Next Prankz is a Next.js starter template for building fake news websites that prank people into a rick roll, deployable to Netlify with a one-click button.
What is Next Prankz?
Next Prankz is a Next.js v10+ starter project that creates a fake news website designed to trick friends into thinking they're reading a real article before hitting a rick roll. The template's output is a deployable static site with server-side rendering handled by Netlify Functions, and it was authored by Cassidoo under the GitHub repository cassidoo/next-prankz. A live demo is available at chicag0tribune.netlify.app, which mimics a Chicago Tribune news page.
Key Features
- One-click deploy to Netlify — Clicking the Deploy to Netlify button creates a new GitHub repo from the template and immediately sets it up for deployment on Netlify.
- Server-side rendering via Netlify Functions — Uses the netlify-plugin-nextjs build plugin to render routes through Netlify Functions.
- Local development server — Run
npm run devoryarn devto start the app locally at http://localhost:3000. - Manual deployment option — Clone the repo, make changes, and connect the project to Netlify while keeping the netlify.toml file intact for proper exports.
- Netlify deployment status badge — The README includes a live badge showing deployment status from Netlify.
- Built with Next.js v10+ and React — The project uses Next.js as the React framework, with source topics listing netlify, nextjs, nextjs-starter, react, and reactjs.
Who is it for?
- Pranksters — People who want to send friends a realistic-looking news URL that unexpectedly leads to a rick roll.
- Next.js developers — Developers looking for a minimal example of pairing Next.js with Netlify's server-side rendering plugin and one-click deploys.
- Hackathon teams — Teams that need a functioning joke site in minutes without setting up infrastructure.
What can you do with Next Prankz?
- Prank your friends: Share the deployed URL as if it's a breaking news story; visitors get a fake article that ends in a rick roll.
- Demo Netlify workflows: Use the template to learn how Netlify's deploy button, GitHub integration, and Functions-based rendering work together.
- Customize a joke site: Edit the Next.js pages to change the news headline, article body, or the embedded video to any other prank content.
How does Next Prankz work?
You can either click the Deploy to Netlify button to create a new repo and deploy immediately, or manually clone the repository, run npm run dev for local development, and later push to Netlify while preserving the netlify.toml configuration. The netlify-plugin-nextjs handles server-side rendering by turning Next.js routes into Netlify Functions.
FAQ
Is Next Prankz free to use?
Yes, the project is open source on GitHub under the cassidoo/next-prankz repository, so you can freely clone, modify, and deploy it.
What technology does Next Prankz use?
It uses Next.js v10+ as the React framework, with React and ReactJS listed as topics. Deployment targets Netlify, and server-side rendering is enabled through the netlify-plugin-nextjs build plugin.
How do I deploy Next Prankz?
The simplest way is to click the Deploy to Netlify button, which creates a new repository and sets up deployment automatically. Alternatively, clone the repo, connect it to Netlify, and keep the netlify.toml file unchanged to ensure the export is configured correctly.
Can I use Next Prankz for a real news site?
The template is explicitly designed for pranks — it fakes a news website to rick roll people. For a legitimate news site, you would need substantial changes to content, design, and likely a different hosting setup.
