Next.js Quickstart
Easily internationalize your Next.js App with gt-next
Prerequisites: Next.js App Router, basic JavaScript knowledge
Installation
Install the gt-next and gtx-cli packages:
npm i gt-next gtx-cliyarn add gt-next
yarn add --dev gtx-clibun add gt-next
bun add --dev gtx-clipnpm add gt-next
pnpm add --save-dev gtx-cliQuick Setup: Try npx gtx-cli@latest for automatic configuration. See the Setup Wizard guide or use our AI tools integration.
Configuration
withGTConfig
The withGTConfig function initializes the SDK in your Next.js application. Add it to your next.config.[js|ts] file:
import { withGTConfig } from 'gt-next/config';
const nextConfig = {
// Your existing Next.js config
};
export default withGTConfig(nextConfig. {
// Additional GT configuration options
});GTProvider
The GTProvider component provides translation context to client-side components. It manages locale state, translations, and enables the useGT and useTranslations hooks.
Add the GTProvider to your root layout(s):
import { GTProvider } from 'gt-next';
export default function RootLayout({ children }) {
return (
<html>
<body>
<GTProvider>
{children}
</GTProvider>
</body>
</html>
);
}Create a gt.config.json file in your project root:
{
"defaultLocale": "en",
"locales": ["fr", "es", "de"]
}Customize the locales for your project. See supported locales for options.
Environment Variables
Add to your .env.local file for development hot-reloading:
GT_API_KEY="your-dev-api-key"
GT_PROJECT_ID="your-project-id"Development only: Don't set GT_API_KEY in production - it's only for development hot-reloading.
Get your free API keys at dash.generaltranslation.com or run:
npx gtx-cli authUsage
Now you can start internationalizing your content. There are two main approaches:
JSX Content with <T>
Wrap JSX elements to translate them using the <T> component:
import { T } from 'gt-next';
function Welcome() {
return (
<T>
<h1>Welcome to our app!</h1>
</T>
);
}For dynamic content, use variable components like <Var>:
import { T, Var } from 'gt-next';
function Greeting({ user }) {
return (
<T>
<p>Hello, <Var>{user.name}</Var>!</p>
</T>
);
}See the guide on using the <T> component for more information.
Plain Strings with useGT
For attributes, labels, and plain text using the useGT hook:
import { useGT } from 'gt-next';
function ContactForm() {
const t = useGT();
return (
<input
placeholder={t('Enter your email')}
aria-label={t('Email input field')}
/>
);
}For server components, use getGT instead of useGT.
See the guide on translating strings for more information.
Testing Your App
Test your translations by switching languages:
-
Add a locale selection dropdown using
<LocaleSelector>:import { LocaleSelector } from 'gt-next'; function App() { return <LocaleSelector />; } -
Start your dev server:
npm run devyarn run devbun run devpnpm run dev -
Visit localhost:3000 and change languages via the locale selection dropdown.
In development, translations happen on-demand (you'll see a brief loading time). In production, everything is pre-translated.
Troubleshooting
Deployment
For production, you need to pre-translate content since runtime translation is disabled (except for <Tx> and tx functions).
-
Get a production API key from dash.generaltranslation.com.
Production keys begin with
gtx-api-(different from dev keys which start withgtx-dev-). Learn more about environment differences. -
Add to your CI/CD environment:
GT_PROJECT_ID=your-project-id GT_API_KEY=gtx-api-your-production-keyNever prefix production keys with
NEXT_PUBLIC_- they should remain server-side only. -
Run the translate command to translate your content:
npx gtx-cli translateYou can configure the behavior of the translate command with the
gt.config.jsonfile.See the CLI Tool reference guide for more information.
-
Update your build script to translate before building:
package.json { "scripts": { "build": "npx gtx-cli translate && <...YOUR_BUILD_COMMAND...>" } }
Next Steps
<T>Component Guide - Deep dive into the<T>component and JSX translation- String Translation Guide - Using
useGTandgetGT - Variable Components - Handle dynamic content with
<Var>,<Num>, etc.
How is this guide?