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System Architecture

NextReady Architecture

Understanding NextReady's structure, design patterns, and architectural decisions that make it production-ready.

Modular design
Type-safe
Scalable patterns

System Overview

App Router Architecture
Next.js 15 App Router with TypeScript and modern patterns
  • Server-first architecture with RSC
  • Parallel routes and intercepting routes
  • Streaming with Suspense boundaries
  • Optimized bundle splitting
API Design
RESTful APIs with middleware composition and validation
  • Composable middleware system
  • Zod schema validation
  • Rate limiting and security
  • Error handling patterns
Database Layer
Type-safe database operations with Prisma ORM
  • Prisma client with connection pooling
  • Schema-first development
  • Migration and seeding system
  • Graceful degradation support
Authentication System
Secure auth with NextAuth v5 and role-based access control
  • Multi-provider OAuth support
  • JWT with secure sessions
  • Role-based permissions
  • Protected route patterns

Design Principles

1
Type Safety First
Full TypeScript coverage with Zod validation at API boundaries

Example: Database schema → Prisma types → API validation → Client types

2
Composable Architecture
Reusable middleware, components, and utilities that work together

Example: API middleware can be composed with auth, rate limiting, and validation

3
Developer Experience
Clear patterns, helpful utilities, and comprehensive tooling

Example: Interactive CLI, automated setup, and development scripts

4
Production Ready
Performance, security, and scalability built-in from the start

Example: Connection pooling, rate limiting, and graceful error handling

Project Structure

Directory Organization
NextReady follows Next.js 15 App Router conventions with clear separation of concerns
app/
├── (auth)/                 # Auth group routes
│   ├── signin/            # Sign in page
│   └── signup/            # Sign up page
├── (dashboard)/           # Protected dashboard routes
│   ├── dashboard/         # Main dashboard
│   ├── files/            # File management
│   ├── profile/          # User profile
│   └── settings/         # App settings
├── api/                   # API routes
│   ├── auth/             # NextAuth endpoints
│   ├── files/            # File management API
│   ├── users/            # User management API
│   └── email/            # Email system API
├── docs/                  # Documentation routes
│   ├── getting-started/   # Setup guide
│   ├── architecture/      # This page
│   └── [other-docs]/     # Other doc pages
├── globals.css           # Global styles
├── layout.tsx            # Root layout
└── page.tsx              # Landing page

components/
├── ui/                    # shadcn/ui components
├── auth/                  # Authentication components
├── file/                  # File management components
├── email/                 # Email system components
└── layout/               # Layout components

lib/
├── auth.ts               # NextAuth configuration
├── db.ts                 # Database client
├── validations.ts        # Zod schemas
├── permissions.ts        # RBAC system
├── api-middleware.ts     # API middleware
├── file-storage.ts       # File storage utilities
└── email.ts              # Email system utilities

scripts/
├── setup.js              # Interactive setup
├── db-commands.js        # Database utilities
└── brand.js              # Branding utilities

Key Patterns & Examples

Composable API Middleware
Our middleware system allows you to compose authentication, rate limiting, and validation in a clean, reusable way
// lib/api-middleware.ts
export const withApiMiddleware = (
  handler: ApiHandler,
  options: MiddlewareOptions
) => {
  return async (request: NextRequest) => {
    try {
      // Rate limiting
      if (options.rateLimit) {
        await checkRateLimit(request, options.rateLimit);
      }

      // Authentication
      if (options.requireAuth) {
        const session = await getSession(request);
        if (!session) return unauthorized();
      }

      // Authorization
      if (options.requiredRole) {
        await checkRole(session.user, options.requiredRole);
      }

      // Permission checks
      if (options.requiredPermission) {
        await checkPermission(session.user, options.requiredPermission);
      }

      return await handler(request);
    } catch (error) {
      return handleApiError(error);
    }
  };
};

// Usage in API routes
export const GET = withApiMiddleware(getUsersHandler, {
  rateLimit: "default",
  requiredRole: UserRole.ADMIN,
  requiredPermission: Permission.USER_READ,
});

Development Best Practices

Ready to Build?

Now that you understand the architecture, learn about specific systems and how to use them effectively.

Authentication GuideDatabase Setup