Next.js Apollo Nexus Boilerplate is a full-stack GraphQL starter in the Boilerplate category that combines the Next.js React framework with Apollo Server, Apollo Client, and Nexus Schema so developers can build a React frontend and a GraphQL API from one codebase. The repository is a Next.js project bootstrapped with Vercel's create-next-app, carries the topics apollo, graphql, nextjs, and nexus, and has 3 GitHub stars.
What is the Next.js Apollo Nexus Boilerplate?
This boilerplate templates a Next.js application with Apollo Server and Apollo Client wired in for GraphQL, plus Nexus Schema for defining the GraphQL schema in code rather than in SDL files. As input, developers edit the React page in pages/index.js and the Nexus-based schema; as output, the development server serves the app at http://localhost:3000. It runs on Node.js through the Next.js framework and was initialized with create-next-app, the official Vercel scaffolding tool.
Key Features
- Next.js framework — Uses the Next.js pages router with pages/index.js as the entry point; the page auto-updates as you edit the file, so the browser refreshes without manual reloads.
- Apollo Server — Provides the GraphQL server layer named in the repository metadata, allowing the project to expose a GraphQL endpoint from the same Next.js app.
- Apollo Client — Adds the client-side GraphQL data layer for running queries and caching results inside React components.
- Nexus Schema — Declares the GraphQL schema in a code-first style with TypeScript, so types and resolvers live in code instead of a separate .graphql file.
- npm and yarn scripts — The development server starts with npm run dev or yarn dev, following the standard create-next-app script set.
- Vercel deployment — The README links to the Vercel Platform for one-click project import and to the Next.js deployment documentation for details.
- Learning resources — The README points to the Next.js Documentation and the interactive Learn Next.js tutorial for extending the starter.
Who is it for?
- Full-stack JavaScript developers who want one Next.js project that serves both the React UI and a GraphQL API instead of maintaining two separate servers.
- GraphQL learners who want a working Apollo Server and Apollo Client setup paired with Nexus Schema to see code-first schema generation in a real app.
- Developers deploying to Vercel who need a starter already aligned with the platform's import flow and deployment pipeline.
What can you do with the Next.js Apollo Nexus Boilerplate?
- Scaffold a typed GraphQL API: Define the schema with Nexus Schema and serve it through Apollo Server without writing SDL by hand.
- Fetch data in React components: Use Apollo Client to query the API and bind the results into pages such as pages/index.js.
- Deploy a full-stack app quickly: Import the repository into the Vercel Platform to host the frontend and the API under one domain.
How does it work?
After running npm run dev or yarn dev, open http://localhost:3000 to view the app. Editing pages/index.js triggers an automatic browser update, and the GraphQL layer built from Apollo Server and Nexus Schema lives inside the same Next.js project. Deployment is handled through the Vercel Platform link included in the README.
Alternatives
- create-next-app — generates a plain Next.js app without Apollo or Nexus, useful when you want to choose your own GraphQL tooling.
- RedwoodJS — a full-stack framework that includes GraphQL in its default architecture.
FAQ
How do I start the development server?
Run npm run dev or yarn dev from the project root, then open http://localhost:3000 in your browser to see the result.
What is Nexus Schema used for here?
Nexus Schema defines the GraphQL schema in a code-first style using TypeScript, rather than writing SDL. The repository metadata lists Nexus Schema alongside Apollo Server and Apollo Client as the project's core GraphQL tooling.
Where do I edit the home page?
The home page lives in pages/index.js, and the development server auto-updates the page whenever you save changes to that file.
How do I deploy this project?
The README recommends the Vercel Platform, which supports importing a Next.js project directly, and also links to the Next.js deployment documentation for alternative hosting options.
What do I need to run this project locally?
This is a standard create-next-app project, so it requires Node.js plus npm or yarn. The README lists npm run dev and yarn dev as the available development scripts.
