Building an E-commerce Website with Next.js, Stripe, TypeScript, and Payload CMS

Overview

• Goal: Build a Next.js powered e-commerce site with an admin panel
• Tech Stack: Next.js, Stripe, TypeScript, Payload CMS

Home Page Design

• Sections:
  • Hero Section:
    • Best design practices
    • Includes a hero image, key features, and a call to action button
  • Categories: Various product categories for easy navigation
  • New Collections: Showcases the newest product collections
  • Ongoing Deals: Highlights current deals with time-sensitive offers
  • Shop Features: Features and benefits of shopping on the site
  • Footer: Crisp and clean footer

Shop Page

• Guests Can Browse: No need for authentication to explore products
• Category Filters: Allows users to filter products by category
• Pagination: Efficient product listing for good performance

Product Details Page

• Recommendations: Suggests related products
• Add to Cart:
  • Works without authentication
  • Adjust quantity instantly
  • Pricing updates automatically
  • Option to remove products

User Authentication

• Secure Login: Secure login process
• Registration: Easy registration process
• Password Recovery: Process for recovering forgotten passwords

Checkout Process

• Streamlined Checkout: Minimalistic and optimized for user experience
• Secure Payments: Process payments securely via Stripe

User Account Page

• Personal Information: Allows users to update their personal info
• Past Purchases: View past purchases
• Current Orders: Check current order status
• Order Details: Detailed view of past orders
• Logout: Option to securely logout

Admin Panel Features

• Control Everything: Full control over the shop
• Custom Pages: Add new pages with tailored sections
• Product Management: Add, update, or remove products in real-time
• Order Management: Oversee customer orders
• Category Management: Manage categories in real-time
• Customer Management: Manage customer info
• Page Redirects: Optimize navigation and user experience
• Header/Footer Customization: Adjust and customize the header and footer
• SEO Management: Improve search engine optimization

Payload CMS Explanation

• Headless CMS: Payload CMS is a headless CMS and open-source framework
• Backend Functionality: Provides backend functionality while allowing customizations
• Quick Development: Build and deploy fast, secure, and scalable apps quickly
• Schema Definition: Define your schema in TypeScript for a full backend and admin panel
• Future-proof Skills: Payload integrates with Vercel’s free tier, becoming the next.js CMS standard

Special Bonuses in Ultimate Next.js Course

• Advanced Features Guide: Guide to advanced Next.js features and robust security practices
• Next.js FAQs: Common FAQs about Next.js answered

Getting Started

• Setup: No need to create an empty folder, leverage an open-source tool
• Payload CMS: Combines TypeScript and Next.js, fully open-source
• E-commerce Application: Learn how to build and leverage Payload for any kind of e-commerce or app requiring a CMS
• Steps:
  • Register for a free account
  • Connect to GitHub
  • Clone template repository
  • Choose your plan (free trial)
  • Deploy project in EU region with custom domain
  • Configure project settings
  • Deploy and wait for project configuration
  • Seed the database with initial data
  • Customize admin dashboard

Detailed Development Steps

• Header and Footer Customization:
  • Modify nav links
  • Add social media links
• Global CSS Adjustments:
  • Update font-family
  • CSS reset for headings and body
• Implement Categories Section:
  • Display product categories on the home page
• Products Page:
  • Implement product listings with filters and sorting options
• Product Details Page:
  • Clean, minimalistic design
• Shopping Cart and Checkout:
  • Add to cart functionality
  • Streamlined checkout page
• Admin Dashboard Improvements:
  • Manage product imagery
  • Category and product management in admin panel

Deployment

• Ensure all ENV Variables are set: Important for syncing local and production environments
• Deploy to Vercel: Ensure that all keys/secrets are properly configured
• Test Deployment: Check if everything works as expected; troubleshoot any issues
• Sync media files: Sync local uploads with cloud storage for deployment consistency

Conclusion

• Modern e-commerce sites with streamlined buying experience
• Efficient admin panel for robust management
• Integration with Next.js, Stripe, and TypeScript for scalable development