - configure to allow to select `At most 1` asset and `Limit file types` only to `Adjustable images`
Save the content type and continue.
The content type should look like this:
#### Create a `Post` content type
From your Kontent project, go to **Content models** and add a new content type:
> you don't have to modify the element configuration unless specified
- Content type name: `Post`
- Add the following content elements
-`Title` - **Text** element
-`Date` - **Date & time** element
-`Excerpt` - **Text** element
-`Content` - **Rich Text** element
-`Cover Image` - **Asset Text** element - configure to allow to select `At most 1` asset and `Limit file types` only to `Adjustable images` - `Content` - `Slug` - **URL slug** element - auto-generated from `Title` element
-`Author` - **Linked items** element - configure to accept `Exactly 1` item of type `Author`
Save the content type and continue.
The content type should look like this:
#### Fill content models with data
Go to `Content & Assets` section in your project and click `Create new` on the `Content` tab and select `Author` content type.
- You just need **1 author item** first.
- Use dummy data for his name.
- For the image, you can download one from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/).
Next, create another item based on **Post** content type:
- It's recommend to create at least **2 post items**.
- Use dummy data for the text.
- For images, you can download them from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/).
- Pick the **author** you created earlier.
**Important:** For each item, you need to click on **Publish**. If not, the entry will be in draft workflow step.
### Step 3. Set up environment variables
Copy the `.env.local.example` file in this directory to `.env.local` (which will be ignored by Git):
```bash
cp .env.local.example .env.local
```
Then set each variable on `.env.local` using the keys `Project settings` > `API keys`:
-`KONTENT_PROJECT_ID` - Should be the Project ID in `Project settings` > `API keys`.
-`KONTENT_PREVIEW_API_KEY` - One of the Preview API keys in `Project settings` > `API keys`.
-`KONTENT_PREVIEW_SECRET` - Can be any random string (but avoid spaces), like `MY_SECRET` - this is used for [Preview Mode](https://nextjs.org/docs/advanced-features/preview-mode).
### Step 4. Run Next.js in development mode
```bash
npm install
npm run dev
# or
yarn
yarn dev
```
Your blog should be up and running on [http://localhost:3000](http://localhost:3000)! If it doesn't work, post on [GitHub discussions](https://github.com/vercel/next.js/discussions).
### Step 5. Try preview mode
In your Kontent project, go to **Project Settings > Preview URLs** and set a new preview URL for the `Post` content type to:
You will now be able to see the updated title. To exit preview mode, you can click on **Click here to exit preview mode** at the top of the page.
### Step 6. Deploy on Vercel
You can deploy this app to the cloud with [Vercel](https://vercel.com?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example) ([Documentation](https://nextjs.org/docs/deployment)).
To deploy your local project to Vercel, push it to GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket and [import to Vercel](https://vercel.com/new?utm_source=github&utm_medium=readme&utm_campaign=next-example).
[](https://vercel.com/new/git/external?repository-url=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-kontent&project-name=cms-kontent&repository-name=cms-kontent&env=KONTENT_PROJECT_ID,KONTENT_PREVIEW_API_KEY,KONTENT_PREVIEW_SECRET&envDescription=Required%20to%20connect%20the%20app%20with%20Kontent&envLink=https://github.com/vercel/next.js/tree/canary/examples/cms-kontent%23step-3-set-up-environment-variables)
